Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1895-02-27
Death Of Fred. Douglas.

Frederick Douglass died a few minutes be-
fore O'Clock last Wednesday night al his
residence in Anacosta, suburb of Wash
ington, OF heart failure His death was en-
tirely unexpected, as be had apparently been
enjoying the best of health recently. Dur
ing the afternoon be attended the Conyen-
ton Of the Women OF the United States
then in progress in Washington. When he
returned home be said nothing Of any feel
ing Of illness, though he appeared TO be a
little exhausted from the climb up the steep
fight of steps leading from the street to the
house which is on high terrace. He sat
down an talked with his wife sbou. the
womenat the convention, telling of various
things that had been said and done Sud-
denly be gasped, clapped his hand to his
heart and fell back unconscious. A doctor
was hastily summoned and arrived in very
few moments, but his efforts TO revive the
patient were hopeless from the first. With
in twenty minutes after the attack the faint
motion of the heart ceased entirely and he
was dead.
Douglass was first known as Frederick
Bailey, and was born at Tuckahoe, on the
Eastern Shore of Maryland, and is supposed
to have been born in 1917. He learned to
read when boy in house in Baltimore 20
which be was sent as slave. At the age
of l6 he ran away disguised as a sailor and
made his way to New York and subsequent
ly appeared in New England There he
met prominent abolitionists of the day who
rendered him material assistance He be-
came public speaker and fearing he would
be taken back to Maryland under the fugi-
tive slave law, he sailed for England, where
be met abolitionists who became interested
10 him and where a fund was subscribed
with which his freedom was purchased
He then returned to this country where be
soon became prominent as lecturer against
the institution of slavery, and at the time Of
the John Brown instruction and outbreak
of the civil war was regarded as a power in
the abolition camp. He was accused of
being implicated in the Hnrper's Ferry out
break and refugeed irto Canada where he
remained until that excitement was merged
into that in connection with the outbreak of
the war.
Since 1870 Douglass has held many prom
inent positions. Ia 1872 he was president
ial elector, and afterward went TO San Do.
mingo with the presidential commission
Later he became United States marshal
for the District of Columbia. He retained
this Office until 1881, after which he became
recorder of deeds in the District, from which
Office he was removed by President Cleve-
land in 1886. He leaves two sons aud a
daughter, the children OF his first wife. His
second wife, who was white woman, sur
wives him The story of his second mar
rage has often been told Helen Pitt,
whom he married, was a New England
woman of middle age, clerk in the Office
of the recorder of deeds of the District of
Columbia, when Douglass was appointed to
that Office. They were thrown much to-
gether and finally became engaged. Her
relatives opposed the match bitterly on ac-
count of his color, but finally yielded to
force of circumstances.
The remains of Mr.. Douglass laid in
state in the A. NJ. E. Church, Washington
City, Monday. The funeral services were
conducted in the afternoon After the
reading Of the ninetieth Psalm by Bishop
A. w. Wayman, d. d., the funeral sermon
was delivered By Rev. DR.. J. T. Jeniier, of
the Metropolitan Church. Tributes to the
memory of the dead were then paid by Rev.
II. I. Stevenson, of the Anacostia Baptist
Church, and DR.. J. E. Rankin, president of
the Howard University.
Mr. John Hutchinson, of Boston, an old
friend Of Mr.. Douglass, sang hymn by the
special request of Mrs. Douglass, and was
followed by Mr. J. Nicholas, who represent
ed Mr. HaenGens, minister to this country
from Hayti
Remarks followed by Mrs. Susan B. An
thony, who also read letter from Elizabeth
Cady Stanton Mrs May Wright Sewall,
president of the Woman's Council, now in
session in this city, also spoke. The closing
prayer was offered by the Rev. Anna Shaw.
The services were extremely long and it
was after o'clock when they were con-
cluded The body was escorted to the depot
by the colored letter carriers Of the District |
and the remains were put abroad the 10 |
train for Rochester, n. Y.
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