The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-02-21

During the afternoon he attended the
convention of the women OF the United
States now I'm progress In this city, and
ohatted with Susan B. Anthony and other
OF tho leading members, with whom he
has been on intimate terms for many
years When he returned home he said
nothing OF any feeling Of sickness, though
he appeared little exhausted from the
climb up the steep flight Of steps leading
from the street to the house, which Is Oh q
high terrace.
He sat down and chatted with his wife
about the women at the convention, tell
ing of various things that had been said
and done. Suddenly he gasped, clapped
his hand to his heart and fell back un-
conscious A doctor was hastily sum-
moned and arrived within very few
moments, but his efforts to revive Mr..
Douglass were hopeless from the first.
Within 20 minutes after the. attack the
faint motion Of the heart ceased entirely
and the great ex-slave statesman was dead.
Mr.. Douglass leaves two sons and u
daughter, the children OF his first wife.
His second wife, who survives him, was
white woman.
Douglass Life story.
Frederick Douglass was born near
Easton, Md, In February, 1917. His
mother was negro slave and his father
a white man. AT the age Of 10 he was
sent to Baltimore, where he learned to
read and write. His master allowed him
TO hire his own time for So week. and he
was employed in shlpyard.
In September, 1888, he fled from Balti-
more, and made his way to New York.
Hence he went to New Bedford, where he
married and lived for two or three years.
supporting himself by day labor on the
wharyes and in various work shops.
While there he changed his name TO
Douglass. He had previously been called
LLOYD, from the name Of his old muster.
lie was aided In his efforts for selfeduca-
ton by William Lloyd Garrison.
In the summer of lSil he attended an
anti-slavery convention at Nantucket aud
made a speech which was SO well received
that he was offered the agency of the
Massachusetts, Anti-Slavery society. In
this capacity he travelled and lectured
through the New England states for four
years. Large audiences were attracted by
his graphic descriptions Of slavery and his
eloquent appeals. At this time he pub
lished his first book, entitled, Narrative
Of Ny Experience In Slavery"
In 1S45 he went to Europe and lectured
on slavery to enthusiastic audiences in
nearly all Of the large towns of Great
Britain.
In 1916 his friends in New England
raised purse Of $3.50 to purchase his free
dom In due form of law. He remained
two years In Great Britain, and I'm lSi7 be-
gan at Rochester the publication of
Frederick Douglass Paper, which title
he afterwards changed to the North Star
In 1856 he published MY Bondage and
My Freedom"
In 1859 the John Brown riots took place
In Virginia He was supposed to be i'm
plicated in these, and Governor Wise of
West Virginia made requisition for his
arrest upon the governor OF Michigan, in
which state he then was. To avoid diff
Guilty, Mr.. Douglass went TO England,
where he remained for six or eight
months. He then returned 60 Rochester
and continued the publication OF his
paper
His Services to HIS Country.
When the civil war was begun, he urged
upon President Lincoln the employment
of colored troops and the issuance Of q
proclamation Of emancipation. In 1868,
when It was at last decided to employ
such troops, he gave his assistance In en-.
listing men for such regiments.
After the abolition OF slavery, he discon-
tinued the publication of his paper, and
applied himself to the preparation and dc.
livery of lyceum lectures. In September,
1870, he became editor Of the New Ma
tional Era in Washington. This was
ii L..
and Frederick.
In 1871 he was appointed assistant secre.
tary to the commission to San Domingo.
On his return President Grant appointed
him one OF the territorial council of the
District of Columbia. In 1879 he was
elected presidential elector at large for the
state Of New York, and was appointed to
carry the electoral vote OF the state TO
Washington. In 1875 he was appointed
United States marshal for the District OF
Columbia
After this he became recorder of deeds
for tho District of Columbia, from which
ufllco he was removed by President CIeye.
land In 1885 In the autumn of that year
he revisited England. He was appointed
minister to Hayti by President Harrison
In 1889 lie was sent to Hayti Just as the
country was emerging from one OF the
most exciting revolutions that IL had wit.
messed for years The Haytian ministry
was the last position in the Gift of the
United States held by Mr. Douglass.
In lsg2 gayti made an appropriation
for the Columbian exposition at Chicago
and appointed Mr.. Douglass, the senior of
her two commissioners, to the exposition.
Since lhs close Of the exposition Mr..
Douglass has lived quietly In Washington
without engaging In any special business
His wealth is variously estimated ct frorr
sl0o. 900 to 100000