The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-02-28
FRED DOUGLASS DEAD.
The Famous Colored Man Passes Away
Suddenly with Heart Trouble.


Frederick Douglass, the noted freedman.
rator and diplomat. died few minutes be
fore o'clock Wednesday night, at his resi-
dence In Anacostia, a suburb OF Washington
City, Of heart failure. His death was entirely
unexpected, as he had been enjoying the best
OF health.
During the afternoon he attended the con-
vention OF the Women OF the United States,
now In progress In Washington city, and chat
ted with Susan ID. Anthony and others Of tho
leading members, with whom he has been on
intimate terms for many years When he re-
turned homo he said nothing OF any feeling
Of illness, though he appeared to be a little
exhausted from the climb up the steep flights
OF stairs leading from the street to the house,
which is on n high torrance. lie sat down
and chatted with his wife about the women
Mt the convention, telling of various things
that had been said and done.
suddenly he gasped. capped his hand TO
his heart and fell back unconscious. A doctor
was hastily summone ed and arrived within "a
few moments, but his efforts to revive Mr.
Douglass were hopeless from tho start. With
In 20 minutes after the attack the faint mo-
ton OF the heart ceased entirely and the
great ex-slaye statesman was dead.
Mr.. Douglass leaves two sons and daugh-
ter, the children OF his first wife. His second
wife, who was white woman. survives him
Frederick Douglass was born in February
1917, in the little village OF Tuckahoe. near
Easton, on the eastern shore Of Maryland.
His mother was a slave o! pure negro blood,
who, though field hand, had learned to
read, but his father was "a white man of aris-
tocratic family. He learned In secret TO read
and write. When IL years old, being difficult
to manage, he was hired out by his master 10
work In Baltimore shipyatd, and was al
lowed Tor his own use 80 per week out OF his
wages.
On september 8, 1898, he fed from Balti.
more aud from slavery. He made his way
TO New York, and thence to New Bedford,
Mass. Al the latter place he married and
lived for several years, supporting himself by
his trade as a workman In tho ship yards
He was also favorite exhorter in the Metho-
dist church. AT about that time ho assumed
the name OF Frederick Douglass, by which be
was always afterward known. He set TO
work 10 educate himself with the object OF
becoming the advocate and emancipator OF
his race In which he was assisted by William
Sloyd Garrison.
In 1871 he attended an anti-slavery meeting
In Nantucket, and made speech whose
scholarship ana eloquence attracted wide
attention. He was then made general agent
Of the Massachusetts anti-slayery society. and
spent four years lecturing throughout New
England. In this way ho became famous. lie
went TO Europe in 1915 and lectured In the
principal towns Of England. lie continued In
his work until the outbreak OF the rebellion,
when no took a foremost position in support
of the national government He urged Lin
,oln TO proclaim the freedom Of the southern
negroes and enlist them in the army.
In 1868 he sent his own sons into the army,
and himself rendered conspicuous service in
the enlistment OF colored troops. In 1871
President Grant appointed him assistant
secretary OF the commission TO Santo Domin.
go, and afterward q member Of the governing
council Of the District OF Columbia. In 1872
ho was Republican presidential elector for
the state OF New York. In 1877 President
Hayes appointed him marshal OF the district
OF Columbia, and In 1881 President Garfield
made him recorder Of deeds for the district.
His last public office was minister OF Hayti
He was somewhat voluminous writer for
newspapers and magazines and also OF books.
He never abated his efforts for the advance
ment OF his race. Tho second wife OF Doug
lass was woman OF pure Caucasian blood,
and his union with her seriously affected his
popularity and influence with tho colored
people OF this country.
The story OF the second marriage was ro-
mantle one. Miss Helen Pitts, whom he mar
ried, was New England woman, OF middle
age, IA clerk In the office OF the recorder OF
deeds OF the District OF Columbia, when Mr..
Douglass was appointed TO that Office. she
was member OF literary society to which
he belonged. They We're thrown much to-
gether, and finally became engaged. Her
relatives opposed the union bitterly on ac-
count OF his color, but finally yielded TO force
OF circumstances. Some Of them have for
some time been living near the Douglass
home on Anasostia Heights.
In 1892 H9yt made an appropriation Of
money for the Columbian exposition nj
Chicago, and appointed Mr.. Douglass the
senior OF her two commissioners TO the expo.
stion. Since the close of tho exposition, Mr.
Douglass has lived on quietly In Washington.
without engaging In any special business. His
wealth Is variouslY estimated at from $780,.
900 TO 100000