New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-21
FREDERICK DOUGLASS DEAD.
THE wELL-KNOWN NEGRO ORATOR EN-
PIRES SUDDENLY.
HE HAD ATTENDED TWO SESSIONS OF THE MA
TIoNAL wOMAN'S COUNCIL. AND WAS JUST
LEAVING HIS HOME TO DELIVER
A LECTURE WHEN THE
FATAL STROKE. CAME.


FATAL STROKE CAME
Washington Feb 2O-Frederick Douglass
dropped dead in the hallway of his residence on
Anacosia Heights this evening at o'clock He
had been in the highest spirits and was ap-
parently in the best of health. despite his sew
enty-eight years. when death overlook him. This
morning he driven to Washington, accom-
panied by his wife. She left him at the Con-
gressional Library. and he went on to Metzerott
Hall, where he attended the sessions of the
Womans Council in the forenoon and the after
noon returning . Cedar Hill. his home, between
) and O'Clock After dining he had a chat In
the hallway with his wife about the doings OF
the council. He grew very enthusiastic in his
explanation of one Of the Incidents of the day.
. and suddenly fell upon his knees with hands
claspcd Mrs. Douglass. thinking this was part
Of his description, not alarmed, but as she
looked he sank lower and lower. and finally lay
stretched upon the floor breathing his last.
Realizing that he Ill. she raised his head.
and then understood that he was dying. She was
alone in the house. and rushed 70 the front door
with cries for help. Some men who were near by
quickly responded and attempted to restore the
dying man. one Of them called DR.. j. stewart
Harrison. and while he was injecting a restora-
tive into the patients arm Mr.. Douglass passed
away seemingly without pain.
\ Mr. Douglass has lived for some :ime at Cedar
fn with his wife and ona servant lie has TWO
sons and A daughter the children Of his first
wife living here They are Louis H. and Cnarles
Douglass and Mrs Sprague Mr. Douglass was
to deliver a lecture tonight at Hillsdale African
Church. near his home. and was waiting for
carriage when talking TO his wife. The carriage
arrived just as he died
DOuglass said tonight that her nuSpand
had apparently been in the best Of health lately
and had showed unusual vigor for one OF his
years No arrangements she said. would be
made for his funeral until his children could be
consulted
II is n singular fact in connection with the
death ~ Mr. Douglass that the very last hours OF
his life given in attention to one or the
principles to which he has devoted MS energies
since his escape from slavery. He was regu-
larlv enrolled member of the National Womans
Sunrage Association. ana has always attended
| its conventions II probably with view 70
consistency In ths respect that he appeared at
Metzerott Hall to-day. Although II was secret
business session of the council. Mr.. Douglass WAS
allowed TO remain and when the meeting haa
be.n called to order by Mrs May Wright Sewall.
tho president of the council she appointed MISS
Susan R Anthony and the Rev. Anna II. Shaw
"A
most ~ tho delegates not more than fifty In
number. wcr, sitting. Mrs. Scwall presented Mr..
| Douglass t. the council and. contentins himself
with a bow in response to the applause that
erected tho announcement ne took seat beside
Miss Anthony his lifelong friend. Nothing to
indicate that ne was not I'm his usual good heaith
was remarked at the time. and tonight after ms
dcati was made known nobody could recall any
| thing In his appearance or actions out w ''c
ordinary. except according To the stateheh' %
lad, present. that he rubbed his left hand con-
stantly with his right. a. though II were De
/ uumhed go s 3,
o'clock and lust before that hour an informal
| discussion was started on the proposltion thdt
| has been mooted FOR some Time 10 diS''S .r u,r
! National Council into an upper an" NV
hnu.e Mr. Douglass became much interested
IN this discussion. 80 much SO In tart' th''
when the Council r"convtned NJ " 'ipch ,a, w.
civ. further consid ration To the matter, he was
! again present although It had been ms inten-
| tion to return to- his home earlier In tne n"S'
| He left the hail on the adjournment of thr ScS-
| zion about = o'clock and had been at ms nome
| but a short time when his death occurred. ,
! when Miss Susan t. Anthony heard ot Nr.
/ Douglass's death al the evening session oi lne
,e LUZ 80 NO ,crv much affected. Miss
| Anthony has wonderful control over her frrl-
| ings but tonight she could not conceaI ns'
| enotion Despite ner scventy-hve years Sne I'M
| ,n.diately announced her intentions or going TO
| the Douglass home. near Anacosua anu nau
actually started. when some OF her iriennS '.ai n1
ful that the journey WIN its pu"sa 20 ,be
roads and the excitement OF n Visit 10 'he
presence OF death. would have bad eliec' u
! her used persuasion To such an extent Una, snc
finally consented to defer inc trip ull,, ,nn 10
| row She was very much averse 10 returnire ~ ~
| the stage In Mctzerott Hail. contendihe 'lat
would appear unfeeng for her 10 90 80, ~ "u'
| as "A number OF the more distinguish NJ, -.
| hera ~ tho Council were absent. she agreed 10
take her accustomed place to the right Vi ''e
presiding officer. ,, an ;,,i
| mate friendship when both resided IN Roches''r'
| y Y and that friendship has continued 70, lilaI's
| decades one incident in conneclioh WIZ" ~"
| lations with Mr.. Douglass was recaileu ny Nl,S'
| Anthonv During the early days Of the anti
| slavery agitation. Miss Anthony ana heI NeheI
| bic associate Elizabeth Cady stanton apP,dieuu "
| Al an anti-slavery meeting In wGich f~rnneIioh ~
| D,ngiass was taking n prominent part Women
| were not welcome public speakers IN l'ose
davs and Mr. Douglass had agreed TO reaa an au
| dress prepared by Mrs. stanton hls renui'"n ~
| hcr written remarks did not suit thdt lady' anu
stepping forward. she took the paper ron M s r,s
| hands with the remark. Here, fredeiIcn ,c' ~
| read It," And she did so, thus mark'ns M. ."e ~, a.,
| tlative in the appearance Of women as ACTORS III
| public gatherings ,,,,.-o, NJ,
! Mr Douglass's dislike for the more familiar ap
| nellation of Fred Douglass was one or ms mos.
,narl,ed cbaracteristics As an instance OF this II
| l. related that while in the East Room oi 'le
| White House one day. he heard "o"''" '"''
| "Thcrc's Fred Douglass. . nj, ho
"Fredcrtck Douglass. III you p'eaSV' ' w.
| with courtly bow. ,,-...s sCouocu
| At to-night's meeting Of the Womeis eouhcn n y
| Mrs Nav Wright Sewall announced the ucdte W W
| Mr. Douglass There was murmur. expressing
| surnrise and sympathy. and then the couhci SGT
| tied down TO the business OF the evening
| Frederick Douglass was born IN fep'""'s'
| 1871 In Tuckahoe. rear Eastoh' N''
mother was a slave woman ana nus '"'ner
| a white man lie slave on 'ne
| plantation OF Colonel Edward Lloyd lie ehu"'eu
great sufrerings as a slave. which were the inoir
keenly felt on account of his uncommon ih'e''
gcncc. At ten years OF age he was lent 10 one
| OF his masters relatives in Baltimore anu was
permitted when about fifteen years OF" 10 "''V MS
own time from his master paying the a''e' 20
week and retaining the rest OF his earnings
rh. atom. L. familiar how first learned % make