Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-02
DEATH OF MRS. DOUGLASS.
Widow of Famous Colored Leader Vic
tim of Disease


Mrs. Helen Douglass widow of Frederick
Douglass, the famous colored leader died
yesterday shortly after noon at her home
Cedar Hill, Anacostia, d. c., aged sixty
five years. For the past three months
the deceased had been confined to her bed,
suffering with a chronic disease, while for
nearly a year she had not been away from
her home. The course of the malady
such that it had long been evident she
would not again be able to leave her bed.
During her late illness Mrs. Douglass was
attended by DR.. Ida J. Heiberger and DR..
Strobel and several days ago DR.. Yarrow
was called in consultation. AT that time 1t
was manifest that death was near at hand.
When death ensued Miss Putnam, a
cousin, and two other friends of the de-
ceased and two nurses We're at the home.
Notice of her death has been telegraphed
Mr.. Gideon W.PittS, brother of Mrs. Doug
lass who is in Texas, and who is expected
to arrive in a few days. Mrs. Spencer
Short, a sister of the deceased of Honeoye,
N. Y, has also been summoned Until the
arrival of Mr. Pitts no arrangements for
the funeral will be made. 1t was the wish
of the deceased, however, that her remains
be laid to rest at Cedar Hill. and that the
body of Mr. Douglass, which now lies in Mt.
Hope cemetery, Rochester, N. Y, be buried
| there also Her wish will be complied with.
| it is said, if it is possible to do So 1t is
| thought that the Rev. DR.. Grimke, a life
| lister who married them, will officiate at the
| funeral.
| The marriage of Mrs. Douglass, formerly
Miss Helen Pitts. white woman of educa-
ton and refinement to Frederick Douglass,
the famous negro leader was an event that
received worldwide notice Miss Pitts was
born at Honeoye, N. Y. She was educated
at Mount Holyoke; member of the
District Alumni Association of that college,
and was said to be woman Of fine mental
training and of fascinating manner. She
was married to the negro leader in January,
1884, being his second wife. She was about
forty-fve years of age at the time of her
marriage.
The deceased took active part in her
husbands life, and accompanied him on
European tour, the stories Of the time re-
lating that they were received with much
Hospitality in the European cities. Upon his
appointment as minister to HAITI she went
with him, and later when he was sent as
commissioner to the worlds fair at Chicago
by the Haitien government, she accom-
panied him.
After Mr. Douglass death, which occurred
suddenly the evening of February 20, 1895,
at Cedar HILL Mrs. Douglass continued to
live there Part of her time was devoted to
literary work, and she wrote a number OF
lectures, which she delivered IN the New
England states and New York. The prin-
cipal portion of her time, however, was
spent in the planning of The Frederick
Douglass Memorial and Historical Associa-
| tion' and in securing the passage of the
law under which the association was incor-
porated.
Soon after the death of her husband she
decided that their home, Cedar Hill, should
be given at her own death to such an asso-
citation and that it should contain mu-
scum of Douglass and anti-slavery me-
MORALS. The law was passed TWO years
ago, and the association is now reahty;
1t is supposed that Mrs. Douglass Will
leaves the large property and all that the
fine old house contains of books and manu-
scripts and pictures and sculpture to the
eSSOciatiOn