The National tribune., 1906-08-02
FRED DOUGLASS.
An Old Letter Telling of His Manner of
Escape.

Editor National Tribune: The Grand
Army Encampment OF Michigan was
recently held In Saginaw. 1t was quite
we'll attended and very interesting, and
most splendid time was enjoyed by all
| those who were present. Their Camp
| fire crowded our largest hall. and the
| address Of Corp1 Tanner, the star at
| traction, was very able address, full
Of splendid thoughts and with good
cheer to the old veterans. Every one
| of the numbers on the program was a
pronounced success. The parade of the
old veterans was participated In by
| about half of those present 1t was
really very creditable parade and one
full of many lessons. No young men in
that parade; nearly every man showed
an abundance of gray hairs Some
walked with light step and erect and
others badly bent; some without legs,
others without arms, but all as cheer
fully following the Flag as in former
| days.
1 happened two or three days before
in going over some papers in my safe
| to run across letter written to me
when boy by Frederick Douglass NY
grandfather in western New York MAIN
tanned before the war a station of the
| underground railway, and we used to
delight in hearing my mother recount
| many thrilling experiences of the prem
ises being searched for runaway slaves,
and how my grandfather, noted for his
| truth and honor, and being q sturdy
New Englander with Quaker leanings
used to almost solemnly affirm that he
couldn't give them any information, I"
while at the same time several would be
secreted upon the premises, where they
would remain sometimes for days or
weeks, and then be quietly spirited
off on the next station. My parents be-
ing Monroe County people and living at
Westfield. Mass, for several years dur
ing the '70's, were interested in public
affairs. and in those days the theater
had but little encouragement, but most
entertainments were In the form of lee
lures. musicals and some of the old
fashioned plays.
In 1874 a troupe had played Uncle
Toms Cabin" giving it in sections and
taking a week to produce It, attend
ed some three different nights and was
greatly Interested in the play and read
the book. During the Winter Frederick
Douglass filled an engagement on their
lecture course, and was entertained at
our house. l, as boy, was quite inter-
ested in his lecture, and bought one of
his books. "Out of Bondage" Upon
his escape and his going North but
gave no intimation of how he escaped,
so. boylike., wrote him, stating I was
of the opinion he hid on boat at Bal
timore and SO found his way North. In
reply to this he wrote as follows:
Washington, D. c., April %.
my Dear Sir: Your letter of March
came while was absent from home,
and hence the delay of the answer II
cannot answer your letter in detail II
have so many letters to answer. You
are partly right. 1 got from Baltimore
to Philadelphia as sailor. A friend of
mine lent me a paper called a protec-
ton. and l ran away under his name
When asked If was free l showed this
paper. When once got into a free
State 1 had no more trouble. Forty
years ago was in prison to be sold just
as horse or an OK would be sold. /
have seen rough times. yet have much
to make my heart glad
yours truly,
Frederick Douglass"
Some years later. while at Rochester.
N. Y, in speaking to Mr.. Douglass of
believed 1t was the first time he had |
ever put in black and white how he had |
escaped. He said that at the time his
book was written he dared mot speak Of |
the method Of his escape. because II |
would prevent others using the same
method. I might say also that at the |
time he was at our house and I was
practicing my writing lesson. he told
me that the first lessons in writing and |
arithmetic he ever got was taught him
by an over5eer for his master. who
taught him how to count and tally and
later how to make figures. He was en-
gagged much of tho time in the prepara-
ton and Shipping Of cotton in bales.
Very respectfully--Chas. W. Light. Sag
NAV, Mich.