Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 February 1895 — FRED DOUGLASS DEAD. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FRED DOUGLASS DEAD.

Passing of a Noted Historical Character. The Ex-Slave, Freedman, Orator, Diplomata and Author Dies Suddenly of Heart Failure. Frederick Douglass, the noted freedman, orator and diplomate, died a few minutes before? o’clock, Wednesday night, at his residence in Anacosta, a suburb of Washington. of heart failure. His death was unexpected, as he had been enjoying the best of health. During the afternoon he attended tho convention of the women of the United States, now in progress in that city,, and chatted with Susan B. Anthony and others of the leading members, with whom ho has been on-intimate terms for many years. When he returned home he said nothing of any feeling of illness, though he expressed himself as being a little exhausted from the climb up the stairs leading from the street to his house, which is on a high terrace. He sat down and chattod with his wife about the women of the convention, tell-

ingof various things that had been said and done. Suddenly he gasped, clapped hl'S!> kand to his heart and fell back unconscious. A doctor was hastily summoned and arrived within a very few moments, but his efforts to revive Mr. Douglass were hopeless from the first. Within twenty 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 adanghter.the children of his first wife. His second wife, who is a white woman, survive: him. Fred Douglass was the foremost colored man In this country, and had bpen a prominent figure in National affairs for 50 years, As a lecturer and orator he was without an riqual among his race, and he, was, withal, a man. of unusual abljjty in every way. He was born a slave, as near as can be ascertained, in IS! 1 ?, in Tuckahoe, on the Eastern shore of Maryland. At ten yeatis of age he was transferred to Baltimore. In spite of obstacles he obtained something of an education, and in 1833 succeeded in making iiis escape to New York, afte.rward.Bettl|ng at New Bedford, Mass. In 184.7 lie went to Europe on a.lectore tour. Since that tithe hlaxareer has been conspicuous as a man of affairs in the history of the country. He hastieeo honored as probably no other colored mnri ever was, and was deserving of the recognition universally accorded to his greai talents. - ——

FREDERICK DOUGLASS.