how did frederick douglass escape
Frederick Douglass escaped from slavery in 1838 by traveling in disguise on trains and boats from Maryland to the North, using borrowed “free” sailor’s papers and help from allies who were already free.
Quick Scoop: How Did Frederick Douglass Escape?
1. The Big Picture
- Douglass escaped on September 3, 1838, from Baltimore, Maryland.
- He used a clever mix of disguise , forged/borrowed documents, and fast travel by train and steamboat to reach Philadelphia and then New York, where he first tasted freedom.
2. Planning the Escape
- By his early twenties, Douglass had already tried to escape once before with friends; that attempt failed and he was jailed, which made any second try extremely risky.
- In Baltimore he met Anna Murray, a free Black woman who became his partner; she helped fund his escape and provided clothes suitable for his sailor disguise.
- Douglass also obtained “seaman’s protection” papers from a free Black sailor whose description was similar enough to his own, even though it did not match perfectly.
3. The Disguise: Posing as a Sailor
- Douglass dressed like a working Black sailor: a coarse sailor’s suit, a red shirt, and a loosely tied cravat, matching the look of mariners moving along the East Coast.
- He relied on his real knowledge of ships and maritime work from Baltimore shipyards so he could “talk sailor” convincingly if questioned.
- The key was to look like a free Black seaman moving between ports, not an enslaved field worker traveling alone.
4. The Journey North (Train + Ferry)
- Douglass’s escape route ran by train and steamboat through slave and border states toward Philadelphia and then New York.
- He boarded a train in Baltimore at the last possible moment to avoid station scrutiny, counting on the conductor’s haste in a crowded car to keep inspection brief.
- When the conductor asked for his papers, Douglass produced the borrowed sailor’s protection and confidently said it had the American eagle on it “and that will carry me around the world,” which satisfied the conductor after only a quick glance.
- Along the route he passed through areas where slave catchers and informers regularly looked for runaways, so every ticket check and border stop could have meant being seized and sold south.
5. Narrow Escapes Along the Way
- During the journey he encountered a blacksmith who had worked with him in Baltimore; Douglass believed the man recognized him but chose not to betray him, a silent act of protection.
- He knew that even other Black people might be pressured or paid to turn in fugitives, so he spoke as little as possible and trusted almost no one.
6. Reaching Freedom: Philadelphia and New York
- After a series of transfers, Douglass reached Philadelphia and then took a final train to New York City, completing the trip in roughly 24 hours.
- Crossing into a free state and then arriving in New York did not immediately feel joyful; Douglass later described his first days of “freedom” as filled with intense anxiety, loneliness, and fear of capture under laws that still allowed enslavers to reclaim fugitives.
- In New York he found help from Black abolitionists and safe networks, which eventually allowed him to settle, marry Anna Murray, and begin his public life as an orator and abolitionist.
7. Why He Once Hid the Details
- For years, Douglass refused to reveal exactly how he escaped because he feared exposing the people who helped him and closing off the same route for others still enslaved.
- Only after slavery was abolished did he fully describe the details in later writings, explaining that success came from skill, luck, and careful planning rather than dramatic heroics.
Key Facts Table (Escape at a Glance)
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Date of escape | September 3, 1838, from Baltimore, Maryland. | [9][3]
| Main disguise | Posed as a free Black sailor, wearing sailor’s clothes and using seaman’s protection papers. | [7][2]
| Key helper | Anna Murray, a free Black woman who provided money and clothing; he later married her. | [3][7]
| Documents used | Borrowed sailor’s “protection” papers from a free Black mariner whose description roughly matched his. | [7][2]
| Route | Train from Baltimore, transfers by train and steamboat through Maryland and Pennsylvania to Philadelphia, then train to New York City. | [5][9][2]
| Duration | About 24 hours from departure to arrival in New York. | [5][2]
| Aftermath | Early freedom marked by fear and isolation under fugitive slave laws, then connection with abolitionists and beginning of his public career. | [6][3]