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240 LIFE AND TIMES OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS

slaveholding and panic-stricken Virginia, and there to be tried after the fashion
of John Brown's trial, and of course to be summarily executed.

On the evening when the news came that John Brown had taken and was
then holding the town of Harper's Ferry, it so happened that I was speaking
to a large audience in National Hall, Philadelphia. The announcement came
upon us with the startling effect of an earthquake. It was something to make
the boldest hold his breath. I saw at once that my old friend had attempted
what he had long ago resolved to do, and I felt certain that the result must be
his capture and destruction. As I expected, the next day brought the news that
with two or three men he had fortified and was holding a small engine house,
but that he was surrounded by a body of Virginia militia, who thus far had
not ventured to capture the insurgents, but that escape was impossible. A few
hours later and word came that Colonel Robert E. Lee with a company of
United States troops had made a breach in Capt. Brown's fort, and had captured
him alive though mortally wounded. His carpet bag had been secured
by Governor Wise, and it was found to contain numerous letters and documents
which directly implicated Gerrit Smith, Joshua R. Giddings, Samuel
G. Howe, Frank B. Sanborn, and myself. This intelligence was soon followed
by a telegram saying that we were all to be arrested. Knowing that I was then
in Philadelphia, stopping with my friend, Thomas J. Dorsey, Mr. John Hurn,
the telegraph operator, came to me and with others urged me to leave the city
by the first train, as it was known through the newspapers that I was then in
Philadelphia, and officers might even then be on my track. To me there was
nothing improbable in all this. My friends for the most part were appalled at
the thought of my being arrested then or there, or while on my way across
the ferry from Walnut street wharf to Camden, for there was where I felt sure
the arrest would be made, and asked some of them to go so far as this with
me merely to see what might occur, but upon one ground or another they all
thought it best not to be found in my company at such a time, except dear
old Franklin Turner — a true man. The truth is, that in the excitement which
prevailed my friends had reason to fear that the very fact that they were with
me would be a sufficient reason for their arrest with me. The delay in the
departure of the steamer seemed unusually long to me, for I confess I was
seized with a desire to reach a more northern latitude. My friend Frank did
not leave my side till "all ashore" was ordered and the paddles began to
move. I reached New York at night, still under the apprehension of arrest at
any moment, but no signs of such event being made, I went at once to the
Barclay street ferry, took the boat across the river and went direct to
Washington street, Hoboken, the home of Mrs. Marks, where I spent the

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