JWB and his pipe!

[HerbS]

Frederick Douglass is buried here in Rochester,NY.His son was in the 54thMass,that was the unit in the movie, "Glory".I have a copy of his[Douglass]"North Star"newspaper in my collection of Historical items.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Speaking of Douglass, I just recently learned (from Don Doyle's "The Cause of all Nations") of his affair with Ottilie Assing, and I think the "story" and this lady is worth sharing. This is a summary of some Wiki passages with additional info from Don's book.

Ottilie Davida Assing (1819 - 1884) was a German feminist, freethinker, and abolitionist. Born in Hamburg, she was the eldest daughter of a prominent physician, David Assur and the poet Rosa Maria Varnhagen Assing.
   
In 1852, Ottilie emigrated to the United States, settling eventually in Hoboken, New Jersey. She supported herself by writing articles for the prestigious Berlin journal "Morgenblatt für gebildete Leser" - under a male pseudonym.

When Assing read the "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass," she was impressed and in 1856, went to Rochester to interview Douglass. They struck up an immediate friendship that evolved into a romantic liaison that endured the next 26 years (Douglass still being married...). Soon her writing focused on the abolitionist movement. Assing and Douglass attended meetings and traveled together, and thought and wrote in tandem. In 1884, while Ottilie Assing was in Europe, trying to establish her claim to her sister's estate (including her mother's, and the Varnhagens' papers) she read in a newspaper that Douglass was to marry his 20-years-younger white secretary, Helen Pitts. She had already been diagnosed with incurable breast cancer. One morning Ottilie Assing committed suicide in Paris in a public park, swallowing a vial of potassium cyanide. As per the will left in her hotel, her correspondence with Douglass was burned and Douglass received her meager estate (the bulk of the family fortune having been given away on a whim by her sister).

[STS Lincolnite]

According to Lt. L. B. Baker's testimony at the Johnson Impeachment trial, he removed a meerschaum pipe from Booth's pocket. It was then turned over to the War Department with other articles that had been in Booth's possession. Later in the published account of the impeachment trial, Thomas Eckert testified that he had a memorandum (apparently in his hand while testifying) that a pipe taken from Booth had been turned over to Col. Burnet (I assume this was special advocate judge H.L. Burnett).

This, to me, strongly supports the idea that Booth did in fact have a Meerschaum pipe in his possession at the time of his demise.

[HerbS]

Thanks STSLincolnite for your research and new news[to me].So,that could be the connection between-Booth-Rattlesnake Pete-and the NY regiment that captured Booth.Very interesting tie in.

---

Eva-F.Douglass picked his 2nd wife[Pitts-daughter of a local abolitionist-10miles from me]super research on your part.That was news to me[affair with a German lady].Will wonders never cease?I have been in Pitts tunnel[underground railroad] at his home here in the Finger Lakes Region of NY.

[L Verge]

(01-25-2015 09:44 PM)STS Lincolnite Wrote:  According to Lt. L. B. Baker's testimony at the Johnson Impeachment trial, he removed a meerschaum pipe from Booth's pocket. It was then turned over to the War Department with other articles that had been in Booth's possession. Later in the published account of the impeachment trial, Thomas Eckert testified that he had a memorandum (apparently in his hand while testifying) that a pipe taken from Booth had been turned over to Col. Burnet (I assume this was special advocate judge H.L. Burnett).

This, to me, strongly supports the idea that Booth did in fact have a Meerschaum pipe in his possession at the time of his demise.

Thanks for the clarification and research, Scott. I believe that is the first time I have ever seen the pipe described specifically as a Meerschaum. Now, wouldn't it be nice to see a picture of it.

[Eva Elisabeth]

(01-26-2015 07:05 AM)HerbS Wrote:  Thanks STSLincolnite for your research and new news[to me].So,that could be the
Eva-F.Douglass picked his 2nd wife[Pitts-daughter of a local abolitionist-10miles from me]super research on your part.That was news to me[affair with a German lady].Will wonders never cease?I have been in Pitts tunnel[underground railroad] at his home here in the Finger Lakes Region of NY.

Thanks, Herb. She translated his "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass" into German. The "couple" planned to move to Haiti to live there together openly, but a few days prior to their scheduled departure Fort Sumpter was attacked, and they changed their plans.

[HerbS]

Thanks for the new information Eva!

[L Verge]

(01-25-2015 02:07 PM)L Verge Wrote:  

(01-25-2015 12:58 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  This reminds me of Abraham Lincoln's favorite walking cane Mary sent to Frederick Douglass. I can't help it but I cannot imagine Abraham Lincoln voluntarily walking with a "dandy" cane (and it must have been an extraordinary long one). I wonder if this cane, or a photo of it, still exists? Douglass wrote: "She [MTL] sent it to me at Rochester, and I have it in my house today, and expect to keep it there as long as I live."

Frederick Douglass' wonderful home, Cedar Hill, still stands in Anacostia today and is maintained by the National Park Service. It is filled with many of Douglass' things. A check with the site might tell us if they still have the Lincoln cane. When I have time, I'll try to check on it -- or Jim Garrett can feel free to contact Cedar Hill (hint, hint).

I did check with the NPS officials in charge of Frederick Douglass' home, and they do have the Lincoln cane that Mary Lincoln gave to Mr. Douglass on display there.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Thanks for the information, Laurie!

[Steve]

(01-25-2015 06:16 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  Speaking of Douglass, I just recently learned (from Don Doyle's "The Cause of all Nations") of his affair with Ottilie Assing, and I think the "story" and this lady is worth sharing. This is a summary of some Wiki passages with additional info from Don's book.

Ottilie Davida Assing (1819 - 1884) was a German feminist, freethinker, and abolitionist. Born in Hamburg, she was the eldest daughter of a prominent physician, David Assur and the poet Rosa Maria Varnhagen Assing.

In 1852, Ottilie emigrated to the United States, settling eventually in Hoboken, New Jersey. She supported herself by writing articles for the prestigious Berlin journal "Morgenblatt für gebildete Leser" - under a male pseudonym.

When Assing read the "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass," she was impressed and in 1856, went to Rochester to interview Douglass. They struck up an immediate friendship that evolved into a romantic liaison that endured the next 26 years (Douglass still being married...). Soon her writing focused on the abolitionist movement. Assing and Douglass attended meetings and traveled together, and thought and wrote in tandem. In 1884, while Ottilie Assing was in Europe, trying to establish her claim to her sister's estate (including her mother's, and the Varnhagens' papers) she read in a newspaper that Douglass was to marry his 20-years-younger white secretary, Helen Pitts. She had already been diagnosed with incurable breast cancer. One morning Ottilie Assing committed suicide in Paris in a public park, swallowing a vial of potassium cyanide. As per the will left in her hotel, her correspondence with Douglass was burned and Douglass received her meager estate (the bulk of the family fortune having been given away on a whim by her sister).

Ottillie Assing and this thread came up in a recent trivia thread. I just wanted to add that the accuracy of Assing's account of her relationship with Douglass has been questioned:

http://leighfought.blogspot.com/2011/11/...ssing.html