The New York herald., 1875-12-11

abored hard In their Efforts 10 pull the carriage through
the mre, but in good time reached the place called
Rock Point.
The Rock Pon. House is small frame house close to
and the schooners arriving with lumber wait for the
Of the tide Entering the house. the reporter saw
Accosnc The best looking one Of the party he asked II
short stout salor-looking man had arrived tnere
within few days
'sWhat do you want 70 know forY"
'He is a friend OF mine and was TO meet me here"
'Say, are you looking for Tweedp
fSay Young man there's lots OF reporters and de-
tectives around here, and IT'S little dangerous to
Cant you tell me ifmy friend has arrvedY He would
come here nrsLh
ssThere amt been no such man here for a couple OF
days. There was q man like that here about three
night ago but ne didn't come on no sloopn
where is the proprietorS"
sWelI he has gone to New York Mr. Bole has with
ms brother, and George Hoffman has gone too But If
you're looking for Tweed, he was here last Saturday
night, just as sure az you live. ~
''If my friend calls win you give him word that
have been hereS"
Eyes IN do that but what do yon think about
"Dd you say Mr.. Boe kept another place in Green
wich ~
BY that time there had been several additions 70 the
company in the room all of whom were busily cycling
the reporter Passing back to Greenwich station the
Morton House, formerly the Americas Club House,
was thoroughly investigated and found TO be
habited by the fugitive In every place where the
reporter stopped in Greenwich the first question
asked was, "Are you looking for TweedYn
Mrs Bole said Everybody up here reading the
HERALD One oil its reporters was up here few nights
ago and had long talk with George Hoffman, Tweeds
old coachman Itsvery funny, and reads just like
dialoguen
Finding that his partners could not be found, the
reporter returned to Cos Cob station reported by
telegraph to the leader who had gone to Bridgeport
ON BOARD THE TUG.
The night was very dark and wet and dense fog
overhung the river. Not ships light anchor the
stream visible, and required much and skill
70 take the tug from her moorngs clear Of the pier
heads. She lay alongside the Ne Plus Ultra, large
six topsailyarder, and was hidden, so to speak, be-
meath her hull, whose black sides lowered many feet
above the top OF the tugs smokestack. The head
lines were cast adrit and the engines slowly turned
over once twice TO give her way. All silent
board The detectives were in the cabin and the gen
era stiffness was only broken and then by the
necessary orders given by the skpper-'Cast Off your
stern line,' "Fend of that barge" and 'An right
Let her CO."
Inside Of five minutes the little steamboat slowly
cleared the PIERS stern foremost, and after q few
seconds pause headed up the river, and without
whistle or any sound other than that made by the
screw and engines started on her eventful mission
The mist on the waters was thick cloud of gray
smoke, and obscured every object for cables length
around. Every once in while tits true, glimmer of
some lamp ashore would be seen through occasional
rift in the vapory canopy, while the shrek Of
steamers whistle, the blast of fog horn
the topgallan orecastle Of craft at anchor warned
the pilot and captain at the wheel Of the necessity for
caution They had received their instructions make
good time and as little possible and the use
of danger signals especially lnterdicted Strict
obedience 10 these orders compelled by the
detectives and the vessel sped like a spectre
through the mist toward He'll Gate No deck
hand permitted TO leave window open
lest ray Of light shooting therefrom should be
by nqulsitive eyes and awaken Suspicion, because It
must not be forgotten that the departure Of vessel
for "the Gate' on morning like this was very
unusual occurrence.
The fog became dense, and it was with great
difficulty and attended by considerable danger
that this part Of the expedition was successfully
kept in total ignorance of all but their destination
were attending solely to managing the boat and bring
ing it, If pracncabe in safety and on time TO the first
general rendezvous. About
range Of Hunters Point the mist settled gradually
closer to the water and the tugs speed had
TO be slackened because the skipper was fearful
that she might either be run ashore into
some vessel Some time elapsed before the
trely due TO the ofrepeated request of the party
move ahead as quickly as possible When at length
was rung to signal the engineer and the vessel forged
ahead toward He'll Gate, until the ''land loom'
warned the pilot that he must shift his helm and shape
new course. II ought to be said In this connection
that this portion Of the passage had to be guided by
compass rather than local knowledge, so that It
triang matter TO return to the right
track after each time it had to be forsaken for an
anchored vessel. However, the Gate reached ut
last was indicated by the fog signals and noise
tinuay kept up board of the and steamers
unwilling to attempt the precarous passage either way
With them the expedition boat compelled to stop
was thus lost
A MYSTERIOUS TUG BOAT.
just after the passage through Hell Gate had been
effected and when of Halletts Point, small lug
was seen TO dart suddenly out OF the fog and TO be
using her utmost power To overtake the HEkA boat
Where this tug came from no one on board could
as unexpected Her lights were all burn
ing, and shone luridy through the mist
When first noticed she on the starboard quarter
and evidently prepared to make observations of the
HERALD boat and its occupants far could be with
out actually boarding. Her jingle bell heard to
sound, and, putting on her fullest head Of steam she
rapidly came up abeam when she headed as though
with the intention TO cross the HERALD boats bows.
This brought the two boats very soon close to-
gether, when all hands on the strange boat
were noticed to come TO the side and gaze
intenty and earnestly at the HERALD boat Finding
the scrutiny becoming rather too close and mpertnent
the captain Of the HRALD boat ordered the engineer
to open his steam valve and let the steamer go ahead
which she very quickly did At the same time the cap
tain received Instructions TO keep well his course
and If anything stand more over to the Long Island
shore This latter manguvre would necessarily crowd
the strange boat little too close in for
her safety for she had none too much
OF room to spare She was too, rapidly approach
ing the spar buoy which she would in order clear
the shoals and rocks have TO leave on her staboard
hand She, however, noticed the manGuvre of the
HERALD boat which was forging ahead of her and
slowed up when she passed by the spar buoy already
referred to by close shave. The HERALD expedition
boat finding the fog hitting somewhat began 10
leave her astorn, but in order to have a sec
ond look at the stranger and make out
little more of her possible course, and also her name
she was allowed to come up again, when, she
nearly abeam for the second time, she tried
to race; but the HERALD party being desrous Of
noticing her actions than to lead let her go ahead and
cross the bow OF their boat The stranger then headed
for the westchester shore and was subse
VueHuy lUSb " bBuI ny becoming enVel-
oped in the fog, which again thickencd The
name Of this strange tug could not be made
The captain and the HERALD boat did know
who she was and stated that to their knowledge they
had seen her before. Efforts were made as
DAY DAMNED
and throughout the subsequent cruise up the Sound to
discover her, but without success. Her appearance
and equally sudden disappearance brought forcbly to
mind tho phantom ship OF the Flying
Dutchman, told Of in nautical novels except
that she was If possible, a fiery looking
monster her lights of different colors looking through
n
larity Of steam tug such as the referred TO ap
pearng in such close proximity TO and suddenly
the scene OF the HERALD boats operations
thought by all 20 be extremely singular especially
siderng the dangers which had to be encountered
making passage OF Hell Gate through the dense dark
ness which increased by the heavy fog which at
time rendered IL impossible TO the Of the boat
The condition Of the weather can readily be imagined
when the fact Is taken into consideration that the
Sound steamers bound for New York all found
anchored not daring to face the hazards which they
would have to encounter II they attempted to make the