Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-11-06
looAisg for the Franklin.
THE TRUTH ABOUT TwEED'S ESCAPE AND
RECAPTURE.

RkCAPTURE.
The Navy department has received dis
patch from New York stating that the
the Franklin is in sight. Nothing Is ex-
pected from her at the department uRtil she
arrives at the navy-yard.
The story of Tweeds escape and mode of
capture has afforded such a fine field for
average newspaper romance that the true
story, based upon official documents OF the
State department, possesses an unusual in-
terest. for 1t sets at rest forever absurd
charges or claims Of credit that have grown
up out of this capture. Tweed escaped from
New York IN q small schooner, and was
al obscure port ten miles south OF Santiago
de Cuba. The vessel that brought Tweed
from New York merely put INTO this small
port for the purpose of landing Tweed and a
young man who accompanied him. After
the two were placed on shore the small b 1at
returned TO the schooner, when she headed
fsh fisherman witnessed the secret Landing
OF these two men in this obscure quarter,
and at once suspected them OF being
men coming with aid and comfort for
the Cuban Insurgents. The suspicious OF
the fisherman were still farther iu-
creased by these two men approaching him,
carry The m over to Santiago de Cuba, where
they wished to 60. He complied with the
request, pOcketed their money, and then
10! ally turned them over to the spanish au-
thOr1t1es as suspicious characters who had
landed upon the island In such secret man
ner that their presence certainly demanded
an explanation. Tweed and his companion
asserted that they were travelling for their
health, out told SO many conflicting stories
as to still further accumulate suspicion
against them. Tweed also exhibited pass
ports made out at the State department at
Washington for himself under the name of
Secor, and Hunt, for his companion. Tweed
said he was citizen of Flo, ida. and was
very indignant At his arrest: Notwithstand-
md n In
was placed In the custody OF the admiral OF
the Spanish fleet at Santiago de Cuba 1t
being thought that, as Tweed was captured
while travelling, that he belonged as mat
ter OF right to the naval authorities. Tue
American consul at Santiago de Cuba, Al
Ireo N. Young, reported all the facts OF the
Consul General Hall at Hava Hall
~ once reported by telegraph to the State
department. here all Of the facts In the case
as they had been sent to him. The State de-
paTtment people at once Overhaule the re-
cords here and found that the passports
referred to were regular, and had been OBJ
lained SO as the records could show in all
due form. 1t then occurred to Secretary
Fish, who was familiar with the many sem
satiopal tories that had been published In
New York concerning Tweed's escape, that
these Two men, Secor and Hunt, might be
the missing ones. He at once sent on pho
tograph OF Tweed 10 Hall to have SecOr, IL
possible, identified. This. OF course, occu-
pied some time, but Tweed was meanwhile
Tweed's photograph Han dispatched it to
santiago de Cuba. where Young at once
identifed Tweed. Hall then telegraphed to
Fish that the man calling himself Secor was
Tweed, and asked for Instructions. Fish AT
once sent back word to the consul general to
see the Captain General, JOvellar, and rep
resent 10 him full statement of the case,
and request that the Spanish government
deliver him up to the United States au-
thOr1t1es. To this Jovellar replied that
IT would give him much pleasure TO
hi n
Oh ce issued an order addressed to the admiral
OF the Spanish feet, requesting him TO turn
over Tweed to the consul general at Ha-
es MS,, WnS was 10 mold him In custody until
Fish recounted to Robson what he had
done, and the latter directed a war vessel
~ ing at Port Roy al, 9. c., to go to Havana
for Tweed. But meanwhile IL appears that
Tweed had strong friends in Cuba, who
a1ced him In again making his escape. An
influential resident OF Santiago de Cuba, not
withheld by the State Department, was In
sfrumental In persuading the Spanish ad.
miIal TO release Tweed upon his parole, to
visit Santiago de Cuba. or course he yfo-
lated his parole at once and again escaped.
Consul Young at once found out which way
he had gone; that he had taken passage
upon the Carmen, Spanish trading bark,
bound for Vigo, Spain. Hall at Havana
reported this escape to Jovellar, who was
very indignant at this escape. He at once
communicated by cable with The government
"s Noo ~ Responded Oy
saying that q careful watch would be kept
for the Carmen at Vigo, and that upon her
landing there her two passengers would be
arrested and locked up to await the call for
them by the American authorities. This
was In accordance with Jovellar's demand,
and was regarded here as satisfactory, as IL
made TWeed's capture q mere question OF
time. The very day that the news arrived
here OF the arrival OF the Carmen at Vigo
and Tweed's arrest, information was re
ceived at the Navy department that the T.
=. steamer Franklin was at Gibraltar upon
the eve OF departing upon a homeward
cruise. Instructions were at once cabled to
her omcers TO proceed to Vigo aud take
Tweed upon board and bring him along. 1t
Is supposed that Tweed's companion was his
nephew although that point is of such Sec
oDdary importance TO the State department
that DO information concerning him has been
sought.
NOT THE FRANKLIN.
A later dispatch was received at the Navy
Department from New York, stating the
vessel sighted this morning, and supposed
10 be the Fran kiln, proved TO be the school.
snip 81. Mary's. Nothing has as yet been
heard OF the Franklin.