The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-11-06
TWEED'S ESCAPE AND CAPTURE.
A Full History of the Affair from
he official Records.

WAsHfNGTON, Nov. 6-The story oi
Tweed's escape and mode Of capture has
afforded such fine field for an average
newspaper romance that the true story,
based upon official documents of the
State Department, possesses an unusual
interest, as it sets at rest forever the
absurd charges and claims OF credit that
have grown out Of his capture.
ATweed escaped from New York in a
small schooner, and WAS landed in a
small boat from the schooner in an OBJ
scure 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 land
ing Tweed and a young man who &C
companied him. After the two were
placed on shore the small boat returned
to the schooner, when sue headed south
aud started out to sea again.
A Spanish fisherman witnessed the
secret landing of these two men in this
obscure quarter, and at once suspected
them of being men coming with aidaand
comfort for Cuban insurgents. The sus-
picions of the fisherman were still fur
ther increased, by these two men ap-
preaching him and offering him large
sum o. moe, to carry them over TO 5 II.
tiago De Cuba. He complied with their
request, pockeLed their money and then
Loyalty turned them over to the Spanish
authorities as suspicious characters
who had landed upon the island in such
a secret manner that their presence cer-
tainly demanded an explanation.
Tweed and his companion asserted
that they were travelling for their health,
but told 80 many stories as TO still fur.
ther accumulate suspicion against them.
Tweed also exhibited passports, made
out by the State Department at Wash
ington, for himself and companion, un.
der the names of Secor and Hunt
Tweed said he was citizen of Florida,
and was very indignant aC mis- arrest.
outstanding his explanations and
his passports, he was paced i'll the Gus.
tody of an Admiral OF the Spanish fl yet
at Santiago de Cuba, il being thought
that as Tweed was captured while trav-
cling by sea he belonged, a5 matter OF
right, to the naval au horties.
The American Consul at Santiago de
Cuba, Alfred N. Young, impaired al. the
facts of the capture OF the American
citizens to Consul General Hail, at Ha-
vana. Hall at once reported by Tele
graph to the State Department. here all
The lacts i'll the case as they had been
sent to him. The State Departmeu ut
people at once oVerhauled the records
and found that the passports referred to
were irregular anu had not been OBJ
tanned in due form. II then occurred to
Secretary Fish, who was familiar with
tle many sensational stories 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 u photograph OF Tweed
to Hall to have Secor, if possible, iden-
lifted. This, OF course, occupied some
time, but Tweed was meanwhile kept in
custody. Promptly upon the receipt OF
Tweed's photograph Hall dispatched ii
to Santiago de Cuba, when Young at
once Identified Tweed. Han then tele-
graphed to Fish that the man calling
himself SecOr was Tweed, and asked
Tor instructions. Fish atonce sent back
word to the Consul General to see Cap
tain Gene, al Jovillar and present to
INN the full statement OF the case and
request tnat the Spanish Government
de lYer him up to the United Safes, bat
meanwhile il aple that Tweed had
strong friends in CUBA, who aiued him
i'll again making his escape.
An Influential resident of Santiago
de cuba, not a Spaniard nor American,
whose name is withheld by the State
Department, was instrumental in D 4r-
suading the Spanish Admiral to release
Tweed upon his parole TO visit Santiago
de Cuba. "Ol course he violated his
parole at once and again escaped. Con-
sui Young at once found out winch way
he had gone, and that he had taken pass
age upon the Carmen, Spanish trading
barque Dound for Vigo, Spain. ConsuI
General Hall, at Havana, reported this
escape to Jovillar, Who was very inlig.
nant at this escape.
He at once communicated by cable
with tie Government at Madrid, and it
responded by saying that a
careful watch would be kept for the
Carmen at Vigo, and thai upon her land
ing there the two passengers would be
and locked up to await the call
for them by the American authorities.
This was in accordance with JOvillar's
and was regarded here as sas-
isfactory, as it made Tweeds capture a
mere question Of time. .t...
The very day that the news arrived
here of the arrival of the Carmen at
V!go and Tweed's arrest Information
Was received at the Navy Department
that the U. S. steamer Franklin was at
Gibr ar and on the eve OF departing
upon homeWard cruise. Instructions
were at once cabled 10 her officers to
proceed to Vigo and take Tweed on
board and bring him along.
1t is supposed that Tweeds compan-
ion was his nephew, although that per-
son is OF such secondary Importance to
The State Department that no inlorma-