The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1877-05-03

Anu now couiu kctp On my natl
Here's the end Of our good-nighti
And we'll talk OF the Glacial Eooch,
And the wonderful thiDgumabob
n. Il. A., IN the Princetonian.
THE STORY OF TWEEDS ESCAPE
Harpe's Weekly publishes an illus
trated article describing the fight ant
exile of VIM. M. Tweed. The followin,
are the chief points of the story:
The approaching trial of the great 81,
, million dollar suit against Tweed threat
ened demand on his cash resources fo
fees, which he plainly saw he should fai
to answer. HIS remaining possession
were not available to raise ready money
and credit, especially with lawyers, wa
out of the question. His money gone
his courage broke down also, and he re
solved on flight as remedy for his bank
ruptcy and his. hopeless imprisonment
Having lost the great Judges and law
yers Of the courts he had created and
controlled, he found himself forced tc
fall back upOn their clients, his fellow
prisoners in Jail. Tweed's mesmate in
the Ludlow Street Jail was Charley Law
renee. the silk smuggler, whose extradi.
tion led to the abrogation of the treaty
with England. From him Tweed learned
all the necessary details of the existing
treaties and the laws on the subject, and
having decided upon flight, he resolved
to reach Spain as the most expedient
.ab altar IN y;auy .,f fha N k.anoa sc 49, ~
tradition treaty with that country.
Another inmate of Ludlow Street
Jail was person of many professional
aliases, who has since been safely lodged
in a pepitentiary in Vermont. He is
best known by the name of Bliss, and
was the engineer of the extraordinary
Northampton Bank robbery. He was
also professionally engaged in the famous
Washington safe burglary. This person
lodged on the upper floor, and had ap-
preached Tweed with proposal to avail
himself of the removal of the iron graf
ings of his window, which was on the
ground floor, and which would enable
them botn to escape, the whole matter to
be managed from outside by the as
sociates of Bliss. The proposition had
at first been laughed at by Tweed, but
meeting his professional neighbor daily
in the courtyard of the Jail, where they
took exercise, the subject was more
definitely discussed, and outside friends
of the professional being called in, Tweed
was persuaded of the practicability of a
plan which they presented, and for the
execution of which he agreed to pay q
stipulated sum. No member of the bar,
nor his counsel, nor any friend or person
whatever of his previous connections
knew of his proposed fight, or had any
part in its execution. Neither did they
know of his whereabouts at any time
until it had become necessary for him to
communicate with them after his arrest
in Cuba by the Spanish officials. Tweed
understood that he was to be taken in
charge by a we'll organized body Of men
distributed throughout the country, hav-
ing every facility, their connections and
method being thoroughly tested and
well established. He was furnished with
q short key for telegraphic communica-
tion and one for postal facility. The
latter included system of Enclosures
through five different envelopes, with ad-
dresses at removed points. He was to
find occasion to visit his house, deliver
himself over secretly and unattended at
his own door. The execution of the
agreement included his landing in Spain
or under the Spanish flag, and on
Spanish territory, safely and secretly.
He was given the name of John SecOr,
by which he was to be known to his new
connections. and his personal identity
and his own name were to be kept from
all persons, without exception, from the
moment he passed out of his own stOOp.
The exact minutes of departure was fixed
at eight o'clock in the evening; not
more than one minute before to one
minute after that hour, exactly. The
time of his flight was left undetermined,
but he was to visit his house on certain
days, and when the whole train was
ready, sign was to be given by a GER
tain mark upon the stoop, which he
could see as he ascended the steps. Ac-
cordingly, Tweed took occasion to obtain
from the Sheriff and his keepers the
usual privileges of the jail yard, to visit
his family, and to transact some busi-
ness. Several such visits having been
made to his house at the usual hour,
after dark, he secretly made some prepa-
ration of personal matters, and putting
his business affairs in as good order as
possible, finally reached the 4th of De
cember, 1875, which proved the occasion
of his departure. On the evening of
that day he was driven in the customary
hack, attended by two keepers, to his
house. Ascending the stoop he saw the
sign. 1t was about halfpast seven
o'clock and dreary December evening.
The signal at once aroused him with q
startling shock. and as he describes the
occurrence his blood and his nerves were
filed with an electrical excitement,
which thrilled every fiber of his frame.
Controlling himself with some effort, he
led his attendants to their wonted and
welcome feast, which on this occasion
was amply provided in the dining room
The keepers ate, and Tweed took care also
that they drank. At just the right
moment one of the keepers rose and
went to the wash basin in the room to
wash his hands and get ready for the
usual cigar after dinner.
Tweed took the opportunity, rose also,
and saying he would wash in the ad-
joining room, he passed into tn, hall,
closing the door as he left the room. He
quickly took the first hat and coat and
slipped out of the front door. He was .
fugitive. He saw the hack before the
door without driver, who afro took ad-
vantage of the occasion in the kitchen.
Not q person or sound appeared to re-
spond to his appointment. II was not
quite one minute past 8. Hs had stolen
forth from his home 10 place himself in
the hands and guidance Of picked gang
of desperadoes. As he shrank back un-
der the shadow Of the stoop, 1t seemed
to him long period of doubt and self
examination, until his attention was at
tracted by the noise OF wheels, and he
saw common tradesman's wagon, such