The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-04-13


and coat and slipped out the front-door.
He was fugitive He saw the hack be-
fore the door without the driver, who also |
took advantage of the occasion in the |
kitchen. Not q person or a sound APP |
peared to respond to his appointment. |
1t was not quite minute past 8. The
revulsion of his previous excitement
seemed to have set in, and he began to
experience peculiar sensations.
He had stolen forth from his home to
place himself in the hands and guidance
of picketed gang of desperadoes AS
he shrunk back under the shadow of the
stoop, it seemed to him long period of
doubt and self-examination, until his at
tention was attracted by the noise of
wheels, and he saw a common trades
mans wagon, such as is used by grocers
and express drivers. He saw also mans
arm reach out from the cover, which was
the sign that it was for him. AS he de-
scended the stoop he also saw a man
passing slowly, which caused him to
hesitate but this person said, in low
tone, "All right; get in the wagon.
So he scrambled into the covered wagon,
which drove quickly around the block
into Madison avenue but as they got
there, car having run off the track,
some mounted police and passengers
stood in the way and the fugitive was
stopped two or three minutes. Before
the car was righted and he had started
again the suspense seemed to him an
age.
The wagon soon started again, and
drove zigzag across the city toward the
North river, which was soon reached,
and beside big truck on the pier they
stopped.
1.-THE driver said, SECT out on the
river side"
Tweed got out, seeing that the truck
covered him from observation as he
alighted.
A man stood near the truck also, who
indicated that Tweed was to descend
into a row-boat, in which he quickly en-
barked and crossed to the Jersey side.
There he was met by another vehicle
in waiting for him on the shore road,
when he was driven off into the region
beyond the river and the Palisades,
climbing and descending as occasion was,
but in direction and to a termination
where he never had been before, and
| COlllu uOb uOW doCtIbtlu VI llluCutt.
This lonely ride in the darkness made
half or three-quarters of an hour, mainly
! mt rapid pace when not delayed by the
unfavorable roadway. They passed into
the peculiar region beyond the Pail
sades, where the aspect of the scenery
may be found as wild and primitive as in
the Adirondacks, and refugee would be
far more likely to escape observation.
Skirted by picnic taverns and Sunday
beers gardens, the population of this
picturesque territory is chiefly German.
Back from the river there are few
travelled highways, and the few old
farm-houses have a dilapidated and de-
serted appearance.
Reaching one of these decayed and
unobtrusive homesteads, Tweed was
received by another of his new-found
friends, who greeted him quietly with
assurances of kindness and safety. Be-
ing led into the house, his host rendered
him the use of accommodations either
on the ground-hoor or on one above.
After examination, the second story was
| chosen.
In this refuge Tweed continued from
his arrival, the 4th day of December, until
about the first week in March.
After fitful nights rest, the fugitive
rose the next morning to realize that he
was an exile at his own threshold, as it
were.
The first care in the morning was to
put on his disguise and transform him
self into his assumed personality, a." Mr.
John Secor," an invalid gentleman, seek
ing merely a little rest and fresh air. as
well as relief from business pressure.
SO, his whiskers being shaved off, and
his hair clipped short, he put on wig.
Reading the papers was his chief oc-
cupation. He seldom ventured out of
doors in the daytime. A walk in the
early morning, and an occasional late
shutdown ride in the covered country
wagon through the unfrequented wooded
lanes, filled up the routine of his time
for several weeks.
He subsequently took up temporary
abode about half mile from Fort Wads-
worth, on Staten island, in fisherman's
hut, with his two companions.
During his stay on Staten island a
light and fast-sailing little schooner was
fitted out, and manned by himself and
two companions, with negro boy. He
started at last from the pier in front of
the fort in a row-boat, in the night, and
slipped away upon pleasant breeze.
In due course, and without anything
noticeable, they reached the lagoons on
the coast of Florida. At one of the light
house stations they made definite stop
page again, Tweed taking board with
the keeper of the light as John Secor, an
invalid gentleman seeking restoration
of health and the recreations of fishing
and hunting. Here, too, he parted with
his guides from New York, closing his
contract with them at that place.
His new quarters stood out in the surf,
upon a long and irregular strip of sandy
sea-beach, outside of a bright and limpid
lagoon between this beach and the MAIN
land, the lagoon averaging about half a
mile in width. Here, in this lonely
shelter, he took melancholy and medi-
tative rest He experienced for the first
time in years a feeling of perfect peace
and safety which began to fascinate him.
His restless activity and the tumult
from which he had escaped had prepared
him for strong appreciation of this
forlorn abode. The keepers. simple