The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-04-12
Romance of His Flight and Exile.

From Harpers Weeky.]
One of the inmates of Ludlow street
prison was person of many profession
al aliases, who has since been more safe
ly lodged in penitentiary in Vermont.
He is best known by the name of
"Bliss, and was the engineer Of the ex-
traordinary Northampton Bank robbery.
He was also professionally y engaged
i'll the famous Washington "safe bur-
glary," which was the occasion of inves-
tigation under the late administration of
Gen. Grant. This person lodged on the
upper floor, and had approached Tweed
with the proposal to avail himself of the
removal of the iron gratings of his win
dow, which was on the ground floor, and
which would enable them both to escape.
the whole matter to be managed from
the outside by the associates Of "Bliss. :"
The proposition had at first been laughed
at by Tweed. He had never previously
entertained the idea OF flight. He only
replied, "What could I do with myself :?
Where could 7 hope to hide myself 2"
Concealment for Tweed was, as it
seemed to him, an impossibility.
But meeting his professional " neigh
Dor daily in the courtyard of the
Jail, where they took their exercise,
the subject was more definitely dis
cussed, and, the outside friends of the
professional" being called in, Tweed
eEas persuaded of the practicability of q
plan which they presented, and for the
execution of which he engaged to pay q
stipulated amount of money. Flight, he
cd INO r.
His conferences with his new advisers,
peculiarly skilled in such matters, con-
WINGED him that this step, if entertained
at all, must be taken with such absolute
ness as to have no confdants or knowl-
edge of his plans exist among his own
friends. He must surrender himself ex-
clusively to the control of those who I'M
dertOok the job, leaving no ENHANCEMENT
on intelligence behind him by which he
could be traced or Overhauled. And,
accordingly, no member of his family,
nor his counsel, nor any friend or person
whatever OF his previous connections
knew Of his proposed flight, or had any
part IN It's 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
Ill Cuba by the Spanish officials.
Tweed understood that he was to be
taken in charge by well-organized body
OF men, distributed throughout the
country, having every facility, their con-
nections and method being thoroughly
tested and we'll established, He was
given the name OF John Secor, by which
he was to be known to his new connec-
lions, and his personal identity and his
own name were to be concealed from all
persons, without exception, from the
moment he passed out OF his own stoop
The exact minute OF departure was fixed
at 8 o'clock in the evening, not more
than one minute before to one minute
after that hour exactly. The time of his
flight was lett undetermined. But he
was to visit his house on certain DAYS.
and when the whole train was ready, a
sign was to be given by certain secret
mark upon the stOop, which he could
see as he assembled the steps.
Accordingly, Tweed took occasion to
obtain from the Sheriff and his keepers
the usual privilege Of the jail yard" to
visit his family and transact some bust
ness. Several such visits having been
made to his house at the usual hour.
after dark, he secretly made some prep
aratlon OF personal matters, and, put
ting his business affairs in as good order
as possible, finally reached the 4th of
December, 1875, which proved the oc-
casion OF his departure
On the evening Of that day he was
driven in the customary hack, attended
by two keepers, to his house. Ascend
ing the stoop, he saw the sign. It was
about half-past 7 o'clock, and dreary
December evening. The signal at once
aroused him with a startling shock, and
Gas he describes the occurrence) his
blood and his nerves were filled with an
" electrical excitement which thrilled every
hDer OF his frame. Controlling himself
with some effort, he led his attendants
10 their wonted and welcome feast. which
ION THIS occasion was amply provided in
the dining-room.
Mr.. Tweed concealed his excitement
oy an affected display Of appetite, and a
nervous and oficious attention to his
guests. The clock on the mantel. which
mao been carefully regulated, seemed to
ann 10 be almost lmmOvable, as the hands
developed the slow minutes of the half
hour preceding S o'clock. The keepers
ate, and he took care, also, that they
drank. The meal engaged The profound
attention OF the men, and they put in
their time effectively and promptly.
But Mr.. Tweed says he thought he never
mad assisted at so anxious and dilatory o
a service Of courses. He dreaded, on
she one hand, to serve them SO hurriedly
AS to have them rise and get in his way,
aaAd, on the other, he feared his deten-
SION with them beyond the close restric-
tAon Of his moment of departure. This
anxiety somewhat obscured the fluctua-
'aQn Of his resolution, which from time
20 tune brought revulsions impelling him
70 give up the escape altogether
6ut at just the right moment one of
the keepers rose and went to the wash
nasln IN the room to wash his hands, and
ret ready for tho 1,7v,,r;11,,o ,,,l --..-11 :.