Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-04-13
TWeed's Travels,


Harper's Weekly on the 4th published
long and minute account of Tweed's
fight and exile, compiled from his diary.
The following are some of the interest
ing points in his romantic story: In Lud.
low Street Jail before his fight he was in
absolute despair, having spent much of
his illgOtten gains on the lawyers, and
seeing nothing before him but confne-
ment for life in Ludlow Street Jail or
completion of his term in the Peniten-
tiary on Blackwell's Island. He could
not realize sufficient ready money on his
property, seeing which, his lawyers de-
serted him and he resolved on fight. A
fellow jail-bird, Charlie Lawrence, the
silk smuggler, explained the different in.
ternational treaties on extradition, and
with his knowledge he determined on
Spain as the safest harbor. Another of the
prisoners, Bliss, the Northampton bank
robber, explained the feasibility of
Tweed's escape. These professionals
admitted their outside friends into the
negotiation, and Tweed agreed to pay a
stipulated amount of money in case of
successful escape.
Accordingly he put himself entirely in
the hands of this band of professionals,
without acquainting his family or law
yers with the project, his contract being
to deliver himself at his own door to the
gang, who we're then to land him in Spain,
or under the Spanish flag, when the
money was to be paid. Dec. 4, 1875,
the plan was carried out, and after slip
ping from his custodians at his own
house he got into tradesman's wagon
in the street, which his confederates had
in waiting, and drove off. He was placed
on a row-boat in the North River and
landed in lonely part of the Palisades,
near the dueling ground where Hamil-
ton was killed by Aaron Burr. A lone
| ly ride of three quarters of an hour took
them to a dismal old homestead, where
another of his newly-found friends
greeted him kindly and he remained in
hiding from that day, Dec. 4, 1875, until
the following March.
The first act of these thieves was to
disguise him and transform him into Mr..
John Secor, an invalid gentleman. From
the bluffs he could see his own home in
New York and, with a constant fear of
the police and the forced seclGsion, he
suffered terribly. Shaving off his whis-
a reddish, curly wig, he made an effect.
i've disguise. For three months he was
here in the hands of the conspirators,
obeying gthemimplicitlY. He slept, walked,
etc, drank or walked out as they bade
him, and in March his quarters were
moved to a fisherman's hut near the Mar
rows, on Staten Island, where he remained
two weeks. During this two weeks he
crossed the bay and slept one night in
Brooklyn, successfully eluding the de-
tectives. A light and fast schooner was
fitted out and, with Tweed, two compan-
ions and negro boy, slipped out of the
bay before a pleasant breeze and the par
ty soon reached Florida.
Here he engaged board at one of the
lighthouse stations, still under the name
of John Secor, an invalid. Tweed then
paid off the professionals and closed his
his contract with them, and they left him
to himself in the lighthouse, half mile
from the main land, and lonely to the
last extremity. He then engaged man
named Hunt, whose business was plotting
strangers through the country, and he
spent some time hunting and fishing in
the interior. He then went to st. Au-
gustine and took fishing smack which
landed him near Santiago dc Cuba. The
skipper landed him in the moonlight,
and, there being no habitations in sight,
he wrapped his blanket around him and
slept amongst the rocks. Hunt was still
with him, and they wandered about,
avoiding settlements and towns, until
they were arrested for not having pass
ports, and from the 18th to the 23d of
June, 1876. they were imprisoned on a
Spanish man Ofwar. The United States
Consul procured their release on parole,
and they lived some time at Santiago.
AT this place he formed some pleasant
social acquaintances and was we'll re-
ceived as Mr.. Secor by the Spanish au-
thorities.- On the 4th of last July he
celebrated the centennial by display of
fireworks at his hotel After the final
settlement of the charge of violating the
customs laws of Spain he was permitted to
leave Cuba; took passage for Vigo, Spain,
and on the 9th Of September last he was
arrested at that place. In the lazaretto
there he was under the strictest watch
but being attracted one day by the un-
usual gestures of Spanish chambermaid
he searched the slop- bucket and found a
note from his son. From this note he
first learned the charge against him and
discovered that the Spanish were hold
ing hlm suppOsing him to be Secretary
Belknap. Communication was main
tanned with the outside by means of this
chambermaid until Hunt got one of the
notes, when he was surprised to find that
bis employer was, VIM. M. Tweed, and
not John Secor, and after this Hunt was
loud in protesting his innocence of any
completely with Tweed, who, he said,
had deceived him. Hunt was then re-
leased, and Tweed returned on the
Franklin.
On Dec. 8, last year, he wrote to
Charles O'COnor, offering to make resti-
tuition, and large pile of checks, vouch-
ers and evidence is now in the hands of
Atty Gen. Fairchild. He will soon be
released, and may possibly return to
Spain to engage In important railroad
works. the plans for which he had ma.
tured before his arrest at Vigo,