The Portland daily press., 1877-04-04
TWEED.
A Circumstantial Account of His
Flight and Exile.
How He Escaped and Where He
Concealed Himself.

New YORK, April 3.7Harpers Weekly will
publish tomorrow an Illustrated article descIib-
ing the flight and exile of Tweed. 1t appears
that Tweed's messmate in Ludlow street Jail
formerly secretary of the Americas club. An
other inmate was Bliss, the engineer of the
Northampton bank robbery. This LOGGER was
on the upper floor Of the Jail and had ap-
preached Tweed with proposal to avail him
self of the removal of the iron gratings of his
window on the ground floor to escape With the
aid OF the outside professional friends of Bliss
Tweed was pursuaded of the practibility of the
plan presented by the latter aud engaged to
pay stipulated amount. None of his family
nor his counsel, nor any person whatever was
to know of his flight, and Tweed understood
that he would be taken charge of by well or
ganized body of men distributed throughout
the country. He was to find occasion to visit
his house in Fifth avenue and deliver himself
secretly at his own door The exact minuts of
departure was even fixed in advance on day
to be indicated by MAX to be made on the
stOOp which he could see as he assembled the
steps.
Tweed consequently obtained from the sher-
if and keepers The usual leave to visit his fam
lily and transact business. Several such visits
tiOns made for departure. On the evening of
the 4th of December, 1875, he was driven in
the customary hack, attended by two keepers,
to his house and ascending the stoop discovered
the sign. Controlling his nerves with an effort
he led his attendants to their usual feast in the
dining room. At the moment secretly fixed
Tweed went into an adjoining room, ostensibly
to wash and quickly lett the house. The noise
of wheels attracted his attention and he saw a
common tradesman wagon from under cor
her of which mans arm was reached out as
sign that it was for him. As he descended
the stoop man passed slowly who said. "All
right, get into the wagon" He scrambled in
and was quickly driven around the block into
Madison avenue and thence in zig-zag course
to the North River, where tho driver told him
to get out. A man there indicated that he en-
ter row boat, in which he quickly reached
the jersey shore. There he was met by an
other vehicle and driven into the region beyond
the Palisades to an old farm house, where he
was received by another of his new found
friends. In this place Tweed remained till
neigbboring bluffs he could see his home in
New York.
His first care was to put on disguise trans
forming himself into his assumed personality,
John Secor, an invalid gentleman. with his
whiskers shaven and his hair clipped off. He
put on wig and pair of gold spectacles.
The wig was reddish yellow hair, curled in ap-
pearance, cut square and quite well down on
the neck. Reading newspapers was his chief
occupation. He seldom ventured out in the
day time A walk in the early morning and
occasional shutdown rides in covered country
wagon filed up the routine of his time for sew
eral weeks. As the daily reading CT the re-
ports of his trial was becoming monotonous he
was startled by the fact that O'Conor lad re-
appeared in his case. This dissipated his hopes
cred up his scanty effects in New jersey and
took up his temporary abode about half a mile
from Fort Wadsworth in the Narrows in q
fisherman's hut with his two companions.
Here they stayed two weeks, making prepara-
tions. Tweed even made visit across the
nhon md Stn n nivhf iY,R ronl Ion,
A light, fast-sailing schooner was fitted out
and manned by himself, two companions and a
negro boy. He started at night and in due
time reached the coast of Florida. At one of
the lighthouses he took board with the keeper
and his companions returned to New York.
Here he was joined by a person known as
Hunt in the reports of his subsequent arrest.
Together they went into the interior of Florida
hunting, &C., and when the weather become
too hot were driven to 81. Augustine, which they
landing after forty hours sail soma ten miles
from Santiago de Cuba. The remainder of
Tweed's adventures have long since been told
Tweeds letter of December 6, 1876, to Chas
O'Conor, in which he offers to surrender his
property and papers is made public. 1t is
understood O'Conor sent this letter to Attorney
General Fairchild, with his favorable recon-
mendatiop, and that O. Conor also signifed his
intention 10 terminate his more active connec-
ton with the Ring prosecution now practically
ended. Acting upon this view the Attorney
General has himself made several visits to
Tweed, and has carried;out the examination to
his effects, and especially of che information
which Tweed had to turn over. A large pile of
checks, vouchers and evidence is accordingly
in the control of Attorney General Fairchild.
Tweed's release has been Professionally agreed
to, aud will as soon as due forms are complied
with be carried with effect. As to what mag
become of Tweed when he has surrendered all
his property ana turned over his papers We
are enabled to say that his flight was not
altogether that Of an aimless fugitive. He
intended to enter upon important railroad work
in Spain, which may still engage him if he
sees his way to it upon his release. He was 81
years old on Tuesday, April Sd.