Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-04-26
CAREER OF WIN. NJ. TWEED.
sketch Of the Life Of the Notorious Ne'
York Ring Boas.o

mig culel, DoSS 1Weeu. We
quote:
William Marcy Tweed was born in
New York in 1923. When about twelve
years old William was sent to a boarding
school in Elizabethtown, n. J. Here he
finished his education. He studied
nothing but the English branches. On
his return from boarding school, young
Tweed entered his fathers shop and be-
came a chairmaker. Afterward he rem
the business on his own account. HIS
evenings we're spent either in the theat-
ers or in engine houses. Like most New
York boys OF that day, he fancied the
life of fireman. He joined engine com
pany No. on Jan. ], 1849. Within six
months he was elected foreman. Big
Six, as she was called, became the most
famous engine company in the city.
She dashed through the streets, aiming
to be the first at all the fires. Tweed
led the ropes with a silver-mounted
trumpet in his hand, white fre-coat
over his arm, and one of the old-fash-
toned stiff hats on his head. He was
well known to all bunkers and volun-
teer firemen. His personal popularity
was so great, and the friends of Big Six
so numerous, that the company became
a powerful lever in municipal politics.
The Americas club was the offspring of
its popularity, and its influence was felt
in political matters years after its dis
bandment.
With the foremanship of Big Six,
Tweed began his political career. In
1850 he ran for assistant alderman of
the Seventh ward, but was defeated by
the Wing candidate, Mr.. John B. Webb.
The following year he again contested
the district with Mr.. Webb and was
elected by large majority. His bust
ness tact and vigor were recognized in
the board, and the leaders of the party
predicted his rise to power. In 1852
Tweed was elected to Congress, serving
one term, and in 1856 he was defeated
for alderman, but was elected school
commissioner the following year, and in
1857 he became supervisor. During
all these years he had carried on his
chairmaking business. Soon after his
election as supervisor he sold out and
devoted all his time to politics. He
served as supervisor until the board was
abolished in 1870. In 1861 Tweed was
defeated for sheriff, but was appointed
deputy street commissioner in 1868.
From this time forward he became a
power in city and State politics. The
city swarmed with officials holding sine
cures. There were streetinspectors, pump
inspectors, water inspectors, inspectors
of meters, of weights and measures, of
street membranes, all drawing salar-
les, and all useless.
With this vast power, Tweed became
very rich. He invested in real estate
and iron mines; was Interested in every
street opening and widening; had a hand
in all contracts, and was o director in
railroad and gas companies, banks and
insurance companies, and similar organ
izations, almost without number. Com
paratively poor man in 1864, within
five years he was reputed to be worth
SO, 600, 600. A board of audit was
formed in New York having control5of
the city's finances, and the members of
which were Tweed, Sweeny, Connolly
and Hall. Tweed was now master of the
city. He could throttle his enemies
through the board of audit. His first
measure was to reimburse himself for
his expenses in fighting the Young
Democracy. Within two months, with
the aid of Carney, Woodward and In
gersoll, over Sc, 100000 of city money
was drawn from the Broadway Bank and
divided. Woodward drew the money
and paid Tweed's and Ingersoll's shares
with checks in the same bank. His sue
cess seemed to have made Tweed reck-
less. At last, however, figures were
obtained from the books in the comp
troller's Office that conclusively showed
the operations of the Ring. The figures
were so convincing that the people rose
en- masse. A great meeting was held,
and seventy prominent citizens appoint
ed to investigate. The board of audit
became alarmed. Discussions sprane
up. The comptroller's Office was broken
open and many vouchers destroyed
Connolly believed that he was to be
made scapegoat. He went to his ole
friend, ex-Mayor Havemeyer, made 6
partial confession, and gave up the key
to the situation. With the weight o.
these disclosures Tweed ran for state
senator, and was elected by 5000 ma
iority over O'Donovan kossa, bu
never took his seat in the Senate. A sui
was now begun against Tweed by the
city, but the jury disagreed. He wal
tried second time on criminal indict
ment, November 10, 1873, was fount
guilty and sentenced to twelve years
imprisonment, and to pay fine o
, 1880. After serving one year OF
Blackwell's Island Tweed was release,
on writ of hG6eas corpus, but new civi
suits were begun against him, and not be
ing able to obtain the required So, 600, 00
bail he was imprisoned in Ludlow stree
, jail. He remained there until Dec. 4
1875. While visiting his residence, il
, custody of two keepers he made his es
cape. For some days he was hidden il
!. New Jersey, not far from the Weehawk
> en- ferry. He was afterward conveye,
to farmhouse beyond the Palisades
His whiskers were shaved off, his hal
clipped, and he put on wig and gol
9 spectacles. He assumed the name O
John Secor. He afterward spentsome tim
in fisherman's hut within sight of tn
Narrows and visited Brooklyn. He lef
in schooner, and landed on the coast @
Florida. From there he reached Cub
in fishing smack, and was landed on
rock near Santiago de Cuba by the skip
!. per. He and a companion, Hunt, wer
at once arrested. He was recognized
Z e but got on board the Spanish bar
= Carmen and took passage for Vigc
9 Spain. Hamilton Fish, then Secretar
:, of State, requested the Spanish author
> tiles to arrest him on his arrival. The
did so, and, though there was no extra
= dition treaty between the two govern
u ments, and the suit against Tweed was
e civil and not a criminal one, he wa
u turned over to the commander of til