The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-04-25
CAREER OF WIN. M. TWEED.
sketch of the Life of the Notorious New
York Rius Boss.v

Ring" chief. Boss Tweed. We
quote:
William Marcy Tweed was born in
New York in 1923. When about twelve
years old William was sent to 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 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. 6 on Jan. i, 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 silver-mounted
trumpet in his hand, white fire-coat
over his arm, and one of the old-fash-
ioned stiff hats on his head. He was
we'll 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
q powerful lever in municipal politics.
The Americus 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
| ao-l,lota NJ TDh,, Na1,h
The following year he again contested
elected by large majority. His busi-
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 hand
in all contracts, and was a director il
railroad and gas companies, banks an6
insurance companies, and similar organ
izations, almost without number. Com
paratively poor man in 1864, within
five years he was reputed to be wortl
$12, ,000,O coo. A board of audit wal
formed in New York having control O.
the city's finances, and the members o
which were Tweed, Sweeny, Connoll.
and Hail. Tweed was now master of th'
city. He could throttle his enemie
through the board of audit. His frs
measure was to reimburse himself TO
his expenses in fighting the Young
Democracy. Within two months, will
the aid of Garvey, Woodward and In
gersoll, over Sc, 900, 900 of city none,
was drawn from the Broadway Bank ant
,, divided. Woodward drew the none,
and paid Tweed's and Ingersoll's share
with checks in the same bank. His sue
! cess seemed to have made Tweed reck
, less. At last, however, figures wer
obtained from the books in the comp
troller's Office that conclusively shove,
the operations of the Ring. The figure
were so convincing that the people ros
en- masse. A great meeting was held
and seventy prominent citizens appoint
ed to investigate. The board of audi
!, became alarmed. Dissensions spran
up. The comptroller's Office was broke
; open and many vouchers destroyed
Connolly believed that he was to b
made scapegoat. He went to his oil
friend, ex-Mayor Havemeyer, made
0 partial confession, and gave up the Ike
to the situation. With the weight {
e these disclosures Tweed ran for stat
y senator, and was elected by 5000 ms
e iority over O'Donovan fossa, bu
e never took his seat in the Senate A sui
! was now begun against Tweed by tn
city, but the jury disagreed. He wa
tried second time on criminal indict
1 ment, November 10, 1873. was foun
BullUy anu StuleuCtu W tWtlNe year
imprisonment, and to pay fine {
4 $500. After serving one year O
d Blackwells Island Tweed was release
II on writ of ha6eas corpus, but new civ
s suits were begun against him, and not b.
ing able to obtain the required SO, 900, ,0C
n bail he was imprisoned in Ludlow stre'
Jail. He remained there until Dec.
Il 1875. While visiting his residence,
Z, custody of two keepers he made his @
IS cape. For some days he was hidden
). New Jersey, not far from the Weehawl
Is en- ferry. He was afterward conveye
q to farmhouse beyond the Palisade
His whiskers were shaved off, his ha
It clipped. and he put on wig and go
g spectacles. He assumed the name
d John Secor. He afterward spentsome tin
in tishermans hut within sight of I'll
70 Narrows and visited Brooklyn. He lie
n in schooner, and landed on the coast
Florida. From there he reached Cul
in fishing smack, and was landed on
, rock near Santiago de Cuba by the ski
y per. He and companion, Hunt, we
+ at once arrested. He was recognize
?. but got ON board the Spanish bal
II Carmen and took passage for Wig
10 Spain. Hamilton Fish, then Secretal
4 of State, requested the Spanish autho
> tiles to arrest him on his arrival. Th'
+ did so, and, though there was no extr
l, dition treaty between the two cover
~ ments, and the suit against Tweed was
"a civil ard not criminal one, he W
| b.. 1 10 fhn a1,1,, oE 4