The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-13
ORLEANS SATURDAY,
THE BIG BOSS
Is FREE AT LAsT-WILLIAM VI. TWEED
GONE TO HIS LONG. HOME.

Is FREE AT LAsT-wILLIAM VI. TWEED
GONE TO HIS LONG HOME.
Progress Of His Illness Closing Scenes
of a Checkered Life-His Last
biographical.
New YORK, April 12.-Wm. M. Tweed died
| at noon to-day in Ludlow street Jail, his death
| resulting from the illness from which he has
been suffering for q week past. He breathessa
| his last at precisely IL o'clock. The announce
| ness dates as far back as q week from Thurs
day, when he complained Of cold and pain
across the chest. Dr. Carnochan who has
been In constant attendance upon him during
+, his imprisonment, visited him on the follow
ing day and prescribed the usual remedies.
/ During that day and FFifay, however, he
grew worse and took to his bed, from which
he never rose again. 81 .@ss'ss's. sSfssa tsst
and chatted good -naturedly with his old nurse
Luke and the keepers who called to see him.
On Monday ne was great sufferer and com
planned of depression in the region OF the
| heart and found 1t difficult to breathe with
freedom. One Of his attendants who was
suffering from a severe cold visited him as
usual on Tuesday, and while talking over
their troubles Tweed said, my cold is very
so bad you would not find me ON my back as
/ don't go to bed for trifles."
| During Wednesday and Thursday he at
times rallied but it was apparent to all who
called that serious change had oyertaken
him. He was gruff in his language; his eyes
seemed to have lost their brilliancy, and he
complained of trivial things like child. Still
it was not thought for an instant that his case
was SO serious, it being the impression of his
friends that his strong, rugged constitution
would bring him out. At 6 O'Clock yesterday
afternoon DR.. Carnochan, who had been with
him during the greater part VI the day, left
| the prison, and before taking his departure
said to one Of the attendants that he was
afraid his patient would not get over his ill
ness.
During the early part OF the night Mr..
Tweed complained OF excruciating pain about
the chest and throat, and tossed restlessly on
his couch His nurse and other attaches OF
the prison attended him tenderly, raising his
head higher when he appeared to be strang
ling, cooling his parched1 lips and soothing
him in various ways This morning he was
when DIR. Carnochan arrived, he had again
grown worse Shortly after The Doctor had
entered the sick mans chambers. Mr.. Doug
lass, his son-in-law; John Develin, his old
and staunch friend, and Mr.. Edelstein, his
counsel and relative reached the prison and
were at once shown to the ROOM
Tweed recognized each of them, and held
out his hand DR.. CarnOchan then examined
his pulse, and discovered that it was gradn-,
ally growing weaker, and, from certain well
known indications. he became satisfied that
his patient had but short time to live He
informed the gentlemen present OF this fact,
and they gathered near his bedside. DIR. Car
nochan approached him gently, and as brie fly
and mildly as he could, told the sufferer that
he was past all hope Of recovery.
Tweed, who evidently knew that his final
dissolution was near at hand, said In firm,
clear voice:
II have tried to do some good. If have
not had good luck, am not afraid to die;
believe that the guardian angels will protect
me-"
These words we're uttered between Q and 10
o'clock, according to all accounts. Shortly
after uttering them he addressed Mr.. Edel-
stein by name, and when the latter leaned
over the dying man he spoke few words in
an incoherent manner, which were 20 the
moral effect on something. He did not finish
the sentence, as he was stricken with parox-
SIN OF pain and laid back in the bed.
After that he never rallied, and precisely at
outside were blowing their signals to cease
work for the monday meal, Tweed gave one
or two convulsive struggles, threw his head
back on the pillow and expired.
Not word was said for some moments by
the gentlemen who were present. Finally
silence WAS broken by the sobs OF old Luke
and then those in the Office were made aware
Of the Boss end, and from thence the news
spread like wildfire through the streets.
AS required by law, the first county official
to be notified was Sheriff Reilly. A message
was sent to his office at five minutes after H.
but he did not reach the Jail for nearly two
hours afterwards. Coroner Uhlman and his
deputy were next notified, and came to the
jail. They were quickly followed by a throng
OF reporters from all the newspapers and nu-
merous personal and political friends of the
| deceased
The warden of the Jail refused to permit
any of the visitors, save the coroner and his
| assistants, to visit the chamber in which the
dead man laid. The body was afterwards
laid out preparatory to being removed to the
residence OF Mr. Douglass, in Seventy-seventh
street. Immediately his servant began to
pack his luggage and a van was called to re-
| move it.
Coroner Waltman held an inquest on the
body at once. The remains looked quite
| natural, but very much emaciated. After
hearing the testimony the jury returned
verdict in accordance with the medical tes-
| timony that deceased died from pericenditis,
with effusion and heart clot,. with oomplica-
ton of bronchitis. pneumonia and chronic
congestion OF the kidneys
The news Of Tweeds death was received
first at the sheriff s office, and spread quickly
| through thd courts and In the City Hall. The
rooms Of the Board of Aldermen were soon
thronged with anxious inquirers, who were
| desirOus Of ascertaining the truth or falsity
Of the report. Special messengers were sent
from the Mayors office, and returned only to
confirm the news.
Then followed scene of the greatest con-
fusion. people crowding in and filling the cor
ridors.
An attempt was made to converse with
Controller Kelly on the subject, but he posi-
lively declined to see any one. ALI expressed
sympathy for the dead man, and one poll
tician remarked that his enemies had killed
| him at last.
Tweed's family who are in Paris, were at
once notified Of his death by cable. No ar
rangements have as yet been made for the
| funeral, but the undertaken has taken charge
Of the body.
Biographical.
| William Marcy Tweed was born in New
| York April 8, 1923, and thus at the time OF his
death was ty-fve years OF age. He learned
the trade OF chair making, and later in life
was admitted to the bar; in 1928 he was
Of Congress; in 1856 he was supervisor OF the
| city and chairman Of the board; in 1861 he
held the office Of school commissioner; from
| 1861 to 1861 he served as denutY street COM