New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-01
HOW TWEED ESCAPED.
TAKEN FROM COMFY ISLAND IN A SCHOONER

tvnicsl American seaman is Captain James Bryan. Of
the West India ana New York usdag feet Not ar from
afty years age he has led busy and adventurous hc
md effect OF his pursuits upon his scsrcd Snd
weather beaten tce 1t will surprise rost OF MS tenas
md acouantances learn that he played an important
part in the escape of william Marcy Tweed who was con-
victed OF the wholesale robbery the country mas
ever SEEN and Of william J. Shsrkey the CROOK VINO
was convicted OF numbering Robert s Dunn
To reporter Captain Bryan said have never
spoken matter before unless 70 my family 'or e
criminals 10 escape.
In the early part Of seventies. was captain OF
the trading schooner Kelly whose agents were Cameron
Co. Of city. believe they were also the owners
although only who claimed an interest," IN inc
vessel were Cameron Of the nrm and Nike Murray
gentleman whom understood 10 be largely Interested
In Coney Island and In very stylish gambling
establishment uptown. The schooner was neat we'll
equipped and esworthy boat and for long time was very
successful in commerce We between New-fek ana
the West Indies going sometimes Jamaica sometimes
TO Porto Rco and the minor islands OF the An
TILES .
ORDERED TO SAIL ON SHORT NOTICE
On the Saturday after Tweeds escape from his Keep
ers arrived in with . cargo OF but htte vaIue
and reported early to my owners AS we usually Jay In
mort about week, surprised when thcy nosneo mo
20 proceed TO Immediately. suggested naturally
that needed for myself and crew. rev sup
niles for the vessel and clean clothes and linen Tor
myself They had apparently anticipated this answer a.
they replied that all the stores and supplies mao oocn
bought and were ready 90 on board louho heA'
day that they had told the truth and had delivered Almost
cargo OF stuff Of various kinds for my clothes and
linen they gave a check for handsome amount ana
told buy whatever needed but 70 waste no 1no "
pricing with the boys got re" Things W pu' III"
men in good and prevent their going on ana esV
ing me- in the lurcb, ana was on Dosro carry AZ ' ~
Here found Mr.. Michael Murray, one o' the c"herS
nervously awaiting Within few minutes We "ero
hopping down bay. On the passage down. MI Murray
said he had friends gentlemen ana sood eho"s VIM
we're in trouble and who him to help them escape
70 the West Indies that he would have been wiling 70 40
20 as matter Of friendship but that they were ~ehAeo
aud had put up enough money 10 make 1t an interest o "
0, US concerned. He then showed me my ships papers
which made Port Maria, jamaica my point oil oesea'o'
with the right to stop Intermediate ports 81 my discretion
and said that these intermediates would DC
ed by his Two friends
DROPPING ANCHOR OFF COMFY ISLAND
ave sailed through the Nsrrows l expecting 10 be
overtaken or met by tug boat with the fusieVes
on Nortons Point Coney Island Mr. Murray ofdefo"
the anchor dropped 1t was sull daylight ana we lay
there until grew dark probably O'clock In the evening
Then yellow light was shown on the pier. ana N"Sou
three times Mr. Murray ordered the small boat out ana
] rowed ashore When We reached the wharf tnero
were two but there was so little ught ths' oil
could see was and stout and the otnef
medium sized slender and nervous they sh"oA hAnu'
warmly with Mr. Murray and appeared very happy ct his
appearance
"The larger man introduced to me as Uncle 'ohh
Decker, and tho smaller as sam Smith hrcr htiouu"
Ing them. Mr.. Murray wished them pheasant 'o9sse
told them that would obey their orders the same % IL
they we're owners 10 which l sssented ana chasing
hands ell round. walked back toward the MOTEL. Inc
two entered and rowed them TO the schooner
We went on board and were shortly under way "heh
the course had been everything made snug for the
night went into the litne cabin to entertain my
passengers. l entered tho room, the einer man was
sitting under the lamp and the younger enc was "A"s
nervously 10 and FRO. -
TWEED RECOGNIZED AT ONCE BY THE CAPTAIN
had never seen Tweed personally, but had heard so
him and seen many portraits and csca'us
that I knew him the moment eyes fell on him. for
an instant Of the reward which must De onereo
and Of the terrible risk taking myself In aidins inc
escape OF great criminal but the sight OF he ou man
sitting there with bloodless sshen face ana WIN an
.nxons look OF hunted rat determined TO help
him In his trouble far as could The conversation
between the three lasted hour when all OF VA went on
deck where Tweed and his companion wnom 1 soon
learned 10 be Sammy Hunt talked unth u'o houi'
The next morning when Tweed was below, saio 70
Hunt l know your friend. It's Boss Tweed ne
seemed ANNOYED. but after pause SAID; hes you TO
right He is easily recognized You're not going 70
give us away. though are you2 He's got something 'e
out Of the ruin couple OF millions cold ana ne
make It square with you didn't Ike the answer an.
only said don't want your money or MS snsaeou
10 deliver you safe whore you want 70 CO. ana III Aeop
my word Hunt pleased and told the remark 70
NEITHER SMOKED. DRANK OR TALKED.
The vovar. was uneventul weather and sea being
ms GOOD q, ever saw there. Tweed model passen'
ger He never drank nor smoked was shRht eater
Door talker passed most OF his time reading thhke
and talking and then He would SIT IN an
on the deck under an awning in the shade or else In
the cabin From first to last he seemed terribly broken
up by disgrace and fight Once only did ne sho" any
signs Of unesslness. and that was when We sishooo
steamer and thought revenue cutter or manor
war But even here nc braced up quickly, and was soon
calm and possessed When he did talk II was about
his past and family and quite interesting re"
times he spoke OF the tresehery OF politicians whom nc
Nd rfui andeS
lawyers who mad betrayed him. He named many out
knew nothing Of politics and politicians and soon iorEot
the names Sammy. called Hunt, was Tweeos e1aet
opposite and wac unessest and most nervous man
ever saw on shpbosrd He talking walking. smoking
md drinking without stop, until we all wondered how ne
Kept alive -
After we had been days we discussed the
svstem OF escape. / knew the part Of the woro we
we're going to ami they didn't and 80 gave my advice
first They took and 50 got caught III they nao
they could disappeared and never been fouhu AGAIN
My plan was To 20 to Maria, jamaica, and there
charter or buy a small trading schooner LOAD her Win
.,v chem or trashy cargo dsarm suspicion, and get
the tesi papers for clearing and then run over c Oh
Jago or other insignificant trading port WIN
the bogus passports both had secured in Newfok from
corrupt lawyer and notary. this would give them oehS
or fase identity which would be dlnecult TO break
WOULD BE TAKEN FOR BOLD BUCCANFEhs'
Hunts plan was to approach ST. Jago in the night
time land the shore, or else intercept some 'mAn
vessel which carry them to the town. ana tnere
d,sar,ark "A travellers opposed him strongly as
knew how and said that strangers LANDING ID sucn
vsv would be arrested and tried as buccaneers or Nh
busters and mi ght shot, and certainly woua DC I'M
prsoned for long period In neither case couu hc? k
f.ss hy arnealinp 10 the United States authorities
unless thew disclosed themselves, when they would DO
deivered up Tweed, during the discussion strongly
favored my views and thought my opinions mao Won
IInn however no seemed have some power over 'ne
- 80 mind and did with him he pleased closed
The discussion by saying: You know your oroers' 40
~ nave said looked Tweed expecting 70 near ms
Views but he merely bowed assent to his ifienu 'u
command 49,. ,rx co,rs..
toward St Jago coming anchor at the mouth Oh hN
river lust east of the At early morn i"11o oa
on deck and was delighted at the sight OF iano- " o
over "a me- shook hands thanked me over ana over again.
=, - 80 20 900 I'm cash as mark OF his personal