The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-02
rwEEps FAMOUS CLUB HOUSE.
Gold Coins i'm the Mortar, the Flag
pole and the Carpet.

Mr.. E. C. Benedict's negotiations for the
purchase of the Indian Harbor Hotel prop
erty at Greenwich, Conn, have recalled
William NJ. Tweed Among William M.
Tweed's nearest friends it was known that
two men used to accompany him almost
everywhere sort of body guard. Tweed
always had horror of being stabbed and
feeling that some enemy was awaiting an
opportunity to thrust knife into his alb
domen. These men were instructed to pro-
tect him, one on each side, and. in walking
in a crowd. to keep few PAGES in front of
him. One of these men was an FISHERMAN.
whose home was in Greenwich, and he
his valet as we'll He died not long ago.
Not many of the guests who have wan
dered through the drawing room of the
four years have known the history of the
wonderful carpet beneath their feet, and
yet it is so famous that men interested in
the production of such fabrics have travelled
hundreds of miles to examine it. 1t was
made in Brussels in 1870. 1t was one en-
tire piece, and the loom upon which it was
woven had to be made expressly for its
manufacture. With all the pounding and
humping and dancing OF the multitudes
that for nearly a quarter of century have
used it, it is still bright and thick. There
was a good deal of talk about TINS carpet
in the pamy days of the Tweed Ring, and
some members of the club did not agree
with Tweed about the purchase of ex-
Tweed's persistence and the carelessness
with which he spent money that finally set
tied the matter.
he one day, that viii last as longN as the
building does. There shall be no seams in
it, so that when it is cleaned it can be
raised TO the roof. edge up, and beaten
from the windows"
1t is said that this beautifuliy-woven car
pet has never been taken off the floor, and
that it lies just it was originally tackled
down in the spring of 1871. 1t cost a great
deal of money and the import duty on ii
was very large. No one but Tweed really
knew what it did cost, except. perhaps
his secretary Charles Hall, and probably
he will never tell. The nap still gives be-
meath ones feet And the colors are as
fresh and bright when Tweed and his
satellites made the room ring with merri-
ment and slipped champagne beneath the
glitter of the great chandeliers. AT the
corners of the carpet are tiger heads, and
underneath one can still plainly read the
letters "A. c."
1t was queer freak that the club men
had of touching everything with gold. Ev-
cry new boat that was launched had its
golden rivet. and at the laying of the COR
ner-stone of the clubhouse peck basket
ful of gold and silver coins were buried in
the mortar. Some search may be made
for these coins. The club fiagDole had a
gold eagle nailed upon its apex. and the
knobs of the lockers of the yacht Mary
Jane Tweed were decorated with quarter
eagles. The yacht also had a gold eagle
at her topmast. This was Tweed's favor
lite craft. and she often came bowling
along toward home with Field Point on the
lee shore, the gold at her topmaxt reflect
ing the sunlight with bright heahes
F. Is was this sTaze 70 make II free and
strange use y money. and eaxt icp1&rlS