The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-11-14
TWEED A REFUGEE IN SANTIAGO.


Santiago was once very warm place
for distinguished person. William
Marcy Tweed By name. He did not
take the town by assault, but was con-
voyed into il by benevolent fishermen.
who found him wandering sunburnt
and forlorn upon the desolate Cuban
coast. Cottages and huts are occasion
ally pointed out as the abode OF the
great "boss" who fled from Ludlow
street jail To make his home among
strange people. Nobody knows exactly
how Tweed reached Santiago when he
should have been in Jail attending to
the expiation Of various sins committed
against the treasury'of the city OF New
York.
He found that life dragged in Ludlow
street, and he arranged to make his es-
cape. Awaiting himself of the lax rules
OF the prison, he drove up to his house
In Madison avenue for change OF ap-
parel, and subsequently took passage
on an American yacht, which put him
ashore upon the coast of Cuba, aftef
which she pursued her course to Ja-
maica. History jealously guards the
name of the yacht and Mr.. Tweed never
cared to dwell upon his adventures In
Southern climes.
He landed upon the scorching sands
of Cuba within ten miles of our present
city of Santiago The boss" was ac-
companied by man named Hunt, VINO
was supposed To have been falthtui
servant He was, as n matter OF fact'
a relative. Tweed had secured pass
port before his precipitate departure.
M HI. .l.A
bearer was John Secor," an American
citizen. Even the childlike fisher folk
who first harbored him suspected John
Secor" and they watched him narrow
ly. He aroused their cupidity by oHef-
ing them a gold piece TO guide him IN
to the city OF Santiago. The gold
tempted them, and they guided him
safely.
He requested the fishermen to lead
him to the nearest hotel. They made
sure Of the gold piece which he had of
fered them and then conducted him
and his companion TO police headquar-
ters The fishermen were ignorant OF
the identity of the men, yet they felt
moderately sure that they had trapped
some one for whose capture a large sum
might be paid.
Righteous indignation rested upon the
face of the Boss" when he was in
formed that he was under arrest. Ha
sent at once for the United States con-
sui at Santiago, and demanded 10 Know
what il meant that a worthy American
citizen should find himself in such
predicament. The consul examined tho
passports of John Secor," and made
a protest to the Spanish authorities,
In this he was seconded by Mr.. Rams
den. the British consul. Mr.. Tweed had
in the meantime been imprisoned on
Spanish warship in the harbor. Through
the representations of the consul5 he
was finally released.
John Secor" took UP his residence at
one of the less pretentious hotels. He
and his companion did not mingle much
in the life of the Oldest of the Spanish
settlements in this Western Hemi-
sphere He was regarded with suspi-
cion, and even his companions, the con-
suls began to make furtive inquiries
about the benevolent-looking person.
age who had come TO them In small
boat The news of the escape of Tweed
had by that time reached Cuba, and the
United States consul general at Ha-
vana was making searching inquiries
Things reached such a pass that Mr.,
Tweed concluded that he did not care
to longer remain in Santiago.
Spanish bark was about TO sail. John
Secor'' applied for his passports Span
ish officials transact business in leis-
could not give him the documents in
less than four DAYS. So, from July %
to July 26. the Spanish bark was ir
waiting Mr.. Tweed cheerfully paid
the demurrage charges. He secured
his passports. and set sail for Nigo,
Spain.
Mr.. Hall. the consul general. ahd
meantime convinced himself that John
Secor" was William Tweed. His tele-
gram 10 the Santiago police ordering
the arrest of Tweed did not, however
reach it's destination until several hours
after the bark had cleared away for
the coast of Spain. Officers were wait
ing at the dock when the bark arrived
at Vigo. and ii was not long afterward
that Tweed was in Spanish prison
He was brought back to this country
in November. 1876. on the American
man of-war Franklin.-New York Her
aid.