The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-28
Was Guided to the City
by Cuban Fishermen.
TURNED OVER TO POLICE
Subsequently Released on Repre-
sentati0n of Consul.
HIS FLIGHT TO SPAIN In A BARK.

Santiago was once a very warm place
for a distinguished person. William
Marcy Tweed by name. He did not
take the town by assault, but was con-
voyed into 1t 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 a
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, Rnd he arranged To make his es-
cape. Availing 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. after
which she pursued her course to ia
maica. History jealousy guards the
name OF the yacht, and Mr.. Tweed
never cared to dwell upon his adven-
lures In southern climes.
He landed upon the scorching sands
OF Cuba within 10 miles of our present
city of Santiago. The boss was ac-
companied by man named Hunt, who
was supposed to have been faithful
servant. He was, as a matter OF fact,
u relative.
Tweed had secured a passport before
his precipitate departure. The docu-
ment duly recorded that the bearer was
John Secor," an American citizen.
Even the childlike fisher folk who first
harbored him suspected John Secor."
and they watched him narrowly. He
aroused their cupidity by Offering them
gold piece to guide him into 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 headquarters.
The fishermen were ignorant of the
identity Of the men. yet they felt mod
erately 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. He
sent at once for the United States con-
sui at Santiago and demanded to know
what 1t meant that worthy American
citizen should find himself in such a
predicament. The consul examined the
passports Of John Secor' and made
protest to the Spanish authorities. In
this he was seconded by Mr.. Ramsden.
the British consul. Mr.. Tweed had in
the meantime been imprisoned on
Spanish warship in the harbor.
Through the representations of the con-
suls he was finally released.
John Socor" 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 Spanish set
Elements In this western hemisphere.
He was regarded with suspicion. and
even his champions, the consuls, began
to make furtive inquiries about the
benevolent looking parsonage who had
come to them in a small boat. The
news OF the escape OF Tweed by that
time reached Cuba, and the United
States consul general at Havana was
making searching inquiries.
Things reached such a pass that Mr..
Tweed concluded that he did not care
to longer remain in Santiago. Span
ish bark was about to sail. John Sc
corr applied for his passports. Span
Ish officials transact business in a leis-
urely manner. They told him that they
could not give him the documents in
less than four days. SO from July 90
to July 26 the Spanish bark was in
Mr.. Tweed cheerfully paid the
charges. He secured his
passports and set sail for Vigo Spain.
Mr.. Hall, the consul general, had
convinced himself that John
Secor" was William NJ. Tweed. His
telegram TO the Santiago police order
Ing the arrest or Tweed did not. how
ever, reach its destination until several
hours after the bark had squared away
For the coast OF Spain. Officers were
at the dock when the bark ar
rived at vigo, and II was not long af-
terward that Tweed was in Spanish
prison. He was brought back to this
I'm November. 1876. on the
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