Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-04-10
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

William NJ. Tweed. known better to
two generations as Boss Tweed,
How Tweed v TcaD of fra fraud in con-
Escaped. P persiOn m wSn csssain con
tracts and was discharged when his
sentence was set aside by the Court
of Appeals, was confined in Ludlow
Street Jail, New York City. in default
of bail Of 5000, 900 pending trial OF
civil suits brought against him Tor
the recovery of twice that amount in
the name of the city. While awaiting
trial he escaped, December 4. 1875.
Some time later he was arrested IN
Spain and was brought back to the
United States and recommitted to
Ludlow Street Jail, where he remained
a prisoner until his death. April IL,
1873. There was much mystery about
his escape, and not until a publication
in Harper's Weekly compiled from
diary kept by Tweed was the exact
manner of 1t made known. The story
is thus summarized in The Star OF
April 4, 1877:
ssTweed's messmate in Jail was
Charley Lawrence, the silk smuggler.
whose extradition led to the abroga-
ton of the treaty with England. He
had previously chummed with him In
the Americas Club. From him ne
Tweed learned all about treaties with
foreign countries. Another inmate
was Bliss, the engineer of the North
ampton bank robbery. Bliss was the
first to suggest the feasibility Of es-
cape. At first Tweed hesitated. but at
length placed himself at the disposal
of his professional friends. No mem
Der of his family or counsel nor any
friend was advised, nor did they know
of his whereabouts after his escape.
Tweed understood that he was to be
taken in charge by a well organized
body of men distributed throughout
the country. He was furnished with
key for Geographic dispatches and
one for postal facility. The latter In
cluded a system of Enclosures through
five different envelopes and addresses
at removed points. He was TO visit
his house in Madison avenue near
Fifty-ninth street and deliver himself
over secretly and unattended at his
own door. He made several such
visits until finally on the evening OF
December 4, 1875, he was driven in
the customary hack attended by two
keepers to his house. Ascending the
steps, he saw the preconcerted sign,
which greatly excited him. Control
ling himself, he led the attendants to
the usual feast. They ate heartily and
he took care that they drank. At just
the right moment one Of the keepers
rose and went to the wash basin to
wash his hands and get ready for the
usual luxurious cigar. Tweed rose
also and saying he would wash in the
n q
ing the door quickly, took the first
hat and coat and slipped out the front
door. The hack driver was absent en-
joying himself in the kitchen.
Tweed saw a bridesmaids wagon
approach. A man inside signaled him
to get in. He did so. The wagon drove
rapidly into Madison avenue, but there
it had to stop among a lot of citizens
and mounted police who were putting
a displaced car on the track. He de-
scribes his feelings here as terrible.
Tweed dated from this time complete
change in his character and tone OF
mind.
THE wagon soon started and drove
across the North River. He was taken
in a rowboat across to a lonely spot
in the Palisades near where Burr
killed Hamilton. He was then driven
to a dilapidated homestead, where he
was met by another of his new-found
friends. In this refuge he continued
from December until the first week
in March. From the neighboring bluffs
he could see the roof of his own house
in the city. His first care after ar
rival was to put on his disguise and
his assumed personality as Mr.. John
Secor, an invalid gentleman His
whiskers were shaved of and wig and
pair of gold spectacles put on. The
wig was reddish yellow, curled, cut
square and well down on his neck.
He next took boat to a fisherman's
hut near the Narrows, near Staten
Island, with two companions. Here
they stayed two weeks, except one
night in Brooklyn. How he escaped
the detectives Is a miracle.
AT Staten Island a light and fast
little schooner was fitted out and man.
ned by himself and two companions.
with cofored boy, and one nigh
slipped away in a pleasant breeze. In
due course they reached the lagoons
Of Florida and stopped at q lighthouse
station, Tweed taking board with the
keeper as John Secor, an Invalid gen.
tieman, seeking health and the recrea-
ton Of hunting and fishing Here he