Something That Did Blow Over — November 7, 1871

Nast must have really enjoyed finalizing Mayor Oakey Hall’s memorable forecast after the first Times revelation in July: “This will all blow over.” Something That Did Blow Over featured the storm that destroyed Tammany Hall. Oakey hung from a teetering column with cash packets dropping from his pocket; Former Comptroller (Slippery Dick) Connolly was pinned under an empty safe; and Tweed, trapped under debris, was fanned by a “shiny-hat” lackey while a simian Irishman lifted a bottle to the Boss’s lips. Peter Sweeny, the only man in motion, was fleeing with his “Tammany Brains” moneybag.