The Life and Adventures of Ben Hogan, the Wickedest Man in the WorldHogan, Ben (Benedict)
History
The Life and Adventures of Ben Hogan, the Wickedest Man in the World
Hogan, Ben (Benedict)
Hogan, Ben (Benedict), 1841?-
Having fixed these preliminaries, Ben took up his station at the door of
Harry's famous house. In good time the deputy made his appearance. No
sooner had he done so than Ben jumped upon, threw him to the ground, and
proceeded to take all the satisfaction out of his hide that he cared to.
The poor deputy made but a sorry show of resistance, and indeed it would
have made but little difference whether he had done so or not. After Ben
had thrashed him to his heart's content, he rolled him to the top of the
heap, and began crying out hastily:
"Police! Police!"
The officer of course made his appearance upon the scene, and finding a
big strapping fellow abusing a poor inoffensive darkey, arrested the
former and let the latter go.
The next morning the deputy sheriff was arraigned in a police justice's
court, and fined twenty-five dollars for assault and battery--which, let
us hope, taught him not to attack innocent and unprotected negroes.
Upon leaving New York, Ben went to Albany, where he opened a place at the
corner of Hudson and Greene streets, on the same principle as that in
Rochester. The resort became well known in Albany and was frequented by
all the sporting men of the capital.
Ben assisted in getting up the walking match at Rennsselaer Park, in which
Weston, Adoc, Payne, Ferguson, and a member of the Troy police force were
entered as competitors. Three purses were offered; the first three
hundred, the second two hundred, and the third fifty dollars. The
pedestrians were to undertake the feat of walking one hundred miles in
twenty-four hours.
Ben trained Adoc and Payne with the understanding that he was to have
one-half of all the prize money they won. The two men took first and
second money, but they cleared out without sharing with their trainer. A
seven-mile walk was held that same day for a purse of four hundred
dollars, which Ben raised by subscription on the ground.
I desire to refer to one incident which occured during Ben's stay in
Albany, and which I think illustrates a trait in his character for which
few persons are cognizant.
A young man of good family and excellent advantages often came into
Hogan's place in a state of intoxication. One day Ben fell to talking with
him about the matter, and told him that unless he stopped short he would
certainly die from the effects of liquor.
"But I have tried to stop," said the young man, "and it's no use. The fact
of it is, Ben, I can't live without my bitters now."
"Well," answered Ben, "you can't live much longer with them, that's
certain. Now I'll tell you what I'll do. If you will follow my directions
for three months--do just what I tell you to--I'll get you a new rig
throughout, give you a gold watch and chain and make as good a man of you
as I am."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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