HOGAN, THE WICKEDEST MAN IN THE WORLD***


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THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF BEN HOGAN

[Illustration: _BEN HOGAN._]


THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF BEN HOGAN, THE WICKEDEST MAN IN THE WORLD.

Containing a Full Account of His Thrilling and Remarkable
Experiences, Together with a Complete Report of His Triumphs in
the Prize Ring, and His Career in the Oil Regions, in The Far West,
and on the Sea.

Illustrated with over Twenty Engravings.

Written, Under Mr. Hogan's Immediate Supervision, by

GEORGE FRANCIS TRAINER.







Copyright, 1878, by Ben Hogan.




PREFACE.


The writer of these pages desires it understood that he has acted simply
in the capacity of an amanuensis for Mr. Ben Hogan. The statements,
opinions, incidents, revelations and views are all the latter gentleman's.

It should be further explained that Mr. Hogan, and no one else, is
responsible alike for the contents and publication of this volume.

This explicit statement is called forth by a sense of justice; for the
writer himself would be very loath to lay claim to any of the brilliancy,
wit, or delicacy in the choice of subjects which may be found in this
book. The honor of all these belongs exclusively to Mr. Hogan.

GEORGE FRANCIS TRAINER.




CONTENTS.


  CHAPTER I.

    Early Life--Arrival in America--How he Avenged the Robbery
    of his Father--Mysterious Disappearance of the Old Jew--In
    the House of Refuge--Seafaring Life--Beginning of his
    Boxing Career                                                     17

  CHAPTER II.

    A Remarkable Game of Poker, and What Came of it--Ben as a
    Pirate--Fast Life in New York--How he gave a Combination
    Show in Oswego                                                    29

  CHAPTER III.

    A Southern Trip--Experiences in New Orleans and Mobile--
    Three Men Put Under the Sod by Ben's Bullets                      39

  CHAPTER IV.

    Ben as a Spy in both the Union and Confederate Armies--The
    Buried Treasure--How he Fooled the Captain--At Port Royal
    and Newbern--Bounty-Jumping                                       45

  CHAPTER V.

    Ben in Canada--He goes West again--Adventures in
    Cincinnati, Nashville, and Louisville--How he Sold the
    <DW52> Troops--Sets out for the Oil Regions                      54

  CHAPTER VI.

    First Appearance in the Oil Country--Dance House in
    Pitthole--French Kate--Babylon House--Fight with Bob
    Donnelly--His Explanation in Court of the Character of his
    House                                                             62

  CHAPTER VII.

    Attempt to Rob Ben--How he became a Minister and Married a
    Couple--A Jolly Wedding--French Kate Jealous                      76

  CHAPTER VIII.

    Attempt to Murder Ben in Babylon--He Shoots a Man and is
    Arrested--Frightens the Witnesses and Prevents Perjury--Is
    Acquitted                                                         82

  CHAPTER IX.

    Leaves Oil Country--In Saratoga--Arrested on False
    Reports--Goes back to Tidioute--In Rochester--First
    Meeting with Cummings                                             86

  CHAPTER X.

    The Gymnasium Business--Life in Rochester--First Meeting
    of Hogan and Tom Allen--A Disgraceful Affair                      94

  CHAPTER XI.

    How Ben Treated the Deputy Sheriff--Annie Gibbons, the
    Pedestrian--Ben goes to Pittsburgh and Meets Mr. Green           102

  CHAPTER XII.

    Ben in St. Louis--First Entree into Parker's Landing--
    Opens a Free-and-Easy--Trouble with the Authorities              113

  CHAPTER XIII.

    The "Floating Palace"--A Wonderful Institution--The Girls
    and the Patrons--Scenes of Revelry--How Nights were
    Passed--The Loss of the "Palace"                                 118

  CHAPTER XIV.

    Return to Parker's Landing--His Three Years' Sojourn in
    that Town--Adventures and Incidents--Attempt to Burn
    Ben's House                                                      125

  CHAPTER XV.

    Ben buys a House in Pittsburgh--Engineering for a New
    Railroad--Goes to Petrolia and opens House--The Ladies'
    Seminary                                                         133

  CHAPTER XVI.

    Ben as a Politician--Elected Burgess of Petrolia, but
    Cheated out of the Office--Goes to Greece City--Pleasure
    trip West--Preparations to Fight Tom Allen in St. Louis          142

  CHAPTER XVII.

    The famous Fight with Tom Allen                                  151

  CHAPTER XVIII.

    What came of the Fight--Allen's Treachery--Attempts to
    kill Ben in St. Louis                                            159

  CHAPTER XIX.

    Ben in Chicago--Returns to Pittsburgh--More of Allen--
    Builds Opera Houses in Petrolia and Millerstown--Figures
    once more in Politics                                            166

  CHAPTER XX.

    Ben as a Banker (Faro Banker)--Burglars--Counterfeit
    Money, and How Hogan Didn't Handle it--Ben as a Doctor--
    Allen in New York City--Why the Fight Fell Through               175

  CHAPTER XXI.

    The Girl Ben Met in Owney Geoghegan's--A Confiding Sea
    Captain--Adventure in Little Falls--Pitching a Man Across
    the Erie Canal--Return to Syracuse                               181

  CHAPTER XXII.

    Another Challenge to Allen--Brookville and Indiana
    Adventures                                                       187

  CHAPTER XXIII.

    Ben's Generous Act in Indiana--Under Arrest in Pittsburgh
    with Kitty--Goes West--Life in Grand Rapids--Mistaken for
    a Minister                                                       194

  CHAPTER XXIV.

    One More Challenge to Allen--Return to the Oil Country--
    Ben and McDonald--Opens Dance-House in Elko City--Bullion
    House--Kitty Runs Away                                           202

  CHAPTER XXV.

    Saratoga Trip--Bullion again--Arrival in Tarport--Opens
    Dance-House--A Groundless Scandal--The Truth about the
    Girl Carrie                                                      209

  CHAPTER XXVI.

    Ben Leaves Tarport--What some of the Oil Country Papers
    had to say about him--Arrival in New York                        217

  CHAPTER XXVII.

    Ben as a Reformer--His Opinions on the Temperance
    Question--Physical Culture--The Social Evil--Prisons and
    Penitentiaries--Gambling                                         221

  CHAPTER XXVIII.

    Conclusion                                                       237




INTRODUCTORY.


The life of any man is interesting as it reveals human