Chapter I: 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
Colored 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