Ben's Generous Act in Indiana--Under Arrest in Pittsburg with
Kitty--Goes West--Life in Grand Rapids--Mistaken for a Minister.
It was in the town of Indiana, at the same time during which the
counterfeiting game was in operation, that there occurred an incident
which serves to illustrate Hogan's readiness to help those in distress.
One of those financial sharks who manage to keep within the letter of the
law and at the same time to swindle everybody who has dealings with them,
held a mortgage on a poor man's house. The hard times had made it
impossible for the man in question to meet the demands of the
mortgage-holder, and the latter had therefore entered a foreclosure. This
left the man homeless, and without a dollar in the world with which to
support his family.
In some way the facts of the case came to Ben's knowledge, and he resolved
to save the unfortunate man's property. With his accustomed shrewdness, he
hit upon a plan which completely outwitted the money-sharper. The mortgage
upon the property amounted, with interest, to three thousand dollars. It
was generally believed that the property at that dull time would not bring
much more than enough to satisfy this claim. Of course it was for the
interest of the holder of the mortgage to get as much for the property as
he could.
Ben had it circulated about the town that he was a real estate dealer
from New York, who had come on to Indiana to buy up all the land that he
could get hold of. His confederate, George, who was with him at that time,
went to the broker who held the mortgage, and told him that this New York
agent would pay any sum for the property which was about to be sold.
George advised the broker to bid against Ben, so as to run the figure up
as high as possible. In his greed to get all that he could, the broker
straightway fell into this trap.
[Illustration: _THE FORECLOSURE SALE IN INDIANA, PA._]
When the day of the sale arrived, a goodly number of people assembled,
some to bid, but more to look on. The broker was on hand early, with
George at his side, who professed to be most loyal to his new friend. Ben,
also, was there, with the man who had given the mortgage. The auctioneer
mounted his box and the sale began.
"What am I offered for this property, gentlemen? You all know what it is
worth, and the circumstances under which it is sold. What do I hear to
start it?"
"Five hundred dollars!" said Ben.
"Five hundred and ten!" said the broker.
"Fifteen hundred!" continued Ben.
The broker was cautious in all his bids, and raised this last amount only
ten dollars.
"Three thousand dollars!" exclaimed Hogan.
"Three thousand and ten!" exclaimed the broker.
"Four thousand!" cried Ben.
At this point the auctioneer had to dwell some time. The broker began to
get a little nervous, but George was on hand to spur him on.
"Why, man alive," said the latter, "don't be a bit afraid; this New Yorker
will give ten thousand dollars rather than not get it. I heard him say so,
myself. Raise him again!"
"Four thousand and ten!" said the broker at last.
"Five thousand dollars!" came promptly from Ben's side of the house.
The man who had given the mortgage began to fear lest Hogan would overdo
the thing.
"Don't raise it again," he said; "it is up high enough now to give me a
good surplus."
But Ben only replied by saying in a tone loud enough for everybody to hear
him:
"It doesn't make any difference to me what I pay for this property. I'm
going to have it; and I've got the money right here in my pocket,"
slapping his breast as he spoke, where there was not a dollar.
The words, however, had their desired effect upon the broker. Thinking
that he could safely run the price up, he continued to bet against Ben,
until he reached seven thousand dollars. No sooner had he made this bid
than Ben looked over with a smile of triumph, and said:
"The property is yours, sir. I hope you are satisfied with your bargain!"
The broker was almost frantic with rage and disappointment; but there was
nothing to do but abide by the consequences. He had bid more than twice
the amount of the mortgage, and the residue of course went to the man who
had owned the house. Ben thus did an act of kindness which his friend will
probably never forget; and he also succeeded in bleeding the financial
sharp--as difficult a thing as it was satisfactory to accomplish.
After his eventful sojourn in Indiana, Ben went back to Pittsburg with
plenty of money in his pocket. There he went in for a general good time,
and made the dust fly in a lively manner. He made further investments in
banks--the faro banks--which are not always fair oh.
In the course of his tours about town, he discovered in a house then well
known his former mistress, Kitty. It was on a Saturday night, and while
Ben was in the place, the house was "pulled," and all the occupants,
including Ben and Kitty, were locked up. They were obliged to remain in
the station-house until Monday morning, when they were arraigned. Each of
the others was fined either five or ten dollars, but Ben and Kitty, toward
whom the Mayor entertained special feelings of friendship, were each given
the privilege of paying one hundred dollars, or spending sixty days in
jail. Ben had money enough only to pay his own fine at the time, but he
succeeded in raising enough afterward to pay Kitty's also, and thus
released her from imprisonment. Ben instituted proceedings against the
city for unjust punishment, and left the case in the hands of his lawyer,
----. If that gentleman ever succeeded in getting any damages, Ben has not
been informed of the fact up to the present writing.
Before leaving Pittsburg at this time, Ben repeated the Mexican dollar
dodge, of which mention has already been made, among a number of the
leading shoe merchants of the place; and, by this and other means, he
raised enough to carry him to the West in good style.
Striking Cleveland, he put up with his friend Charley Moore, and remained
for six weeks, at the end of which time his capital was again exhausted.
At about the same time he learned through El. Rumsey that there was to be
a glove fight at Birmingham, O., and thither he made his way.
For five weeks he remained with Rumsey, at the latter's hotel, and had
altogether a jolly time of it. He gave a number of sparring exhibitions at
this time, the last of which was held in Sandusky. Ben fell in love with
so many girls during his sojourn in Birmingham, and took unto himself so
many wives, after the Brigham Young fashion, that it finally became
necessary for him to get out of town.
He proceeded at once to Detroit, and there fell in with McLaughlin, who
was stopping at Martindale's Hotel, preparing for his match with the
Butcher Boy of Ypsilanti. Ben became McLaughlin's trainer, and remained
with him six weeks. Of all the men whom he had ever had under his charge,
he found McLaughlin the most perfect specimen of muscular development. He
could bear training better than anybody Hogan had ever met, and his powers
of endurance were simply marvelous. Up to that time, McLaughlin had never
been trained under two hundred and forty pounds. Ben brought him down to
two hundred and fifteen, and there was not a muscle in his entire body
which did not show. A number of physicians called to examine him, and they
united in pronouncing him a model of physical strength. It maybe added
that Ben found McLaughlin a thorough gentleman, as well as an ideal
athlete.
Ben, in company with McLaughlin and Schmidt, went from Detroit to Toledo,
and in the latter city gave an exhibition of wrestling and boxing. They
afterwards returned to Detroit, where Ben separated from McLaughlin, and
made arrangements with Johnny Donaldson, of Cleveland, to spar for one
week in the Theatre Comique, for which they received two hundred dollars.
Ben found Donaldson to be an expert and clever boxer.
Our hero next proceeded to Ypsilanti to see Martin, the Butcher Boy,
making the trip one of pleasure rather than of business. He happened to
fall in with Mixer, and was induced to become the latter's trainer for his
match with Holcomb. This match came off in the Grand Rapids Opera House,
and was a most stubbornly contested battle, lasting fully five hours.
Holcomb was the winner, but it should be said that Ben had Mixer in hand
only about a week, and previous to that time the man had little or no
attention.
[Illustration: _TRAINING McLAUGHLIN IN DETROIT, MICH._]
After the wrestling match, Ben remained for some time in Grand Rapids,
opening a gymnasium, and delivering lectures through the country villages
on "Physical Culture." His recollection of Grand Rapids is altogether
pleasant. He found the citizens of the place cordial in their support of
his undertaking, and he formed many acquaintances, which he will always
cherish warmly. The gymnasium became popular, and Ben himself was a
universal favorite. He made the Sweet House his headquarters, and found it
altogether one of the best-conducted hotels at which he had ever stopped.
Among the many incidents which occurred during Ben's residence in Grand
Rapids was one which became the talk of the town. Perhaps I cannot do
better than reproduce the account given by the Grand Rapids _Times_. This
is what the _Times_ said:
"Ben Hogan had on his clerical suit yesterday. Arrayed in this dress,
Hogan bears a striking resemblance to a minister of the Gospel, and has
frequently been taken as such. He wore, in addition to the high-buttoned
waistcoat, a standing collar, and, with his saintly air, looked more than
ever like a chosen disciple. Standing on Monroe street, yesterday
afternoon, with a book ("Professor Wood on Gymnastics"), about the size of
a common Bible, under his arm, and a copy of the _Times_ in his hand, he
was approached by a stranger, and saluted. The stranger was similarly
dressed, and proved to be a minister in charge of a small parish in an
adjoining town.
"He expressed his pleasure at meeting with a brother and co-worker in the
cause, remarking that he was a stranger in the city, and intimating that
he was willing to be entertained at the home of the Rev. Dr. Hogan. Ben,
who has become tired of explaining so many times that his vocation lies in
another direction than that of the holy profession, permitted him to
remain in blissful ignorance of his true character, and finally invited
him to visit his library.
"The divine jumped at the invitation, and taking the gymnast's arm,
proceeded to the "library;" the stranger in the meantime manifesting
considerable anxiety to learn how much his reverend brother received as
salary, and how his flock prospered. Arriving finally at Hogan's gymnasium
rooms, the twain entered, when, instead of beholding a study-room stocked
with holy works, his bewildered gaze fell upon a miscellaneous lot of
dumb-bells, boxing-gloves, pulley-weights, sand-bags, and the
paraphernalia that is usually found in a gymnasium. Hogan pointed to these
with a satisfactory air, saying:
"'Here's my study.'
"'Ah, but I don't understand,' replied the holy man.
"Hogan proceeded to enlighten him upon the mysteries of the profession. He
gazed for some time on Ben's muscular exercises in an abstracted manner,
and finally allowed this was very well for the development of the body,
but asked when he developed the mind.
"Hogan replied that this exercise served to enlarge both mind and body,
and invited him to balance a thirty pound dumb-bell. The minister
declined, and began to realize his mistake. Hogan, finding him to be a
pleasant gentleman, with a humorous turn, soon explained the situation,
not omitting to tell how many times he had been mistaken for a clergyman.
The reverend gentleman realized the situation, and remarked that he had
never made a more serious mistake in his life, looked the gymnasium
carefully over, admitted the necessity for such institutions, shook hands,
and laughed heartily when Ben told him how many prize fights he had been
engaged in.
"The clergyman then explained to the professor that his appearance and
general make-up, together with the book he supposed to be the Bible, and
the _Times_ (which he knew to be a religious journal) all led him to
believe he had met a brother and an earnest worker in the vineyard.
"Ben admitted that he didn't know much about the vineyard, but remarked
that he was an earnest worker in the gymnasium. After a brief (very brief)
season of mutual congratulations, the rural divine started to seek a
genuine brother with a study more to his taste."