National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-02-25
WHAT BECOMES OF pRIzE-FIoHrERs.
Zen Hogan's Experiences In tho Ring and
RccoIIectiona OF puRIIiata.

Ben HOgnn's Experiences In tho Ring and
RecoiIections of E'uEIIists.
g. You want to know how much damage prize
fighting does to tlfe human anatomy. do your"
said Ben Hogan, the evangelist and ex-prize-
fighter. well, take a look at me. l am in much
better condition than was when reformed,
three and half years ago, but estimate that my
vitality is only so per cent Of what II would have
been II had never been n fighter. The shocks
and bruises that a man gets in the ring hurt more
ten years ofterward than they do when no gets
them. | have been terribly beat on the head in
my time, and those old wounds reopen regularly
once year. When was twenty five years old
was so strong and healthy that nothing could tire
me. used to think that man was simply fool
who got tired but at present, when l ought by
rights be stl stronger, it worries even to stand
on platform and talk.
" Is the H. health ofilghtcrs due to the pound
Ing they get, or to dissipation?"
" II is due TO both, and TO one about as much as
another. But the terrible bodily injuries they re-
cciyearc beyond dispute. The worst injuries are
not always those which knock man out of his
senses, like sullivans last lick at Ryan 1t Is evil
dent that that blow landed on the jugular yein
This well understood and much coveted blow
among prize fighters, not because II permanently
disabes man, but because IL makes him insen-
sible so long that he can't come to time. Several
bruises about the chest and ribs are much more
apt to inllict permanent injury"
How do prize-hglters die, as far as your OBJ
servation goes2"
They die prematurely Of weakness and disease
brought on by their injuries. In fact they die at
or about the time when, If they had not been prize
fighters, they would have been at the prime of life
Charley Gallagher died ut the age of thirty OF con-
sumption, caused by an injury received in his fight
with Davis. Davis fell on him, planting his knee
dc thn In
of killing Tom Sayers, but, In my opinion he died
Of the injuries inflicted by John G. lIeenan Llee.
nan Jumped of train and hurt himself and some
lay the blame Of premature death on that acc-
dent, but he died of consumption produced in my
opinion, by over-training and by the punishment
MorTissey's death Is laid on Bhghrs disease, but
he had stood beating enough TO kill ten men,
S%d YSdtes eslGyS sd{iyo, that is what Killed him
killed by vigilance committee, but the truth is
that he went crazy from injuries 10 his head he
had received, and committed suicide by opening
an artery. Patsy Rordon, one Of the grandesi
men physically that ever lived, is complete phys
ical and mental wreck, Bob Riddle died the same
way, the very flesh dropping OFF his fingers. Joe
| Wombe died in the Montreal Insane Asylum. And
so tney go, eli OF them dying at what ought to be
| What do you think of the effects of the train.
Ing that prSes- fighters undergo when they arr
It is possible to oyerdo it, and then 1t Is an I'm
| jury. But this seldom happens. Generally it is
very beneficial and Il is Il great pity that every
| Dody lsn TRAINED IN the same way If had gone
| into training at twenty years of age aud never
lett II until died. would have lived one hun.
| drcd years, without doubt am great advocate
of physical training, and think boxing good ex-
| ercise, though somewhat Objectionable on account
| of helng sort of temptation to fightlngY
What do you think of the immoral tendencies
| OF prize -llghtingT
"'As to the immoral and depraying effects OF
| prize fighting there Is no difference OF opinion
| suppose, though may know its effects more par.
ticularly than most people. Just quarreiing
leadHo lighting, so fighting leads TO the qunrrelng
| and to hatred. 1t is useless to soy that people
| ever fight without hating each other. The very
passions Of the pit rage among sporting people,
| and especially among fighters. They begin with
their lists but they soon get past TINT and take to
| using knives and pistols. Now, II all this isn't
| the devils own work, what Is It? There Is little
! enough love among men already, Heaven knows
without calling 1t sport to main man for life
! and teaching the young that the greatest accom-
plishment Is to draw each others blood and gouge
| out each others eyes"
| Are you speaking from experience?'
| Yes. When was a prize fighter always had
Il ngllt ON hand whether IL was in the ring or not
| ] was always hating and hated, and there was
| scarcely day when my life was safe. The bust.
ness made me unutteraGly wrctched and debased
! me in every possible way. Would that there wert
| an end ol it"-ChiolgO NeGs.