, 1890-11-13
PRIZE-RING TO PULPIT
Sketoh of the Career of Ben Ho-
gan, the Apostle of TEN.
peranoe Reform.
Left Life of Dishonor to Follow
in tho Footsteps OF Father
Matthew.
He Will Tell tho Story of the Dark
and Bright Side of His
Life Tonight.


who was once u notorious gambler
and prize fighter, who measured
muscle and science In the ring with
such men as Tom Allen for the
prize ring championship of America,
pleading with an audience for the
salvation of their souls was be pre-
sented at Concordla hall Sunday
afternoon and evening.
The arrival of Ben Hogan, the
noted evangelist, who abandoned
prize fighting and gambling to de-
vote his life and his fortune to the
cause of humanity, was announced
In the local papers several days ago.
Mr.. Hogan paid the REVIEW a
visit Saturday evening. lie Is a
man of commanding physique,
whose well-knit, powerful frame is
evidence that he was once n formid-
able man in the ring. He has a
kindly face and pleasant voice, how
ever, and his manner at once con-
vinces one of his kindly heart and
earnestness in his work. In an in
terview with n reporter Mr.. Hogan
gave the following Interesting mar
traive OF his experience:
"When l was Is years of age, and
following four years at seq, / took
charge of II gymnasium in New
York city, where l taught boxing
and broad-sword exercise. While
in this business | naturally came in
contact with pugilists and the tough
element. | averaged about one
fight week, in barrooms and back
yards. When the war broke out
we formed u union or brotherhood,
and enlisted to help the govern
ment along, to swell the army and
fatten our own pocketboolls. l
enlisted thirty-six times. / was
caught and sentenced to be
shot in Washington, but was
pardoned by Abraham Lin
coin. Afterward | run the blockade
twice at Charleston, ;. &. | have
since met the two men who acted as
engineers of the blockade-runner OF
which was captain In Butte. That
was six or seven years ago, and they
are probably there still. Our cargo
was made up of whisky, tobacco,
flour and quinine. My army life
was varied ana exciting, and on
more than one occasion | thought
the game was up and my last card
played. 1t would require columns
to relate the details.
"My first ring fight occurred at
Nashville, Tenn, with man
named Ryan-not Paddy Ryan. |
won the fight. That was in '64. |
afterward offered to fight Mike Nc
Cool for the championship of
America, but he declined the chal-
lenge. This was after McCool had
fought Joe Coburn. My next fight
was with Jack Halliday at Pithole,
ruled the hour. | won the contest
in seven rounds. Following my
battle with Halliday l next met
Bob Donnelly ut Fort Erie, Canada,
for n purse Of $1,000. The fight
lasted over two hours, and was
awarded to me in the thirty
sixth round. He Knocked me
down nine times, and each
time was hurled almost
across the ring. Donnelly died six
months later, while / spent several
months in the hospital, not ex-
pected to recover. When finally
restored to health / trained Joe CO.
burn for his fight with McCool.
The fight did not come OIL. / next
made u match to fight Tom Allen.
The fight occurred ut Council Bluffs,
Iowa, in 1873. The contest lasted
three rounds, when Allen fouled
me, and the fight was declared a
draw. Allen and | were bitter enc
mics, and we fought more like bull
dogs than like scienced pugilists.
During the three rounds only one
blow was stopped.
81 returned to Pennsylvania and
ran for congress, was defeated, and
turned my attention to the theatri-
cal business, and built n row of opera
houses through the oil region. At
one time / ran sixteen gambling
houses and concert halls in that
country. l was looked upon at the
most notorious man in that motor
ious district. Two attempts were
made to lynch me, but my good
fortune pulled me through, and so L
escaped death on both occasions.n
Mr.. Hogan, while leading desper-
ate and tenpestuous career, per-
formed many good deed. His pocket
book and oacra houses were ALWAYS
open for charitable objects. He al
ways associated with the better class
of sporting men, and always held
himself aloof from the would be
fighters and criminal sharks who
hovered around the great fighters for
His associates were such men as Ned
Dali oh I,.. III