The Washington times., 1921-02-25

L
less Of a fistic reputation out aroun
ago and became . minister of the 1
The last we heard OF the Rev. Mr..
Wedge he wa still pounding the
pulpit instead on the countenAnces Of
his ring Adversaries. and having much
success.
Many years ago william Thompson
/ Bendigo. known as q bare-knuckie
lighter OF considerable prowess. was
In prison serving a sentence for some
breach OF the peace when he heard the
prison chaplain preach . sermon on
the battle between David and Goliath
The sermon seems to have i'm
pressed Bendigo. and later In the day
he sent for the chaplain.
HE LIKED THAT DAVID.
"Guv-nor." said Bendigo. ~your ser
mon touched the right spot and ro-
minded me OF my firht night with Ben
Caunt. ia like to have you tell me
more about that David feiier. He
must have been q good 'un for
lightweight"
The chaplain. seeing that he had
impressionable material before him.
gave lengthy exposition OF the sub
ject. following IL up withs other ex-
plantations OF the gospel. and when
Bendigo left the prison he was q
changed man.
The old tighter quit the prize ring.
stopped drinking and went through
the towns of the provinces preaching
to his fellow-men. He was an Hitter
| ate fellow, and his exhortations were
crude but convincing. and when Ben
digo finally died he had many con-
versions to his credit
After Bendigo came . fellow named
Benedict Hagan. known as Ben Ho-
Il Wv - n
tory of the battles fought for the
| championship of America, and who
was one Of the few pugilists born In
| Germany.
HE WAS A CHARACTER.
This Hogan was a character. He
made and wasted a couple of fortunes
in gambling and fast living. His first
dght was with Jack Holiday, for
$40O, and Hogan won In seven rounds.
He then beat Bob Donnelly. a little
known pugilist. at Fort Erie. Canada
The battle lasted thirty-six rounds,
and took two hours and four minutes.
Hogan was then matched to night
Charles Collins, better known as
"Cast Iron Collins" who was defeated
by George Rookie. of Providence, at
Fishers Island in 1857. but was de-
clared the winner on foul.
The Hogan-Collins match ended In
fizzle. Hogan visited New York and
met Billy Edwards in a glove contest
at No. 800 Broadway. and the result
would indicate that Edwards was
either pretty good or Hogan pretty
bad at the time.
Edwards, the lightweight cham.
pion. had all the best of the bout, but
1t was a great lesson for Hogan. He
learned quite a bit about boxing. and
| IN - oh hn
best man in America.
He went to Rochester and appear
ed in a sparring exhibition with
tom Allen. Hogan shaded Allen IL
the bout and one Charley Perkins
Immediately offered to back the Ger.
man in a regular fight against Al.
len, posting a forfeit. Tho mattel
did not take place
Hogan then went into tho OF
fields of Pennsylvania, and the mex
heard of him he had made q for.
tune 1t seems he was still eagel
to gain fame in the ring, and h.
challenged Allen for the champion.
ship and $4,000 a side.
BOTH WERE ARRESTED.
The match was made. and the mel
were to go by steamer to the bat
tleground, but they made the mis-
take of arranging the match to tax,
place in Illinois The fighters wer'
arrested and put under bonds no
to fight in the State, SO they de-
cided to move to Iowa
The ring was pitched near Council
Bluffs, and there was only one house
within three miles.
The men fought three rounds whel
Hogan claimed he had been fouled
Claiming fouls seems to have beeI
the most popular feature Of nghtinl
under the old London prize ring rules
All hands promptly drew knives an
revolvers, another feature of the oil,
days, and the fight ended.
Allen would have won. ii is said
had the referee enforced the rules
Dad Egan returned the fighters thei
money. the matter was called . draw
and the folks adjourned.
Hogan then came back to New Yorl
, and was converted. History contain
no such Illuminating details Of hi
conversion as in connection with tn