Evening star., 1949-02-03
BY the Assoeiotsd Press


Ell PAsO, Tex, Feb. 3.-Ben
Hogan, who fought illness and
fatigue along golf's weary tourna-
ment trail for more than q decade
without being knocked from his
pedestal, even won out over a bus.
But 1t will be a long time before
he's his same fighting self again.
The golf world heard today that
little Ben, seriosuly injured in a
trafiic accident, probably would play
again, but 1t will be some other
golfer who will be king of the links
in the coming year.
The little guy, who was National
Open and National PGA champion,
leading money winner and golfer
Of the year in 1948, suffered frac-
tured pelvis, broken collar bone, pos
sible fracture of a rib and other in
juries yet to be determined in the
barren country near Van Horn, Tex,
when his car crashed with a Grey
hound bus yesterday.
The durability of the 137-pounder,
likened to a pine knot by the writer's,
was emphasized as the bantam of
the links had to wait two hours for
medical aid. An ambulance made a
wild dash over the 152 miles from
Van Horn to FL Paso to bring Hogan
to hospital here where some five
hours later q bulletin was issued that
Ben would make it, but would be
out Of competition on the links for
a long, long time.
Wife's Injuries Minor.
His pretty brunei wife, Valerie,
suffered minor hurts but was able
to smile last night as she said: Its
tough but we're both lucky to be
alive. We're both very thankful
and we're both very grateful for our
friends in this time of stress. Every
body has been wonderful"
She said they we're mighty '
that Ben didn't have brc,---n lack
as first feared
Hogan still Is in a state of shock
and further examinations cannot
be made for several days. But at
tending physicians said they felt
there were no more injuries of seri-
GUS nature.
He cannot be moved for some
time.
Hogan was on the way to his
home in Fort Worth. After playing
in four tournaments, he had >quit
the golf trail and said he did not
plan to resume play until the
Augusta (Ga) Masters in April.
Because the 36-year- -old golf star
sought to protect his wife by throw
ing himeslf across her when the
crash occurred was the reason his
injuries were not more serious than
they turned out to be. 1t threw
him out Of the way Of the steering
wheel Of his 1949 Cadillac automo-
bile which was jammed into the
back seat.
Hogan was rushed to the Hotel
Dieu, an Ell Paso hospital, and his
brother, Royal of Fort Worth, ar
amateur golfer, few to Ell Paso In
mid afternoon.
The accident occurred 20 miles
east of Van Horn, which is southeast
of Ell Paso.
Motor Lands in Front Seat.
Mrs. Hogan said she saw an ap-
preaching bus, travelling in the op-
posite direction from his car, start
to pass a truck. Hogan tried to
avoid the collision but could not be-
cause of a culvert. The vehicles met
head-on. She said there was some
ground haze despite bright sunshine
at the time. The impact pushed the
motor of the Hogan car back into
the front seat.
No one on the bus was injured
and the bus driver, L. H..Logan of
Van Horn, remained with his dam
aged vehicle, accompanying it back
to Van Horn. The passengers went
In a relief bus to Ell Paso. The ac-
cident occurred at $3.50 am. and it
was 80 minutes later before an am
bulance was obtained. Confusion
in the crowd which gathered was
blamed for the delay, several be-
Ieving others already had sum-
moned an ambulance from Van
Horn.
Hogan started as caddie at Glen
Garden Country Club in Fort
Worth. He learned golf in the cad
die tournaments. He was an am