“Police! Police!”
The officer of course made his appearance upon the scene, and finding a big strapping fellow abusing a poor inoffensive darkey, arrested the former and let the latter go.
The next morning the deputy sheriff was arraigned in a police justice’s court, and fined twenty-five dollars for assault and battery—which, let us hope, taught him not to attack innocent and unprotected negroes.
Upon leaving New York, Ben went to Albany, where he opened a place at the corner of Hudson and Greene streets, on the same principle as that in Rochester. The resort became well known in Albany and was frequented by all the sporting men of the capital.
Ben assisted in getting up the walking match at Rennsselaer Park, in which Weston, Adoc, Payne, Ferguson, and a member of the Troy police force were entered as competitors. Three purses were offered; the first three hundred, the second two hundred, and the third fifty dollars. The pedestrians were to undertake the feat of walking one hundred miles in twenty-four hours.
Ben trained Adoc and Payne with the understanding that he was to have one-half of all the prize money they won. The two men took first and second money, but they cleared out without sharing with their trainer. A seven-mile walk was held that same day for a purse of four hundred dollars, which Ben raised by subscription on the ground.
I desire to refer to one incident which occured during Ben’s stay in Albany, and which I think illustrates a trait in his character for which few persons are cognizant.
A young man of good family and excellent advantages often came into Hogan’s place in a state of intoxication. One day Ben fell to talking with him about the matter, and told him that unless he stopped short he would certainly die from the effects of liquor.
“But I have tried to stop,” said the young man, “and it’s no use. The fact of it is, Ben, I can’t live without my bitters now.”
“Well,” answered Ben, “you can’t live much longer with them, that’s certain. Now I’ll tell you what I’ll do. If you will follow my directions for three months—do just what I tell you to—I’ll get you a new rig throughout, give you a gold watch and chain and make as good a man of you as I am.”