The “Floating Palace”—A Wonderful Institution—The Girls and the Patrons—Scenes of Revelry—How Nights were Passed—The Loss of the “Palace.”
Of all Hogan’s enterprises, none perhaps ever became more widely known than did the famous “Floating Palace.”
It has been explained in the preceding chapter how Ben bound himself not to engage in any free-and-easy project in the town of Parker’s Landing.
It occurred to him, however, that he might keep within the letter of his agreement, and at the same time carry on his business on an enlarged scale. This is how he accomplished his purpose:
He bought a boat with money borrowed from Bill and Mr. Snyder. The boat measured one hundred and twenty-five feet in length by thirty feet in width. Having secured this craft, Ben set to work to fit it up for a music and dance hall. He decorated it in an elaborate manner, stocked it liberally with liquors and cigars, laid out a spacious dancing floor, and prepared a bar in the most approved style. This done, he secured the services of a number of musicians, and also, as the chiefest attraction of all, a company of pretty waiter girls. These latter were arrayed in costumes that did not hide any of their charms.
The boat was christened the “Floating Palace,” and floated in the Allegheny river, between the counties of Allegheny and Armstrong. Whenever the officials of either one of these counties undertook to raid the “Palace,” Ben would float it across the river so as to be out of the province of the officers. Drifting back and forth in this manner, he managed to avoid legal difficulties. Nor had he broken his contract, inasmuch as he had simply promised not to engage in such an enterprise in the town. He had said nothing about the river. I should not omit to mention that about this time Ben first became associated with Kitty O’Brien, alias Bowers. She was a woman of far better education and appearance than might be supposed from her manner of life. Indeed, I may say, from personal acquaintance with her, that she was very much of a lady in her bearing, and gave unmistakeable evidence of early advantages and refining influences. Kitty, as we shall hereafter speak of her, accepted Ben as her lover, and joined her fate from that time forward with his.
ON BOARD THE FLOATING PALACE.
In attempting to describe the “Floating Palace,” I shall ask the reader to imagine a brilliantly-lighted saloon, filled with dashing-looking women, and melodious with music. Not everybody could gain access to this floating hall of revelry. Two small boats were kept running from the shore to the “Palace,” and on these came the choice spirits who were admitted to the charmed circle.
Bankers and brokers, merchants and oil kings were to be met on the boat. It was not the sort of place which a man without money would care to visit. It took the mighty dollar to unlock the mysteries and pleasures of the establishment.