Ben gave a sparring exhibition in Kansas City on the Sunday night preceding his departure, which was largely attended, and which proved quite a successful affair. He also met with a physician whose course of treatment proved so beneficial that he followed it out from that time forward. It should be mentioned that when he arrived in Kansas City, he was scarcely able to stand upon his feet--rather an awkward predicament for a man to be in who was on his way to the prize ring.
From Kansas City Ben proceeded direct to Omaha. He took with him John Sweeney, to act as one of his seconds in the fight. Upon reaching Omaha, he put up at the Grand Central Hotel, and began to make his final arrangements for the battle. For the purpose of furthering his training, he subsequently removed to a private boarding-house, where he had all facilities for his work.
When Ben first struck Omaha, he was really a sick man. The dumb ague had not left him. His flesh was wasted, and what was the most serious thing of all, he was not able to sleep more than six hours out of seventy-two. By a careful and systematic course of treatment, he gained, during one week, seven pounds in weight. He submitted daily to a severe rubbing, in order to get up circulation, and he took short walks, as his strength would permit. His diet consisted of oatmeal, mutton chops and bread. Had it not been for this intelligent and conscientious care of himself, Ben would never have been able to have faced Allen at all. As it was, he was not in a condition which enables a man to use his fists to the best advantage.
During his brief sojourn in Omaha, Ben was one day called into the office of the _Daily Herald_ by the genial and gifted editor of that paper, Dr. Miller. The doctor had already listened to a good deal of Allen's talk, and, with true journalistic instinct, was anxious to hear what Ben had to say for himself.
"Well, really," said our hero, "I've nothing to say. Fists and not talk must decide this matter. You have already seen Allen; have you not?"
"Well," said Ben, rising to go, "he has done talk enough for six men!"
It was a notorious fact that Allen had offered to bet money that Hogan would never enter the ring with him. The secret of this may be very briefly explained. The hackman who was to drive Ben and Sweeney to the place of meeting had been bribed to carry them so much out of the way that they would lose the train, and thus prevent the fight from taking place.