Class. BooL \ --? GopyiightN^.. CQEOilGHT DEK>SI& r I'i WHAT THEY SAY. The game of three cushions shows execution. It was not known in my time. The diagrams of my straight-rail nurse are correctly drawn. The three-cushions diagrams are O. K., as also that showing the strangle hold I got on Roberts. The work is something new in billiard litera- ture. /Ci^.'^&.^'^-C.^Cc.-^t^eryc The idea of the book is all right. ^'^y^T^Z^'^^-^f-tn-^ )^!cAf-t5^:^ The article on the Amateur Championship is a good one. Nothing can be wrong that conduces to per- petuate and improve the game of three cush- ions. Use my name in any way looking to the good of billiards. / CHAMPIONSHIP BILLIARDS. OLD AND NEW CONTAINING DIAGRAMS OF 100 THREEtCUSHION SHOTS; SCHAEFER'S STRAIGHT-RAIL NURSE; ALL NURSING P<^TIONSJ^m^UMmg ALL BALK LINE^^Oft wSicIl ■ | CORNER GAME, f '£SQ0 JOHN A. THATCHER, Cushion Carom Champion of Ohio (1884-85); winner of St. Louis Handicap' (1887), longest tournament on record, and the only in»B wh^ ever in the same tournament (Chicago Haudioap, *~ 1887) beat Schaefer, Slos3on,^Ja!(d Wfe. l-'U \ wet OF /./s:^ 111898 :)f Gov Chicago and New York : Rand, McNally & Co., Publishers. \%\><-{^ 5255 Copyright, 1898, by Rand, McNally & Co. Entered at Stationer's Hall, London. All Rights Reserved. TO G. C. BRITNER, HIGH PRIEST OF The Noble Guild of Ivory Turners, in appreciation of an art which has made possible the present excellence of billiards, this work is dedicated by the AUTHOR. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Introduction of 3-Cushion Diagrams 11- 14 Diagrams of 100 3-Cushion Shots 15- 95 Champions of America 96- 99 What Has Become of the Champions? ... 99, 100 The Story of the Championship, 4-Ball. Best Records, 4-Ball Game. Tables of Tournaments, 4-Ball Game... 100-112 The Story of the Championship, 3-Ball. Best Records, 3-Ball Game. Tables of Tournaments, 3-Ball Game ..113-132 The Story of the Championship, the Champion's Game. Best Records, Champion's Game. Table of Tournament, Champion's Game .......133-137 The Story of the Championship, Cushion Caroms. Best Records, Cushion Caroms. Tables of Tournaments, Cushion Car- oms 137-148 The Story of the Championship, Balk Line. Best Records, Balk Line. Tables of Tournaments, Balk Line 149-164" The Advent of Ives, Balk Line. Best Records Since October 28, 1891 (no- where else to be found complete) ..164-181 Tables of Tournaments Since Novem- ber, 1893 .181-186 Shortstops at Their Best. 187,188 Billiards Can Be Taught 188-197 Suggestions to Novices 188-197 5 6 The Amateur Championship of America. 197-201 All Kinds of Balks 202-213 Diagrams of the Various Methods of Checking Speed 202-213 The "Albany Pony" in England 213-217 The Ives-Roberts Match in England 217-224 The Johnson- Reeves Match at Cushion Caroms (biggest betting game ever known in the United States) 224-228 New Game of Billiards — French Corner Game 229-234 Record Odds and Ends 234,235 Bank Shots 235 Fancy Shots 235 Finger Billiards 236 Lady Fancy Shot Player. 236 Armless Billiardist. 237 English Billiards 237 American Experts in Europe 237 Foreigners in America . 238 Best Handicap 239 Rub Nurse at Cushion Caroms 239 Kiss in Corner at Cushion Caroms 239 Definition of " Shortstop" _ 240 Fournil in America ... 240 Manufacture of Billiard Tables and Cushions, ^tc 240,241 Michael Phelan in Europe 242 Finale 243,244 PREFACE. There is a story to this effect : At a railway station in the far West a train pulled up to take on wood, and the hungry passenger jumped off and ran to the lunch counter in the nearest shanty. There were displayed placards, " Ham Sandwich, 10 cents;" "Boiled Eggs, 5 cents;" *'Apple Pie, 10 cents," and others of like kind. The traveler hurriedly grabbed 30 cents' worth of food and laid down a two-dollar bill, which the greedy-eyed proprietor quickly threw into a drawer and calmly resumed his talk with his crony. " Hurry up, gimme my change ! " yelled the tourist as he heard the bell ring. " Hurry up, I say! I shall be left." "You don't get nothink back," sneered the restaurant man. **Why, I gave you two dollars!" cried the other. " There are your signs, and I have only eaten 30 cents' worth." " Yes, you're all right. Move up, old pard, or you'll miss your train," and, as the passenger caught the platform of the last car, he heard the bandit say to his fel- low, " You see, Jim, I need money." Akin is the action of the author in placing his wares before the public. The original idea was to print the diagrams of the three-cushion shots in pamphlet form, but the publishers were informed by their chief salesman that there would be a market for a record book of billiards somewhat more condensed than any now commonly in use. 7 8 The endeavor, then, has been to supply the wants of billiard lovers — themselves too busy- to search through larger books — and allow them to discover this or that record almost at a glance. Given a new author, fresh material may be presumed. Aside from the records, the matter herein contained can not be found else- where. That no rules have been inserted in this pub- lication is because the compiler does not wish to still further complicate arguments which can never be settled until, as in England, the American billiard experts hold a meeting, re- vise the old rules, and make such new ones as the great improvement in the game of billiards most imperatively calls for. To-day mooted points can not be settled, as authorities equally good disagree, and the bedrock upon which the code was first planted is overlaid with the accretions of alluvium brought from fields of thought widely distributed. In casting an eye over the records herein contained, the hyper- critical may cry, "As I supposed ; ever more and more mistakes," arguing from the well ventilated knowledge of the imperfection in the records of billiards; and it is true that the writer has not reproduced to the fraction of a hair the difference in, for instance, grand av- erages. If the fault of repetition be glaring, it may be said that the layman is much more apt to make a respectable bag when shooting into flocks rather than at single birds. To give a general idea of the performance of one billiardist as compared with that of another of his date is the aim sought, as well as by the presentation in sequence of the various methods adopted to 9 thwart the first-class expert to advance the conception of the evolution of the noblest game yet devised by man. The matter herein con- tained has been prepared with great care, and the inevitable inaccuracies can easily be weeded out in a later edition. To further this end the author asks all true lovers of billiards to interest themselves in set- ting him right. In the production of this work he has been materially aided by the experts of the first class, not only as regards the execution, but in the judgment of the game. To such, thanks are returned with the hope that both amateur and professional may charitably view the effort of a man who can lay claim to little save sincerity of purpose. INTRODUCTION TO THREE-CUSHION DIAGRAMS. Where the game of three-cushion billiards originated is not known; but to-day, in- the public billiard halls of the country at large, although the West is peculiarly its home, such style of billiards is favored in great dispropor- tion to anything seen in bygone years. In the day of Michael Phelan, the books made no men- tion of "cush, cush, cush," and Dudley Kava- nagh, the first American champion at the four- ball game, kindly furnishing the diagrams cred- ited to him, sends the information that, as a game, "three cushions" was not known in his time. Wayman C. McCreery, Internal Revenue Collector of the port of St. Louis, a gentleman who for twenty years has been supposed to be the best amateur billiardist in the United States, is probably responsible for the prominence of three cushions, a game he plays as well as any- body, as shown by a defeat of Byron Gillette of Cincinnati, a man who, in exhibition play, has beaten both Frank C. Ives and Jacob Schaefer. Years ago Mussey's St. Louis billiard-room was a great rendezvous for professionals and amateurs, and here McCreery, at three cush- ions, took the scalps of all experts, with the exception of Eugene Carter and "the wizard," both of whom he equaled in speed. Before the fire which lately destroyed the parlors, in Chicago, of the younger Mussey, there might have been seen in this resort by far 12 the greater number of fine amateur players to be found in any one room in the United States, and many of these gentlemen were but slightly inferior in proficiency to the best professionals. St. Louis also has amateurs only 20 per cent slower than McCreery. "Three cushions" undoubtedly originated as a gambler's game, but this is no argument against it, for " keno," where no percentage is charged, can not be equaled as a parlor game. Its popularity is largely due to the social pos- sibilities, many of the amateurs fancying a four-handed match in preference to any other, and there is no question as to its favor with men who play billiards for exercise. The ordinary amateur does not care to sit idly by and " freeze up" while Schaefer runs 100 at ball-to-ball billiards, so he engages the wizard at three cushions, and is at the table almost as much of the time as his teacher. One fancies also to say to his wife : "You think I can not play billiards, but Jake Schaefer only beat me 5 in a 25-point game to-day," instead of being forced to admit "I can make about 10 to Schaefer 's 100," which would be the truth in reference to even 18-inch balk-line billiards. Imperfect methods may produce good results at three cushions, and here is a game where " stroke " courts for little. Magnus of Texas, a man always within 10 per cent of McCreery, showed great lateral motion of stroke — a thing fatal at ball-to-ball billiards. Nor is freedom of sweep essential, although men commonly say of such stroke: "That's the kind for three ] cushions." Jacob Schaefer's side stroke it is useless to copy, yet he makes it fit any style of billiards. 13 It is interesting to not»e the difference in dis- tance traveled by the cue-ball when propelled by a big six-footer or the wee Schaefer. The former has swung his arm to perfection and landed solidly upon the surface of the ball; the wizard has simply snapped his arm; yet Schae- fer ^s ball will travel several feet farther than t'he other. Some persons argue that an ability to hit nine cushions is necessary to high speed at three cushions ; on the contrary, a hard hitter, i'f anything, has the worst of it, he, fall- ing into the habit of dancing his ball around the table on the "two-chance" principle, thus sacrificing safety and running into all possible kisses. The man with the "tied-up stroke" naturally goes the short way and thus insensi- bly plays the better system, both as to safety and chance to score. The secret of McCreery's game is " going the short way," and in this regard an infallible rule applies as at all known styles of billiards. The distance traveled by the cue-ball is the sure index of billiard skill, and he who sends his ball the shorter distance is the better player. Advanced further, the same rule holds good as to the driven ball at ball-to-ball billiards. Schaefer's play of " vSquib shots" demonstrates the fact that great force renders impossible of execution such strokes, the wizard playing his ball slowly, giving the twist a chance to work, where the hard hitter has destroyed the twist on his ball after con- tact with. the first cushion. The speediest three-cushion player in the world is Jacob's brother, Charles Schaefer, who has on record in a tournament the score of 30 points, made in twelve innings. With a flat 14 pool stroke he strikes the cue-ball where he wills, and, like all experts at 15-ball pool, can hit an object ball at the farther end of the table *' as fine as a hair." In knowledge of the game Charles Schaefer has no superior, but as a money player he is belittled by professionals. Frank C. Ives has a record of 30 points scored in fifteen innings (three consecutive games of 10 points each), but Jacob Schaefer is considered the superior player. W. C. McCreery once made 50 points in a match in fifty-three innings, and an amateur of St. Louis, named Frank Petersen, is credited with the record run of 14 (5 x 10 table). W. C. McCreery in 1887 beat Eugene Carter 15 to 14 in three innings, and finished with a run of 11. Jacob Schaefer in 1895 also scored 15 in three innings (4, 8, and 3). Three cushions is a popu- lar game in the Paris academies; all of the French experts are fine players, notably Vig- naux, Plot, Garnier, Fournil, and Cure. The diagrams which follow are intended to show the principles of all the difficult shots which are entirely practicable, as also to entertain three- cushion enthusiasts with the possibilities of the game. Countless variations are easy to discern through a slight change in position of the balls. It has been the effort of the maker of these diagrams to give credit to this player and that for original ideas, as also to show the favorite strokes of the leading experts at the game. The "ABC" has been purposely omitted, as the better way to execute "naturals" is a matter of individual opinion. If the " unnaturals " in- struct and amuse, the writer's end will have been accomplished. The suggestion is made that each shot should count 3, in order that 1 point may be charged as penalty for a miss. 15 Kiss from red Froren in Corner" Twist on righ+ side, one Ball , 3 Cushions. Henry fDuMP*)RHiNES. Same . 4 Cushions. Jos.W. Capron, 16 \2i Sample of^ 'Smash in** or ''Squib' Played in grea+er Perfection b^ Jacob ScHaefer. Very heavy ri2h+ Twist. A favorite Stroke of W.CM9CREERY Heavy right Twist. 17 4 Cushions . Heavy left Twist. Shovyn ' by W. H.'Catton. Follow and Force The Wizard". Twist on \ef^ side of Cue Ball 18 *'Vefy fine'' Shots common +o Pool Players . and so well ^executed by J NO Daly and George Sutton Twi*s+ on rlgh+ side. Remarkable t/umpover" made by . ' ' SCHAEFER Dec. 15/97 He said : I ney/er before ■t-hough+ of a+temp+ing the stroke." Twisty on right side. .^ 19 ''Pretty Work" ^^ Amateur Doherty Heavy right Twist. A Variation of ''Very fine*/ by Harry, Pagin. 20 Fancy Sho+ by Eugene Carter "wis+ on leff side, follow in . Fancy Shof By Joe Doherty Rlgh+ Twisf. Twist on left side. Ed. Helm. Amafeur Christy Twis+ on righj/side Easy Shots often overlooked Twist on lefts side. >Jno.Bessunger. Shown by N. Lederer. Heavy leff Twist. 23 rv Fancy Sho+ >y N. Lederer. Heavy rig hf Twist. Down Stroke. r 71 Jump Sho+ by N.Lederer . Righf Twist, ZA Kiss Shot by Geo F Slosson Heavy lefi Twisf- Variation of same - by Parker Byers 26 On" with^Reverse Twisf A Shot shown by LoN Morris and Magnus, \Now Champion of Texas ^ Cue Ball struck on left side 27 28 *' Springes hot by T J.Gallagher./ LoftTwisf 29 Reverse Twisf. Thefavori+e Stroke/ of E.G.Schevenell/ Cue Ball struck i on right side Going -fhe unnatural way n order to avoid a Kiss . Used by Perkins at^three Cushions/ and by Geo.F.Slosson at any style of Billiardsy Cue Ball struck on right side \ /V. 31 32 Fine, with Draw off Cushion^' and ^^ "heavy natural Twist* made recently by W"A Spinks Cue Ball struck on leftside FT "The Up Country Shot Effecfedat times by all the players born In CuyahogaCo.Ohio Heavy righ+Twist "Al'" Smith / "Up and down Bank" by T.H.White Na+ural Angle No Twisf Bank Sho+ by Chas. N.Morrison Leff Twist. 36 Bank Sho+ h Ben Saylor Lef+ Twist. 37 ''Calcula+lon Sho+" by Prof. Louis Reed This is where +he Professor- backed ou+of +he second Story Window, returning in Time \o cry : **^ |+s a goitt3 +o coun+ . By Gosh!'* Left Twist. 38 40 Draw from the Cushion" Eugene Carter Heavy left Twis+. 42 Wy Harrison Top Ball . Righ+ Twist 44 Jno. Matthews Draw Sroke wi + h lef+ Twist. 45 46 Sutton hifs wrong Cushion and ■ backs up'f A remarkable "Fluke" 47 Miscue L. Perkins. Vouched for C.J. E.Parker. Righ4- Twisf. ~A Ed. Semple . The opening Sho"!- on four Cushions R.ght Tw.s+. |i 6 49 50 \ ^ y /\ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ \ / \ / \ y Furnishedbv \ \ Dudley Kavanagh \ \ who won first Championship \ \ of America 1863. \ V ^ Balls. \ \^ 6 X IZ Table, \ \ \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / V / \ / \^ r^^\'> V : _!l^ k 71 Chas. J.E.Parker "Smash in" Follow through -firs-}- Object Ball. Top Ball . Heavy right Twist. Jack M^ Cormick + he "Tira-l- Champion Bank Sho-h Player. Illustration " 0"F getUng an angle from Object Ball ^ hit "Fine J with no Twist on Cue Ball. o Frank C. Ives . This Expert +he ha fdes-h of Hi++ers, s+rikes Cue Ball a tremendous Smash"- feff Twist, Top Ball- and astonis- hes T.J.Gallagher with Re- finement of his ownfavorite Stroke . Force Draw . Byron S.Gillette. Heavy righf Twisf. Slow Draw, Byron S.Gillette. Heavy leff Twisf . Dead Ball . 56 Byron S.Gillette. Heavy ngh+ Twrs+". VL Byron S.Gillette. Top Ball. Heavy lef+ Twisf. Byron S.Gillette : Top BalL Heavy lef+_Twist. Byron S.Gillette. Top Ball. Righf Twist. ^ 59 Clarence E.Green. "Way down low" Heavy right Twisf 60 T A m a+eur Geo. W. Davis Top Ball Leff Twis+. \> JJ f\ 371 Chas.E.Leutz . Cen+er Ba II. 63 Ellery B.Prescott. Heavy right Twisty Wilson R Foss. Heavy left Twist. 64 Charles Nolan. Tie up" on red. Player unable foget to right Side Cushion Top Ball. Heavy right Twist 66 66 'Wrong Way around the Table" Made by Cyrille Dion 20 years ago. Heavy righf Twisf. 67 A difficult Shown by Capt. A.C. Anson Leff Twisi". The Sfyle of Shot discovered by Eugene Carter . Rig h+ Twist. Striking first Object Ball nearl)/"fuir' 70 Draw off Cushion from "frozen" Ball. Eugene Carter. Centre Ball yocsiighf lef-j- Twisf. 71 Remarkable' Scra+ch*^ by BeIM SaYLOR with both Objec-t- Balls close +o Side Cushion. Player essays Cushion fir8+ around + he Table* but missing the first Balleffecfs/^ Count In the Mannershown/ Lef-f Twist. k: A^*SUTTON Special" ^Made by +his player 'in a minor Match. + he Endeavor /+o get behind the ^first Object Ball f( a sure three Cush I on Shot ) . ^■Faulty Execution /^answers the Purpose,/ Syfhe Cue Bail taking^ s^four Cushions. yRightTwist. 73 PossI bllities of .Shooting in+heAir ^A ProfessionaP /disgruntled and I finding wbat to him\ an impossible' posi tion, shoots ^ hard, drawing Cue> Ball with heavy righ+\ SyTwist, taking five ^Cushions. The Cue^ ^ Ball meetsthe red I again going fo ^ Side Cushion effects the Count. N \ \ \ \ \ \. \ Free Hand Masse* W1^ Michaels . :\j 'Heavy Reverse Twist an ex + remely difficult Stroke. F.C. Ives. Ano+her Heavy ReverseTwist F.C. Ives. ^ 76 r 77 Sneak in'' Joe Van Lewen. 78 79 Frank C. Ives . Heavy lef+ Twist. Draw off Cushion. 80 Back up'* F.C. Ives. 82 M asse '^around +he Table Made only bv Jacob Schaefer and Frank C. Ives . ^ Ives with 23 Ounce Cue strikes Cue Ball with great Force. The red Ball is knocked from Table (it would otherwise t-ravel around and kick second Object Ball away ), the Countbeing effected by a Follow with natural Twist. rr 84 Wayman C. M9 Creery's Fancy, Shot, Cue Ball a lmos+ frozen to red is hit very hard on right Side . Cue Bail remains / stationary and spins. / Red Ball returning / strikes Cue Ball 'clead / in the Head ''^and the/ lather heavily loaded/ ..•±l_ T. • III .. / wi+h Twist takes all the Cushion s and effects+he / Count. / / ( / / /This Shot / derjionst rates / fully the / ^'Englishing of an Object Ball \ \ \ \ \ \ / A Sho+ at which Charles Sch aefer has no ecjual Draw wi+h Centre Ball. 86 FrankC.Ives ■pa m o u s 9 Cushion Shof. Possible ly +o ,hard Hitter/ Centre Ball) rine Righ+Twisf. 87 88 Byron S.Gillette. Hard wi+h Draw off Cushion . Heav^ left Twist. -o- Byron S.Gillette Swing Draw Heavy right Twists t ^^ 89 Byron S. Gillette Follow Stroke. Rig hi Twisf. — o« 90 Jacob Schaefer. Draw S+roke . Hea vy righ+ Twis+. o T.J.Gallagher Tremendous Force. Heavy nghf Twis+. Four Cushions . Jacob Schaefer. Right Twis+. Masse on Side Rail. T.J.Gallagher Lef+ Twist Three Cushions by hi+fing End Rai I +wice . Jacob Schaefer. Left Twist. Bank Sho+ by W. H. Catton Lef+ Twist. The Anchor" a+ +hree Cushions. Ama'feurs usually bank around Ihe Table , securing one Poinf but separating +he Balls. Professionals try to make several Points and some Times succeed . Heavy right Twist, Maurice Vignaux Champion of France. Twice across" First Objec+ Ball "frozen" on End Rail F.C. Ives . Righ-f- Twis-h, Top Ball. 'Shown by a Man Ihey say any Body cBn beat. Heavy lef+ Twist. The grea+estShot e\/er\i)ade A Draw around the TableSaidy +o be possible to only one Man Prof. KaarleSS t-he Belgian fancy Shot Player. Heavy right" Twist". 96 CHAMPIONS OF AMERICA. June 9, 1863, to May 16, 1865— Dudley Kava- nagh. Won first tournament for championship, 4-ball game, 6x12 table, four pockets, 2% balls, push and crotch allowed, 500-point games. Won matches, 1,500 points, for championship, against Jno, Seereiter, Philip Tieman (2), Wm. Goldthwait (2). May 16, 1865, to September 7, 1865 -Louis Fox. Received forfeit from Kavanagh. September 7, 1865, to May 23, 1866— Jno. Deery. Beat Fox; received forfeit from Carme; beat McDevitt. May 23, 1866, to December 11, 1867 -Jos. Dion Beat Deery-McDevitt (2), and won forfeit from E. H. Nelms. December 11, 1867, to expiration — Jno. Mc- Devitt. Beat J. Dion, the game having been changed to crotch barred ; got decision over Melvin Foster ; beat J. Dion, the game being changed for second time since its inception to a 51^x11 table. (McDevitt was lost in Chicago fire.) May 10, 1869, to March 5, 1870 — Jno. Deery. Won New York tournament at 4-ball game, push and crotch barred, 1,200-point games ; beat Melvin Foster ; beat Cyrille Dion. March 5, 1870, to January 11, 1871 — A. P. Ru- dolphe. Beat Deery, C. Dion, J. Dion. January 11, 18T1, to April 26, 1871 — Frank Par- ker. Beat A. P. Rudolphe. April 26, 1871, to May 16, 1873 — Cyrille Dion. Beat Frank Parker, Melvin Foster, Jno. Deery, Maurice Daly. May 16, 1873, to October 2, 1873— Maurice Daly. Beat Cyrille Dion. I 97 October 2, 1873, to October 6, 1873— Albert Gar- nier. Beat Maurice Daly. October 6, 1873, to expiration — Cyrille Dion. Received forfeit from A. Garnier ; beat Ru- dolphe with the record-breaking average of 4Q2o/^j, The 4-ball game went out of exist- ence, and the diamond cue became personal property. June 30, 1873, to December 10, 1874 — Albert Garnier. Won first tournament at 3-ball game — championship of world — games, 300 points ; was champion of both 4-ball and 3-ball from October 2 to 6 ; beat C. Dion, Francois Ubassy, Maurice Daly. December 10, 1874, to February 22, 1875 — A. P. Rudolphe. Beat Garnier. February 22, 1875, to expiration— Maurice Vig- naux. Beat Rudolphe for challenge cup repre- , senting championship of the world; took it with him to France ; defended it against Sexton, and it became his personal property. November 13, 1874, to April 26, 1875— Maurice Vignaux. Won tournament for American championship ; beat A. P. Rudolphe and C. Dion. April 26, 1875, to June 12, 1875-Albert Garnier. Received forfeit from Vignaux. June 12, 1875, to November 23, 1875— Maurice Daly. Received forfeit from Garnier. November 23, 1875, to December 14, 1875 — C. Dion. Beat Daly. December 14, 1875, to November 16, 1876— A. Garnier. Received forfeit from C. Dion. November 16, 1876, to May 31, 1877 — Joseph Dion. Beat Garnier. 98 May 31, 1877, to expiration — Wm. Sexton. Beat J. Dion, C. Dion, Geo. F. Slosson (2). The American championship emblem became Sex- ton's personal property December 27, 1878. February 10, 1879, to expiration — Jacob Schaefer. Won tournament for championship (Cooper Union); beat Slosson — 1,000 points in three innings — and never challenged ; the cup became Schaefer's personal property, November 24, 1879, to January 10, 1880 — Wm. Sexton. Won New York tournament at the champion's game. January 10, 1880, to June 19, 18S0 — Jacob Schaefer. Beat Sexton (2). June 19, 1880, to expiration — Geo. F. Slosson. Beat Jacob Schaefer (2). May 14, 1883 — Maurice Daly. Won tourna- ment for H. W. Gollender championship at cushion caroms (414x9 table), but returned medal to donor. April G, 1883, to expiration — Jacob Schaefer. Won Chicago tournament, at 8-inch balk line ; beat Geo. Slosson in only match played for the emblem. December 8, 1888, to December, 1889— Eugene Carter. Won shortstop championship, Schaefer and Slosson barred ; tournament 14-inch balk line. December, 1889, to January, 1890— Frank C. Ives. Forfeit of Eugene Carter, shortstop championship. January, 1890, to March, 1890 — Frank Maggi- oli. Shortstop championship forfeit from F. C. Ives ; beat Wm. Hatley. March, 1890, to expiration — F. C. Ives. Short- stop championship forfeit from F. Maggioli^ 99 December 1, 1890, to March 19, 1892 — Jacob Schaefer. Won challenge cup (14-inch balk line championship) from Geo. F. Slosson ; beat Car- ter. February 16, 1891, to April 29, 1891 — Eugene Carter. Won tournament for second shortstop championship, Schaefer and Slosson barred ; 14-inch balk line. April 29, 1891, to expiration — Frank C. Ives. Beat Carter for above championship. March 19, 1892 — Frank C. Ives. Won chal- lenge cup (14-inch balk line championship) from Jacob Schaefer ; beat G. F. Slosson. In 1893 the donors claimed the cup, and Ives relinquished it to them. December 4, 1897, to February 5, 1898 — Geo. F. Slosson. Won championship tournament, 18-inch balk line— no shot in anchor or balk. Februarys, 1898— Jacob Schaefer. Beat Geo. F. Slosson. WHAT HAS BECOME OF THE CHAMPIONS? Dudley Kavanagh lives in New York City. He is connected with the B.-B.-C. Co. Louis Fox is supposed to have committed sui- cide at Rochester, N. Y. John Deery lives in New York City. He is a teacher of billiards. Joseph Dion has for fifteen years been an in- mate of an asylum for the insane. He is now at Blackwell's Island, N. Y. John McDevitt was lost in the Chicago fire, October 9, 1871. A. P. Rudolphe died in Paris, France, 1893. 100 Shortly before his death he ran 148 from the spot in a game of 14-inch balk line with F. C. Ives. Frank Parker lived in Chicago. He died February 27, 1898. Cyrille Dion is dead, Maurice Daly lives in New York City and keeps a big billiard-room. Albert Garnier lives in Paris, France. He is said to be worth one million francs. Maurice Vignaux lives in Paris, France. Of late he has been troubled with rheumatism. William Sexton lives in New York City. He is engaged in the billiard business. Jacob Schaefer makes his home in Chicago. George F. Slosson lives in New York City and rivals Dal^?- as a billiard-room proprietor. Frank C. Ives lives in New York City. He is interested in mining, bookmakingy and a bil- liard-room. Of the shortstop champions, all are living in the United States, except E. Carter, who, for some years abroad, now calls Barcelona, Spain, his home, and is there a star in the billiard academy. THE STORY OF THE CHAMPION- SHIP. FOUR-BALL. Dudley Kavanagh, who in tournament won the first billiard championship of America, is still alive, a hale and hearty gentleman, living in New York City. The youth of American bil- liards is apparent when its history is spanned by the life of an individual of sixty years of 101 age. Kavanagh's win of the title of champion was in 1863, and four years before this he had played a match at Detroit with Michael Foley (still a resident of the biggest and prettiest of the cities of Michigan) the evening prior to the decision of the yet much-talked-of $15,000 match between Michael Phelan and John See- reiter. Michael Phelan was, beyond a doubt, the best player of his day, although in speed Seereiter is said to have outclassed him. As Kavanagh vs. Foley and Phelan vs. Seereiter matches were played under like conditions, it is seen that in 1859 Phelan was by 25 per cent a better player than Kavanagh, although the latter scored a run of 177, as against the 157 of Seereiter. A young man named Bernard Chrystal was the most promising player of the years 1857 and 1858 (he died in 1859 at the age of twenty-four), his record showing him to be the equal of See- reiter at the carom game, and the superior of Kavanagh where "hazards" (pocketing the balls) counted. When, in 1863, Kavanagh won the first cham- pionship, the conditions were akin to those of the Phelan-Seereiter match other than in the particular of the elimination of the side pock- ets, and as the champion's grand average was only 151/^, as against the 12i/^ of Phelan in 1859, it can not be said that any improvement in the speed of billiards had been shown in the intervening four years. Kavanagh made a single average of 33^^ and a high run of 203. John Deery made a run of 313 in the crotch. In the first tournament played in America — that of October, 1860, New York City— Kavanagh had won four games and lost none, so taking first 102 prize. The games were played on a 6x12 car- om table, with 2% balls, pushing and crotching allowed. Here Kavanagh made a grand aver- age of 20J^, a single average of 29%7, and a high run of 144. Philip Tieman, who took second prize, made a high run of 185. Although billiardists of the present scout the idea, it is barely possible that perfection of tools as well as methods of play has been in- strumental in developing billiard speed. Cer- tain it is that Michael Phelan was a marvel of ease and grace while engaged at play, and his style might be copied to advantage by the purely niechanica-l, methodical shortstops of to-day. Dudley Kavanagh, if asked to show his stroke, can hit a ball as clean as the next. But the expert of 1860 was hooked to a high- wheeled sulky, so to speak, while the dudish amateur of 1898, who lispingly disparages the game of Phelan (justly called "the father of billiards "), spins his feeble efforts on ball bear- ■ ings. Four months only was Kavanagh al- lowed to hold the title undisputed. Then See- reiter tackled him and was beaten half the game, the champion scoring 1,500 on a 17 aver- age, with a high run of 151. In April, 1864, Kavanagh held the emblem against Tieman, who scored 1,265 to the winner's 1,.500. The averages and runs were below the record. To show that he was still the star, Michael Phelan, on the night following Kavanagh's victory over Tieman, beat the champion (push shot and crotch barred) by 1,000 to 965, the winner's av- erage being 8^^, his high run 56. Goldthwait now played for the championship and met de- feat by 75 in 1,500, Kavanagh slightly bettering the record as to -average with 173^. Tieman 103 was aga,in defeated, this time easily, and Gold- thwait fell again. May 16, 1865, Kavanagh for- feited the championship to Louis Fox of Roch- ester, one of the contestants in the tournament of 1863. The style of game was still the same, and it may be as well to state that at this time Maurice Daly made his debut as a billiardist in a match for $50 a side, caroms and hazards, played on a 6 x 12 four-pocket table. Two weeks after Fox became champion a new star ap- peared in the person of John McDevitt, born and bred a Hoosier. Tieman and Goldthwait were matched for $2,500 a side, but the former, ill of rheumatism^ forfeited, but made a match for $1,000 a side for McDevitt to fill the date. Playing in Cincin- nati, McDevitt won 1,500 to 1,086, and estab- lished a new record as to average and high run —22% and 267, respectively. Two months there- after J. Dion also beat Kavanagh's record with 21% in a match with Melvin Foster at Montreal. September 7th of the same year John Deery, at Rochester, N. Y., became champion by defeat- ing Louis Fox, McDevitt's record average was not beaten, but Fox made a record (276) for high run. The loser, some time after his defeat, was found dead in the river, and it has always been claimed that, crazed by grief, he committed suicide. In November, 1865, Kavanagh and the French- man, Pierre Carme, introduced an innovation by way of a first-class match on a table reduced in size to SJ^xll, and without pockets. The push shot was barred, but crotching allowed. New York saw Kavanagh the winner, ],.500 to 1,339, with an average of 25 and a high run of 132. Carme ran 178 ; 2%6^alls were used. 104 In January, 1866, Carme was matched to plaj'- Deery for the championship, but paid forfeit. On March 13th Deery beat McDevitt at Cooper Institute, New York, by a score of 1,500 to 1,145 ; but the winner's average was only 10, his high run 119. Deery lost the championship to J. Dion in the same hall a few weeks later, the Canadian averaging 10^. The disparity in the speed of this contest and the one which immediately followed may give some idea of the crippling of a champion by putting pockets on a match table. J. Dion beat Carme 750 to 491 on a 5J^ x 11 carom table, 2%6 balls, push barred, crotching allowed, averag- ing 39, and running 297 with the balls in the jaw. J. Dion, October 5th, at Montreal, for the championship, defeated McDevitt 1,500 to 1,276, the loser breaking the high run record with 308, while the winner set the new mark of a 26 average. October 30th, at Boston, McDevitt ran ■ 409 in a match in which he defeated Goldthwait, May 27, 1867, E. H. Nelms, champion of Pennsyl- vania, ran 543 with 2% balls, on a 6 x 12 carom table, crotch barred, push shot allowed. When, June 10, 1867, McDevitt again essayed to win from J. Dion the championship Michael Phelan went to Montreal to referee the game. Dion won with a 19 average, but beat all records for high run, putting together 616 in the crotch. The inferior professionals now got to playing 4-ball caroms on a 5^^ x 11 four-pocket table, push shot and crotch allowed, and on October 21st, at Cincinnati, Melvin Foster made an aver- age of 100 in a 300-point game, and a grand average of 25 in 2,600 points, with a high run of 194. Peter Snyder ran 288. 105 The crotch was barred in championship matches, and December 11th, at Montreal, John McDevitt became champion by beating J. Dion 12 points in 1,500. The average was 13. Win- ner's high run, 181; loser's, 290. Cyrille Dion, on a 6 X 12 four-pocket table, 2% balls, had lately averaged 11^, and run 101, although both push shot and crotch were barred. On a oV^xll four-pocket table, 2% balls, push and crotch allowed. Champion McDevitt elec- trified the billiard world when, in a match with Goldthwait (New York, January 8, 1868), he ran P / Posi + ion where M9 Devitt 7| made his 14 83 m ihe C ro+ch . 1,483 in the crotch, and in 1,500 scored an aver- age of 166%. When Melvin Foster hit McDevitt for the championship (Chicago, April 8th) the table had been reduced from 6x12 to 51^x11, but as when the Indianian wrested the trophy from Joe Dion, crotching was barred, but pushing allowed. This game broke up in a row ; but by the referee, McDevitt was declared the winner. The average, as far as was played, was 21 as against the 13 of the previous championship game, conclusively showing the way to in- crease speed at billiards is to cut down in size the table. Old-style billiards received a death-blow when, on September 16th, at Chicago, McDevitt, in a championship match with Joe Dion, ran 106 1,458, and averaged 166^, beating his man 1,500 to 407. The first-class players soon barred both crotch and push. January 28, 1869, at Montreal, Posi + ioD of the Balls, when M9 Devitt ran 1458 with the push Shot, Cue Ball pushed on i-wo Reds .Then on Red and White. No Ball was ever Q outside of Lineof % f he Spot. • p. \ ^1 J. Dion and Melvin Foster so engaged to play 1,200 points, four balls (2%), 53^x11 carom table. Dion won by 84 points, with an average of 36, and high run of 208. Foster ran 355. Now came the Irving Hall (New York) tour- nament for the championship (April 26 to May 10, 1869), the emblem of which, the famous " diamond cue," for seven years was fought for, finally, in 1876, becoming the personal property of Cyrille Dion, The games were 1,200 points, caroms, played on a 5^^x11 four-pocket table, 2% balls, push and crotch barred. Single caroms counted 3 points, doubles 6. Neither J. Dion or Jno. McDevitt were engaged. A. P. Rudolphe here made his first effort to win the championship, and Henry Rhines started for the first time in first-class company. Jno. Deery was returned the champion with a high run of 358, and grand average of 18^. 107 Foster, in playing off the tie for second money (won by Rudolphe), ran 402, and made a single average of SS%. The (Jay following the tourna- ment, Goldthwait, in a match with Maurice Daly, on a 5^4 X 11 carom table, averaged 52 in 1,200. Deery beat Foster in a match for the dia- mond cue on an average of 20. About this time the 5 X 10 table began to be used by amateurs. Deery, in San Francisco, January 8, ISTQ, suc- cessfully defended the cue against Cyrille Dion, whom he beat by 11 points on a 15 average, and a month later repeated the dose, playing a somewhat better game. A. P. Rudolphe won the cue from Deery a month thereafter, and in twelve days beat the ex-champion in a $3,000 match. Rudolphe aver- aged 321^ and ran 312. The Frenchman beat Cyrille Dion a $500 match in New York City in May following, and in October defeated ex- champion Joe Dion, making an average of 28^. Frank Parker of Chicago took the dia- mond ciie away from Rudolphe at Buffalo Jan- iiary 11, 1871, the winner's average being only 183^^ and high run 144, but Cyrille Dion dispos- sessed the Chicagoan on April 26th, averaging 193^. In June, Foster tried unsuccessfully to beat Cyrille Dion, who then played ■ a much superior game to that shown with Parker. In the fall of 1872 Deery tried for the diamond cue and failed. The tenth match for the cham- pionship was signalized by the second disgrace- ful scene known to American championship billiards as well as by the fact that for the first time a prizefighter was selected as referee of a billiard match. Cyrille Dion and Maurice Daly contested in Irving Hall, New York City, and Jno C. Heenan was the referee, Budd Scofield 108 acting as marker. The latter was said to have neglecte.d to mark up 15 points made by Daly, and when this player stood at 1,490, presumably having 10 to go, some partisan shouted "Daly is out." Dion stood at 1,486. Heenan finally decided the game a draw, and a week later it was played over, Dion winning 1,500 to 1,147. It is a certainty that Heenan, under the rules, would have been justified in ordering Dion tol play on, after making official announcement that' the score stood 1,490 to 1,486, as there is some old r ul e of billiards which states that mistakes on the string can not be rectified after the opponent has scored a point. Scofield's announcement, *'Daly, 1,505; Dion, 1,486. Daly is the winner of the game," was entirely out of place, and caused all the trouble. The marker has no more to say about the game than an outsider. Heenan should have reprimanded Scofield and ordered the game to proceed. May 16, 1873, Maurice Daly became champion, averaging 26%, with high run of 195. October 2d Albert Garnier played the twelfth match for the dia- mond cue and became the champion, beating Daly 276 points on a 3134 average. Daly had a high run of 249. Garnier, four days later, resigned the cue into the hands of H. W. Col- lender, the donor, claiming that the 4-ball game of billiards was no longer America's national game, it having been superseded by the 3-ball game. The cue reverted to Cyrille Dion, he having challenged the winner of the Garnier- Daly match. Its diamond tip was something unique in billiard emblems. The final match for its possession was played in Tammany Hall, New York, April 7, 1876, A. P. Rudolphe being the challenger. C. Dion won, beating all I records with a 40% average, and "railroading " the Frenchman, whose total was 392. This was the last time first-class experts played the 4- ball game on a 5^^ x 11 table with four pockets. Geo. F. Slosson, September 9, 1873, at Kings- bury Hall, Chicago, scored 2,000 points, at a 142i%4 average, and ran 534, the table being a 5 X 10 carom. His opponent, Jno. Bessun- g^er, made a total of 216 points. BEST RECORDS. Four-ball Game — 6x12 six-pocket table, 2% balls, push and crotch allowed. Run 177, by Dudley Kavanagh, Detroit, April 11, 1859. Aver- age 1232/j^g4 in 2,000 points, by Michael Phelan, Detroit, April 12, 1859. Average I411/26 in 1,500 points, by Kavanagh, New York, April 23, 1863. Four-ball Game— Carom table, 6x12, 2% balls, push and crotch allowed. Run 156, by Philip Tieman. Average 29%7, by D. Kavanagh, New York, Oct. 31, 1860. Made in deciding game of first tournament ever played at any style game. Four-ball Game — 6x12 four-pocket table, 2% balls, push and crotch allowed (conditions of. first championship tournament, won by Dudley Kavanagh, New York, June 9, 1863). Run 616 (crotch), Jos. Dion, Montreal, June 10, 1867. Average 255%g, Jos. Dion, Montreal, October 5, 1866 — for championship. Four-ball Game— 6 x 12 four-pocket table, 2% balls, push allowed, crotch barred. Run 290, Jos. Dion. Average, John McDevitt, 13i%i4 (match for championship', Montreal, December 11, 1867. Four-ball Game— 51/^x11 four-pocket table, 2% balls, push allowed, crotch barred. Run 1,458, and average 166^. Made by John McDevitt (match with J. Dion), Chicago, Sept. 16, 1868. 8 110 Four-ball Game — 5i/^xll table, four-pockets, 2% balls, push and crotch allowed. Run 1,483 (crotch), and average 166%. Made by Jno. Mc- Devitt, in match with Goldthwait, at Boston, January 8, 1868. Four-ball Game — 5^/^ x 11 carom table, 2%6 balls, crotch allowed, push barred. Run^ Jos. Dion, 297 (crotch) . Average 39%9 (match with P. Carme), New York City, May 24, 1866. In match for $1,000, New York City, Nov. 4, 1P65, under s.ame conditions, Dudley Kavanagh averaged 25, and his opponent, Pierre Carme, ran 178. Four-ball Game —6x12 caroni table, 2% balls, crotch barred, push allowed. Run 543, and average 333^, E. H. Nelms, Philadelphia, Pa., May 27, 1867. Four -ball Game — 5^x11 four-pocket table, 2% balls, push and crotch allowed. Run 288, Peter Snyder. Average 100 in 300-point game, and grand average of 253^^03 iii 2,673 points, Melvin Foster. Both performances made in tournament of October, 1867, Cincinnati, Ohio. Four-ball Game —53^ x 11 carom table, 2% balls, push and crotch barred. Run 355, Melvin Foster. Average 3612/33, Jos. Dion, match 1,200 points, Montreal, January 28, 1869. Four-ball Game — 5)^ x 11 carom table, 2% balls, push and crotch barred, new style count, single caroms 3, doubles 6. Run 219, and aver- age 52%3. Made by Wm. Goldthwait in match with M. Daly, New York City, May 11, 1869. Four-ball Game— SJ^xll four-pocket table, 2% balls, push and crotch barred, single caroms counted 3, doubles 6. Run 358, Jno. Deery, tour- nament instituting championship, represented by diamond cue. New York City, April, 1869. Average 402%^, Cyrille Dion, New York, April Ill 7, 1876, in last match for diamond cue. Melvin Foster in play-off with P. Snyder, May 12, 1869,ran 492, and C. Dion in match, Nov. 29, 1872, ran 321. Four-ball Game— 5 x 10 carom table, 2% balls, push and crotch barred. Run 534, and average 142i%4. Made in 2,000-point match with John Bes- sunger, Chicago, Sept. 9, 1873, by Geo. F. Slosson. Irving Hall, New York, June 1 to 9,1863 — 4-ball championship of America — carom game, 500 points, 2% balls, 6x12 4-pocket table, push- ing and crotching allowed. First prize, gold- mounted cue and $750 billiard table; second prize, $250 in money. un-g :^S9qSiH oSbj9av pUBJO 9SBJ9AV ^S9g OOt-i OQOi-iTtiQO C^ (M r-l ■!-( 1-1 CO T-l co(y:)-i-ii-(T-iT-ic, o OS d •—5 < > 0) T? >. C :/J ^ s^ ^ ^ 0) ^ H C as be a» ^ ri o Jh 03 J3 o Ph <+-( o C 0) rv^ 03 OJ 0) > bfiTJ OS fl ;h 03 0) u > C3 o u 0) r>t OS . r{ o tf) n >. c^ 1 >. ^ s w ctS 5 o n 1^^ 0) > o 1 o 1 1 Q hJ m< 4 1 12 1 1 1 4 1 9% 1 1 1 4 1 105/7 6 1 2 3 1711/17 1 4 10 5 12 • 113 62 77 98 64 79 The tie was played off. (Best average of first three players made in seven games.) Garnier won first prize, C. Dion second, and Daly third. 128 Kingsbury Hall, Chicago, November 10 to 21, 1873— tournament for money prizes,value $3,100; games, 400 points ; challenge-cup rules. A. Garnier C. Dion M. Daly J. Dion George F. Slosson J. Bessunger .. P. Snyder F. Ubassy be hi) 03 ^ 03 1/3 §S n o > ;h > > h:; ^< o< 6 1 17%3 913/15 5 2 83^ 6^ 4 3 12 4 3 % 51^ 2 5 9 6^ 1 6 ^^ 51^ 7 3^ 6 1 129/10 8 82 153 124 71 48 69 Garnier beat Ubassy in play-off for first prize, and Daly beat J. Dion in play-off for fourth prize. Boston, March 9 to 13, 1874 — three-ball game, 5 X 10 table — prizes, $1,700 and gold badge ; 400- point games. A. Garnier C. Dion.... J. Dion .... F. Ubassy . M. Daly ... CD bjo bjo c3 'd c^ n xn "^ ^ Sii ^ H^l pq 10^ 11 m 159 93 108 190 219 241 212 225 249 Triangular spaces in corner of table to pre- vent crotching. Vignaux won first prize, $1,351; Garnier and Daly divided second and third prizes ($928 each); J. Dion won fourth prize, $585; Rudolphe won fifth prize, $440; Ubassy and Slosson divided sixth and seventh prizes (^$122 each). Tammany Hall, New York City, November 15 to 22, 1875— "The Garnier tournament" for $3,500 prize money presented by Geo. L. Loril- lard, the great turfman — 5x10 carom table, 2'>^ balls. Games, 300 points. J. Dion ...... C. Dion William Sexton George F. Slosson . A. Garnier Maurice Daly A. P. Rudolphe .... 0) > 142/7 30 15 . 16^ 30 23 u > 9Vl8 1011/14 11 810/17 llVio i2yi3 122 89 136 104 119 124 67 Grand average of tournament, 9%. J. Dion beat C. Dion for the play-off, winning $1,500 to his brother's $1,000. The third and fourth prizes were split by Sexton, Slosson, and Garnier, each of the three receiving $333. 130 Horticultural Hall, Philadelphia, May 15 to 27, 1876— the Centennial tournament — $5,000 in prizes. Collender challenge-cup rules. William Sexton A. Garnier George F. Slosson. Maurice Daly Joseph Dion „_.. A. P. Riidolphe .... John Bessunger C. Dion Louis Shaw M. Foster 0) > 371^ 213/7 23 50 23 15% 6^ u > 1413/18 13% 133^ 13% 1414 •1211/17 7% 'H 287 176 103 153 106 175 91 86 62 79 Sexton, first prize, $2,000; Garnier, second , prize, $1,200; Slosson, third prize, $800; J. Dion, i fourth prize, $600; Daly, fifth prize, $400. The three-handed tie (J. Dion, M. Daly, and A. P. Rudolphe) was played off in New York, June 5th, 6th, and 7th. Irving Hall, New York City, June 8 to 16, 1876 ' —tournament for prizes aggregating $1,500 ; challenge-cup rules. A. P. Rudolphe.... Wm. Sexton A. Garnier George F. Slosson CD > 213/7 20 22^ 0) u > 169/13 14%2 17% 14^ 102 125 121 152 Rudolphe beat Sexton in play-off, averaging 25, with high run of 127. Garnier beat Slosson in play-off for third money, but Slosson oeat all records with high run of 311. 131 Tammany Hall, New York City, November 20 to 28, 1876— tournament for $1,500 prize money, 300-point games; 5 x 10 table, 2%6 balls; rules those of 1874 tournament. J. Dion A. P. Rudolphe.... George F. Slosson A. Garnier Maurice Daly C. Dion Jacob Schaefer.... 1711/17 21% 1612/17 16^ iiyis 13% 12% u > ioiyi5 10 913/18 812/17 195 134 122 181 123 136 155 Slosson took third prize, not taking part in play-off, which was won, 600 to 381, by J. Dion, with an average of 11%3, and high run of 125. Garnier won fourth prize. J. Dion won special prize (billiard table) for grand average. St. Charles Rotunda, New Orleans, January 10 to 19, 1878— tournament for $1,000 in prizes; 5 X 10 table, 2% balls. William Sexton... George F. Slosson A. P. Rudolphe.... Maurice Daly C. Dion CD bo - as fl ^ 1^S n xn ^ O a; > 4 30 2 2 231/^ 2 2 24 1 3 20 1 3 1911/31 u > 222/ ;/5 297 173 151^ i 134 18%o I 136 1313/15 , 145 Slosson beat Rudolphe in play-off, and Daly beat Dion in play-off. 132 Mussey's Billiard-room, St. Louis, March 21 to 28, 1878— $400 in money prizes— handicap tourna- ment. Scratch men to play 600 points. o 0) Jacob Schaefer Scr. C. Dion Scr. George F. Slosson.Scr. T. J. Gallagher.... 540 W. C. McCreery...480 3 I 1 1 1 1 2 3 3 13 17% 2781/83 1214 14^ 125/7 12%3 327 194 288 182 88 Schaefer beat Dion in play-off and there made a new record (429) for high run. Slosson won third and Gallagher fourth money. Slos- son beat Schaefer, Schaefer beat C. Dion, McCreery beat Slosson, Gallagher beat Mc- Creery. Cooper Union, New York, January 20 to Feb- ruary 10, 1879— tournament for challenge em- blem of championship and money prizes of $2,100. J. M. Brunswick & Balke Co. P^ Jacob Schaefer... George F. Slosson William Sexton. _ Maurice Daly A. Garnier T. J. Gallagher... A. P. Rudolphe... J. R. Heiser u > H^l CQ< :^< 7 855/7 281/5 5 2 81^7 37% 4 3 45 146/7 4 3 30 18% 3 4 363/7 14% 3 4 20 1310/11 1 6 15 1 G 12%9 85/12 376 464 214 370 220 187 159 158 Sexton beat Daly in the play-off. Jacob Schaefer won $1,000, George F. Slosson $600, William Sexton $300, Maurice Daly $200. THE STORY OF THE CHAM. PIONSHIP. THE CHAMPION'S GAME. Some three weeks after the Brunswick & Balke tournament at Cooper Union (February, 1879), the champion's game was introduced in an exhibition game at Slosson's 23d Street room, New York Cit3\ The triangular spaces of the tournament of 1874 (won by Vignaux) were made larger by the extension of the lines which, on the side rail, started from the second diamond, and landed at the first diamond on the end rail. In these 14x28 spaces, the balls could only rest one shot, and, on the second, as at balk line, must be driven out. Slosson won 100 to 76 from Sexton. The first tournament was played at Tammany Hall, New York, November 11 to 24, 1879. The cash prizes aggregated $2,000, and a challenge emblem was offered. Sexton won first prize, $1,000, after a tie with Slosson. Jacob Schaefer was third; Maurice Daly, fourth; Garnier, fifth; Eugene Carter, Rudolphe, and Randolph Hei- ser also started. Sexton had the best single average, 27%i; Slosson the best grand average, 141/^4; Garnier had high run, 147. January 10, 1880, Schaefer became champion, defeating Sex- ton 600 to 585. The winner's average was 18%, his best run 165, as against the other's 151. This was the celebrated game where Schaefer, having 58 to go, ran the game out by reason of being able to effect the first coujit through the courtesy of his opponent, who waived the rules, allowing the chandelier to be moved in order that Schaefer might be able to execute a masse. 134 April 22d Sexton tried again and was beaten, 600 to 523, in a poor game. June 19th Slosson beat Schaefer for the championship, 600 to 470, averaging 30, with high run of 236. Slosson again beat Schaefer October 4th, 600 to 438; average, 3334- Schaefer beat the record with a run of 312. December 20th to 24th found Slosson in Paris, France, where, in a five-nights' match, the Frenchman beat him, 3,000 to 2,961. The winner averaged 297i/4oi and ran 214. Slosson ran 273. At the Academy of Music, New York City, April 11 to 15, 1881, was played the 4,000-point match between Schaefer and Slosson; blocks of 800 points. Schaefer won, 4,000 to 2,780, aver- aging 3261/423; high run, 342. Slosson ran 252. Slosson made the greater number of points one night only; then he averaged 76. Slosson was the favorite, $1,000 to $800, before the match, and Richard Roche, who had $15,000 to bet on Schaefer, was "kept off" by an unfortunate practice game. Slosson tackled Vignaux again at the Grand Hotel, Paris, January 30 to Februairy 3, .1882. The match was for $1,000 a side, 14x28 lines on a 5x10 table, 2% balls ; and for the first and only time since Vignaux became champion of France did he then suffer defeat in a match at ball-to-ball billiards in his own country. Slos- son, 3,000 ; Vignaux, 2,553, was the final score. The winner averaged 377'^^9, while the loser's average was within a small fraction of Schaefer's American record. Both players beat the record for high run — Vignaux with 394, Slosson with 398. In a match with Ed. McLaughlin, February 14, 1884, Randolph Heiser made a new Ameri- 135 can record, with 351. The game was 600 points, and McLaughlin won, with an average of 15i%9. This is the game where Captain Anson, as umpire for McLaughlin, greatly assisted his man. Slosson beat Schaefer at Chicago, May 31, 1884, by a score of 800 to 657. The lines were extended to 18x38. Winner's average, 284>^. Slosson ran 236; Schaefer 98. The last time the Turnin9 fhe Corner" a+the " Champion's Game " Schaefer finally turned at 14x28 Lines in two shots. In 1890 the Wizard practiced l-he Champions Game and reaching A**went throug'f) so running out- any O© reasonable Length -^^ of Game on End Rail. A champion's game was played was January 5, 1 885 ( Chicago), 20 x 40 lines. Schaefer, 800 ; Slos- son, 589. Winner's average, 16% ; high run, 78. Slosson ran 97. The championship emblem be- came the personal property of Geo. F. Slosson. In the year 1891 Jacob Schaefer for a time practiced the champion's game as an amuse- ment. He soon learned to turn the balls on the end rail to such perfection that he could run them either way along tlie rail as long as he desired, and, seeing that first-class men could master the garae so as to produce the monotony of straight rail, abandoned it forever. BEST RECORDS. Champion's Game — 14 x 28 lines — New York, November 11 to 24, 1879. Tournament for cham- pionship and $2,000 in prizes. Sexton won, Slosson second, Schaefer third. The winner had best single average, 27%i ; Slosson best grand average, 14i/<74; Garnier high run, 147. Champion's Game — 14 x 28 — New York, Jan- uary 10, 1880. Schaefer beat Sexton for cham- pionship 600^ to 585, averaging 18p^, with high run of 165; Slosson ran 151. Champion's Game — 14x28 — New York, June 19, 1880. Slosson beat Schaefer for the cham- pionship 600 to 470, averaging 30, with high run of 236. Champion's Game — 14x28— New York, Octo- ber 4, 1880. Slosson holding emblem from Schaefer, averaged 333^^. The loser beat the record for high run with 312. Score, 600 to 438. Champion's Game — 14x28 — Paris, France, December 20 to 24, 1880. Vignaux beat Slos- son 3,000 to 2,961. Winner's average, 297i/ioo; high run, 214; loser's, 273. Champion's Game — 14x28 — New York, Acad- emy of Music, April 11 to 15, 1881. Schaefer beat Slosson 4,000 to 2,780, averaging 326I/123; high run, 342, by Schaefer; Slosson ran 252. Champion's Game — 14 x 28 — Paris, France, January 30 to February 3, 1882. Slosson 3,000, Vignaux 2,553; all records beaten. Winner*s average 377^79; high run, by Slosson, 398; by Vignaux, .394. Champion's Game — 14 x 28 — New York City, February 14, 1884. Randolph Heiser beat Ameri- can record for high run with 351. Champion's Game— 18x38— Chicago, May 31, 137 1884. Slosson beat Schaefer 800 to 657. Winner's average, 2S^/j. Slosson ran 236, Schaefer 98. Champion's Game — 20x40 — the final match at this style of billiards. Schaefer 800, Slosson 589. Winner's average, 16^ and high run 78; Slosson ran 97. Tammany Hall, New York City, November 11 to 24, 1879— tournament at "the champion's game." $2,000 in prize money and a challenge championship medal; 5x 10 table, 2% balls. William Sexton ... George F. Slosson. Jacob Schaefer I 5 Maurice Daly A. Garnier Eugene Carter A. P. Rudolphe i 1 J. R. Heiser CD CD be bjo c3 •n^ 03 n 73 1^ ^ n u > ^ hJ m< o< 6 1 273/11 1311/15 6 1 25 14 5 2 23 138/13 3 4 18M 11%6 3 4 16^ 101/7 2 5 11 9%5 1 6 15% 812/17 . 7 7%7 112 107 122 123 147 103 81 113 Sexton beat Slosson for play-off 500 to 478. Daly beat Garnier for play-off 500 to 496. Wil- liam Sexton won $1,000, George F. Slosson $500, Jacob Schaefer $250, Maurice Daly $150, A. Garnier $100. THE STORY OF THE CHAM- PIONSHIP. CUSHION CAROMS. The first match in America wherein partici- pated an expert of prominence was that be- tween Jacob Schaefer and Jno. Flack of Boston, Mass. It was played in the last-named city Feb- ruary 21, 1878. The wizard, after the Tammany 138 Hall tournament of November, 1876, had been taken under the wing of David Tennj^ Pulsifer (since renowned on the turf as the owner of Salvator's only rival, the swayback Tenny), who in his youth was a billiardist of note. In company with Pulsifer, Schaefer starred the New England towns, and rapidly solidified the principles of his game. Schaefer discounted Flack 300. points, and when his man had one point to go, the wizard finished the game with a run of 35, giving to the billiard world the first illustration of that wonderful reserve power which since has often stood him so much in hand. In February, 1881, at Cooper Union, New York City, Sexton and Schaefer met, the latter winning 400 to 396, with an average of 34^%i, as against the 214 of the Flack game. Schaefer ran 26; Sexton 21. February 26th the men met again, and this time Sexton won by a score of 400 to 363, averaging 3%, with a high run of 27. The conditions of both matches were new, the winner taking all and the loser paying expenses, Richard Roche, a wealthy sporting man, being behind Schaefer, wishing to "make a gamble " of everything. At Paris, France, June 26th, Vignaux and Garnier beat Plot and Slosson a four-handed match. Vignaux made a high run of 25. The Roche tournament ($2,500 in prizes given by Richard Roche) was played at Tammany Hall, New York, November 14 to 19, 1881. Joseph Dion won first prize ; Jacob Schaefer, second ; G. F. Slosson, third ; Alonzo Morris, fourth, and Tom Wallace, fifth. M. Daly, T. J. Gallagher, Eugene Carter, Wm. Sexton, and R. Heiser also started. Jos. Dion beat all records with a run of 44, while his grand average of 139 32%i was the best. Schaefer made the best single average, 634- This was probably the biggest betting tour- nament ever held. There were several books made, and Schaefer at evens carried a great Schaefer's Corner Nurse*^ a+ Cushion Carroms- on a Car rom Table >o o p~# ) Hatleys , **Kiss Nurse" \ af CushionCarroms. qO ^ Carters • "Rub Nurse*' at Cushion Carroms. deal of his backer's money. Dion made "a sweep " for the books, as he stood unbacked at 15 to 1. In the game that Heiser beat Slo.sson, Mc- Cloud, the bookmaker, when Slosson had 55 to go to the other's 105, bet $500 to $20 against Heiser. Schaefer, for his final game with Dion, 140 was always $100 to $40, and with six to go, the score was tied. Dion then ran out. Slosson had to win five straight games to finish third, and did it. Maurice Daly won his first four games and then lost the other five. In fact; cushion caroms was seen to be the most uncer- tain of games, and then and there became the medium of higher gambling than ever before or since has been known upon a billiard table. Al Smith, Chas. Davis, Davy Johnson, and Tom Childs could any day be seen playing 50 points up for from $100 to $1,000 a side. The third match (Schaefer-Sexton) came on December 29th. Tammany Hall was packed as never before. Sexton received larger gate money than any billiardist before or since, and in proportion to the general betting was the wager of $11,800 of Richard Roche on his man Schaefer. Sexton, when 60 points behind, made the 1,000-to-l chance run of 77, and eventually won the game by 24 points. Schaefer's best run was 23. The winner's average was 32%i. Schaefer was over- trained. A few weeks before the match he had shown an average of 8 in practice, and runs of 50 to 75 frequently. In the spring of 1882 (April) Sexton again beat Schaefer 600 to 538, with an average of 4%7 and high run of 32. The last two matches were each for $2,500 a side, while of the others, the one Schaefer won was for $500 a side, the second played being for $1,000 a side. June 1st, in a match with Eugene Kimball, Daly won with an average of 44^%i5. Kimball made high run of 30. It was the only match this billiardist ever lost, and upon his ability to win he had wagered $2,800. December 1st, Sexton beat Daly 500 to 456, 141 averaging 3^^. January 6, 1883, the men again met, and Daly won 500 to 467, making the same average as in the Kimball match. Daly ran 44. New York, May 14 to 25, 1883, was played the tournament on the 4i^x9 table, in the rules governing which appears the right to make a direct carom, then send cue-ball to cushion, and in the event of its again touching either ball, record a count. This absolutely senseless rule has caused more controversy than all the others in the calendar. Maurice Daly won, and returned the championship emblem to the donor, H. W. Collender. Thos. Wallace, in playing off the tie for second money, ran 76, which is still (1898) the record. Vignaux was fourth, Jos. Dion fifth. Sexton and Eugene Carter also started. Daly had a grand average of 6%, which was about the same as that of Schaefer, while Dion and Vignaux both beat 6. Schaefer's single average of 10 is still the best on record. Chicago, October 24, 1883, Slosson beat Sexton by a score of 500 to 483, averaging 37%4i. Slosson returned the emblem to H. W. Col- lender, and put himself on record as not caring for cushion caroms. November 9th was played in New York the Reeves- Johnson match, upon which more money was won and lost than changed hands on the Phelan-Seereiter match. Six hundred persons were present by invitation, and all were '^ bet- tors from the old house." February 20, 1884, Eugene Carter averaged 4% in a match at St. Louis with T. J. Gallagher. May 6, 1885, at Irving Hall, Sexton beat Slos- son 500 to 486, breaking all records as to match 10 142 average with 44'§ii3. Slosson's backer bet Sex- ton's $1,500 to $1,050 in the main stake. Sexton went at top speed the last few innings, and ran 30 in the last 100. It is called the most exciting match ever played. The bookmakers' handicap tournament of February 8, 1886, held in New York City, was instrumental in keeping cushion caroms before the public. Chas. Davis won, David Johnson second (both were scratch men). February 15th, Jno. T. Reeves beat David Gideon (since the owner of three Futurity winners) 150 to 143. In 1886 Slosson and Schaefer were matched to play two games of 500 points each for $2,000 a side each game — one game to be played in St. Louis, the other in Chicago. A rule incorpora- ted in the articles "a ball frozen on the cush- ion shall be considered in play, providing such cushion is hit first," seemed to favor Schaefer, but a " stand off " resulted, Slosson winning at St, Louis, Schaefer at Chicago. Schaefer won in 111 innings, beating the record for match average. He won by 70 points, whereas Slos- son had beaten him 31 at St. Louis. Mahony & Co. of New York, bookmakers, backed Slosson, but weakening at St. Louis only won $1,000 "on the outside ; " then braced up, came to Chicago, and lost $8,000. After the game began, Roche was about to bet $5,000 to $4,500, when Mahony said, "wait until Jake sits down," and as the wizard continued his run up to 48 the New Yorker put his money back into his pocket. The last time the men came together in ■ match was April 4, 1887 (Chicago), for $500 a side. Slosson won in 106 innings, which is still the best match record. The score stood : Slos- son, 500 ; Schaefer, 488. Schaefer at 370 was 120 I 143 in the lead, and even Slosson's backer was offering $1,000 to $80 that Schaefer would win. November 5th to 22d was played at Chicago a handicap tournament, wherein engaged at scratch (200) were Schaefer and Slosson. Here for the first time F. C. Ives appeared in public. Carter (170) won first money, Schaefer second, Moulds (110) third, while Ives (110) tied two others for fourth money— an inconsequential amount, for which the players shook dice. G. F. Slosson won three and lost seven games, be- ing in the poorest fix of his life. Although the entrance fee was $25, Carter received only $210 as first money. Schaefer made a single aver- age of 10 (still the record). John F. Donovan (present owner of the Lindell Hotel, St. Louis) was a contestant, and, winning only two games, losing heavily on himself, so successfully picked the other winners that he finished with "money, marbles, and chalk." August 6 to 8, 1888, Slosson, Daly, and Sexton engaged in a summer tournament at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., but nothing was shown above mediocrity. Boston, April 13 to 17, 1896— Tournament, 5 x 10 table, 300-point games. Frank C. Ives won ; Jacob Schaefer, second ; M. Daly, third ; Albert Garnier, last. Ives ran 85, beating Sexton's 77, which had stood for over fourteen years. BEST RECORDS. Cushion Caroms- Boston, February 21, 1878, Jacob Schaefer ran the game out with 35, leav- ing his opponent, John Flack, in the 1 hole. The game v/as 300 points (discount), and Schae- fer averaged 2^^. Cushion Caroms— New York, February 15, 144 1881, Schaefer beat Sexton, 400 to 396, averag ing 347/51- Cushion Caroms— New York, February 26, 1881, Sexton beat Schaefer, 400 to 363, averaging m- Cushion Caroms -New York, November 14 tq 19, 1881, the Roche tournament ($2,500 in prizes given by R. Roche), Joseph Dion won, Schaefe second, Slosson third. The winner beat al records with high run of 45, and his grand aver age, 3%, was the best. Schaefer had best single average, (334- Cushion Caroms — New York, December 29 1881, Sexton 600, Schaefer 576; winner's average 32%i; high run, 77. Upon this game R, Roch^ lost $11,800 on Schaefer, who was a 4-to-5 fa vorite. Sexton got more gate money, $2,40( (winner took all and loser paid expenses), thai any other billiardist for a one-night match. Cushion Caroms— New York, April 27, 1882 Sexton beat Schaefer, 600 to 538, on a 4%7 aver age. Roche lost $8,000. Cushion Caroms— New York, June 1, 1882 Maurice Daly beat Eugene Kimball, 500 to 347 averaging 44%i5. Best run, 30, made by Kim- ball. Cushion Caroms— New York, December 1, 1882, Sexton beat Daly, 500 to 456, averaging 3^7. Cushion Caroms— New York, January 6, 1883, Daly beat Sexton, 500 to 467, averaging i'^^/w^ (tying his own record) and duplicating his high run of 44, made in Roche tournament. Cushion Caroms — New York, May 14 to 25, 1883, tournament on 4J^ x 9 table given by H. W. Collender for championship emblem and $3,000. Maurice Daly won, Thomas Wallace second, 145 Jacob Schaefer third, M. Vignaux fourth, J. Dion fifth. Sexton, as in the Roche tourna- ment, was "nowhere." T. Wallace, in playing- off tie with J. Schaefer, ran 76 (best on record, 4^ X 9). J. Schaefer made single average of 10 (best on record). Best run in tournament proper, 65, by Sexton. Daly, Schaefer, Dion, and Vignaux all went over a 6 grand average. Championship emblem returned by Daly to H. W. Collender. Cushion Caroms — Chicago, October 24,1883. , Slosson beat Sexton .500 to 483, averaging 37%4i. Cushion Caroms — New York, November 9, 1883, Reeves and Johnson (bookmakers) played 250-point match for big money. Reeves was beaten 17 points on a 2i%i7 average. High run, -Johnson 13, Reeves 12. Game played on 4^/^x9 table. Cushion Caroms — St. Louis, February 20, 1884, Eugene Carter beat T. J. Gallagher, 400 to 327: making an average of 4%; 5x10 table. Cushion Caroms— New York City, May 6, J 1885, Sexton beat Slosson, 500 to 486, breaking the record for match average with 4^^/iis- Slos- son's backer bet $1,500 to $1,050 in the main ■ stake. Cushion Caroms — St. Louis, November 27, 1886, Slosson beat Schaefer, 500 to 169, averaging ' 48/^23- Each man had high run of 26. Cushion Caroms— Chicago, December 17, 1886, Schaefer beat Slosson, 500 to 430, averaging 45%ii (best on record), with high run of 48. This match, as the one previous (St. LouivS), was for $2,000 a side. Mahony & Co. (Harry How- ward) of New York, backing Slosson, Richard 1 Roche backing Schaefer. Schaefer was a 7-to-lO 146 shot at St. Louis and ruled a slight favorite at Chicago. Cushion Caroms— Chicago, April 4, 1887, Slos- son beat Schaefer, 500 to 488, averaging 47%og (best on record). Schaefer ran 48, Slosson 25. At one time $1,000 to $80 was offered on Schaefer, he being 120 points in the lead. Cushion Caroms— Chicago, November 5 to 22, 1887 — handicap — Schaefer and Slosson, scratch (200), Eugene Carter (170), T. J. Gallagher and W. H. Catton (160), F. C. Ives, John Moulds, John Matthews, John Donovan, John Thatcher (110), Wm. Hatley (115). Carter won first money, Schaefer second. Moulds third. Slosson won only three games, but made his highest run of record, 40. Carter had a grand average of 4i%7, Schaefer's being 5i%i (best on record). Schaefer made single average of 10 (best on record). He also made his highest run in public, 54. Ives (his first appearance in public) was the only player to beat Carter, while Schaefer lost to Carter and Thatcher. Cushion Caroms — Saratoga Springs, August 6 to 8, 1888, Slosson, Daly, and Sexton engaged in a summer tournament (finishing as named), but the play was of poor quality. Cushion Caroms— Boston, April 13 to 17, 1896— tournament, 5 x 10 table, 300-point games. Ives won three games and lost none, making grand average of 53^; single average of 5^io a-^d rec- ord-breaking run of 85. Schaefer was second, Daly third, Gamier last. Tammany Hall, New York, November 14 to 19, 1881, and Cooper Union, November 2i to 26, 1881— first cushion-carom tournament — $2,000 added by Richard Roche, the backer of Jacob Schaefer. 2% balls. Games, 200 points up; 5 x 10 table, Joseph Dion Jacob Schaefer George F. Slosson. Alonzo Morris Thomas Wallace . . Maurice Daly T. J. Gallagher... Eugene Carter William Sexton... John R. Heiser cu CD b/: bJO 03 13 OS n O! gp ^ .o 2 W<1 o<^ 414 32/5 6 3 6^ 31/5 5 4 51^ 3% 5 4 ^Vs 3 5 4 3% 3 4 5 3M 3 4 5 3^ 3 4 5 4% 2% 8 e3 3% 3 2 < 3% 21/^ 45 35 32 37 26 44 29 27 32 J8 Slosson won the play-off of three-handed tie, and Morris beat Wallace. Joseph Dion won $1,000; Jacob Schaefer $700; George F. Slosson $500'. Alonzo Morris $300. Tammany Hall, New York City, May 14 to 25, 1883— the Collender tournament (4% x 9 table) for the championship at cushion caroms; direct carom no bar, provided either object ball is again hit by cue-ball; game, 500 points. Maurice Daly Thomas Wallace. Jacob Schaefer... M. Vignaux Joseph Dion William Sexton.. E. X:arter c m ^ ^ 5 1 4 2 4 2 3 3 3 3 2 4 6 0) > Dq (^V2 514 6 51/5 5Vs 4% 56 41 49 43 47 65 36 Wallace beat Schaefer for play-off, 500 to 394, averaging 7^4 with high run of 76 (best on record 4}/^ X 9 table). Vignaux beat J. Dion for play-off. Maurice Daly won $1,200, T. Wallace $800, Jacob Schaefer $500, M. Vignaux $300, J. Dion $200. 148 Madison St. Theatre, Chicago, November 5 to 22, 1887 — handicap tournament at cushion car- oms— 5x10 table, 2% balls. Scratch men to play 200 points; $25 entrance; $250 added by B.-B.-C. Co. o (U bJO b« cS ■ 'd c« n C/3 §S C! 9 O O r> tH > G 1 -CQ< o< P^ Eugene Carter.- 170 6% 41%7 29 Jacob Schaefer Scr. 8 2 10 5i%i 54 John F. Moulds. ...110 Frank C. Ives. 110 7 8 sys 24 fi 4 3 2V^ U John Matthews 110 6 4 4% 2^ 25 John A. Thatcher.. 110 T. J. Gallagher.... 160 6 4 24/7 3^ 25 5 5 39/10 30 George F. Slosson.Scr. 3 7 515/17 4 40 John F. Donovan.. 110 William Hatley....ll5 2 8 2% iM 21 2 8 2% 2 20 William H. Catton.160 1 9 4 2V2 18 Eugene Carter won $210, Jacob Schaefer $165, John Moulds $75. Ives, Matthews, and Thatcher took down their entrance money and shook dice for the odd $30. Boston, April 13 to 17, 1896 — tournament at cushion caroms given by Ives and Daly. u 0) (D 0) 0) ^ d n3 OS CO 0) > OS en Q OS 0Q . ^ cQ<: o< 6 40 237/31 5 1 3111/19 22 4 2 171/7 131^ 3 3 167/12 103^ 2 4 15 11 1 5 175/7 101/^ 6 711/14 220 246 90 170 101 101 134 J. Schaeter won $1,200, M. Vignaux $800, M. Daly $500, W. Sexton $300, A. Morris $200. Irving Hall, New York City, April 20 to 29, 1885— 14-inch balk line— tournament; $250 en- trance, $2,250 added by B.-B.-C. Co.; net door receipts given to the players. 5x10 table, 2% balls. George F. Slosson Jacob Schaefer William Sexton... Maurice Daly Joseph Dion. a» u > m > m i^ H^ ^.< 0 1 CD CD > Jacob Schaefer... Maurice Vignaux George F. Slosson "1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 231^ 16^ 21M 18 179/10 122 152 159 Second play-off. 800 points, Dec. 24th to 26th: u x 0) (1) a; pi fi bo ^ ^ It 01 03 TS 03 03 m 1 > P3 Jacob Schaefer. 1 1 2 284/7 263/4 187 Maurice Vignaux 1 1 1 13 1414 109 George F. Slosson 2 19^ 14 79 161 St. Louis, January 3 to February 17, 1887— 14-inch balk line — handicap. The longest tournament on record. Entrance, $25; $400 added by Roche and Schaefer; Wayman C. McCreery, handicapper; 5x10 table; 2% balls. Scratch men to play 300 points, Jos. UUman laid 8 to 1, take your pick: Matthews was favorite, and it was 15 to 1 against the winner. John A. Thatcher.. 180 Frank Day 180 T. J. Gallagher ...Scr. F. Maggioli ....225 William Hatley....225 Louis Reed 180 W. H. Catton 270 Eugene Carter Scr. John Matthews :...225 John Moulds 180 Edward Brown 100 John F. Donovan.. 180 Louis Shaw 225 (U (U be be a 'd OJ n r. 1^ ^ ^ o (U > U > ^ m< o< 8 4 612/13 45/11 8 4 6 4H 8 4 1515/19 7H 8 4 72%9 6 7 5 105/7 6^ 7 5 6% 41/5 6 6 10 6M 5 7 18M 9 5 7 5 41^ 5 7 71/5 4^ 5 7 46/11 21/5 3 9 432/37 4 3 9 105/22 41/7 42 35 69 78 56 45 68 101 37 64 16 29 53 In plajdng off the four-handed tie, Thatcher and Day tied for first (each losing one game), and Gallagher and Maggioli again tied (each losing two games). Thatcher won the final play- off, and Gallagher beat Maggioli for third money. St Louis (Schaefer's Room), January 3 to 14, 1888— 14-inch balk line — handicap tournament; games, 400 up. Twin tournament to cushion- carom handicap, Chicago, November, 1887 — $25 162 entrance, $250 added by B.-B.-C. Co.; net gate receipts to go to players. _ , o to o cd CD be 'd OS §^ Jacob Schaefer... Scr. John T. Moulds.... 165 Geo. F. Slosson...Scr. W. H. Catton 200 Eugene Carter 270 Frank Day 165 J. A. Thatcher .....165 F. Maggioli .200 John F. Donovan.. 150 Charles Schaefer ..165 9 7 7 6 4 4 3 2 1 2 2 2 3 5 5 6 7 8 7 .50 129/13 15%3 It i 510/13 61/9 235/13 7% 121/7 78/11 101/5 4% 4% 5% 41/6 4i%o 20C 4E 138i 89 73 32 Si 31 5^ John F. Donovan drew out of the tournament and his five remaining games were forfeited. Jacob Schaefer won $405, John T. Moulds $252, George F. Slosson $252, W. H. Catton $101. Carter and Day split $25, as the fifth man was to save his entrance. Madison St. Theatre, Chicago, November 26 to November 8, 1888— 14-inch balk line — short- stop championship; entrance, $25; medal to represent championship; Schaefer and Slosson barred. Games, 200 points. Eugene Carter... T. J. Gallagher . W. H. Catton... John T. Moulds. F. Maggioli Frank C. Ives W. H. Hatley..., Henry Rhives D bjO bjO cd 'd ^ n 71 ^ ^ m ^ G 5-1 ^ n CD > J-. > J m< o< 7 155/i3 91/3 5 2 111%7 61/5 5 2 142/7 7 3 4 81/3 4 3 4 91/11 57/10 2 5 5%7 5% 2 5 ^V2 51/3 1 6 41/6 4 87 65 60 63 46 37 41 41 Eugene Carter won $250 lagher divided second and each; Moulds and Maggioli ; Catton and Gal- third prizes, $150 each won $30. 163 Chickering Hall, New York City, February 20 to March 1, 1890— handicap of lines— Schaefer and Slosson, 14-inch ; Maurice Daly, F. C. Ives, W. H. Catton, and J. R. Heiser, 8-inch. En- trance, $250; $2,500 added by B.-B.-C. Co. Games, 500 up ; 5 X 10 table. George F. Slosson Jacob Schaefer... Frank C. Ives W. H. Catton Maurice Daly J. R. Heiser ^ bJO U) as o V5 ^ ^ t^ ^ §s 5 n (P > ^-t > PQ-< o< 26^^ 9 iri%6 4 1 26% 9 l'^%3 2 3 25 1^8%06 2 3 15%/3 12 2 3 20% 139/16 5 14 1015/16 136 168 105 95 118 141 George F. Slosson won $1,600, Jacob Schaefer $1,200. Daly, Ives, and Catton divided — $400 each. Central Music Hall, Chicago, April 5 to 12, 1890 — 14-inch balk line — handicap tournament; $250 entrance, $2,500 added by B.-B.-C. Co.; 500 points up. ^ Jacob Schaefer ...Scr. Frank C. Ives 275 Geo. F. Slosson... Scr. William H. Catton. 250 John R. Heiser 250 Maurice Daly 300 : (0 > ^ > ^ CQ< o< 5 386/13 25 4 1 25 13M 3 2 25 202/11 2 3 9M 8Vs 1 4 6M 5% 5 8% 7, 200 97 178 74 52 62 164 Chicago, February 16 to 27, 1891 —tournament for second shortstop championship emblem, given by B.-B.-C. Co., at the warerooms. Games, 400 points; 14-inch balk line. Eugene Carter Frank C. Ives W. H. Catton Ed. McLaughlin . . F. Maggioli _. W. H. Hatley Joseph W. Capron Louis vShaw 5-^ > ^ m< o<^ 7 301O/13 15% 6 1 44% i9yi3 4 3 271/19 101/^ 3 4 142/7 9yi3 3 4 1S% 81/5 3 4 12%3 6V7 2 5 1014 78/11 7 Grand average of tournament, 98^/ioo- THE STORY OF THE CHAM- PIONSHIP. BALK LINE. THE ADVENT OF IVES. When, March 19, 1892, Frank C. Ives, then 26 years of age, defeated Jacob Schaefer for the challenge cup, emblem of the world's cham- pionship at 14-inch balk line, there was naught in the game to even suggest that the dawn of a new billiard era was at hand. That such was the case, witness the scores of to-day, where in tournament play Jacob Schaefer at " 18-inch no shot in" has a record of a 40 average in 400 points. December 1, 1890, Schaefer, having beaten Slosson for the challenge cup, was anxious 165 to have his protege, F. C. Ives, matched against "the Student," and to this end R, Roche, Schaefer's backer, offered to wager $4,000 to $5,000 that the wizard's judgment of the rising star of billiards was correct. In the eight months that had elapsed since Maggioli had defeated Ives the latter had improved wonder- fully, and while practicing with Schaefer at M. Daly's Brooklyn room had several times in fast contests "run Schaefer to a head." Noth- ing came of Roche's offer, and when, a few months later on, Ives,- after securing in a short- stop tournament— in which he came second to E. Carter — a grand average of over 19, fell in a match to an average of 9^^ in 500 (Carter scored 478), his stock fell to away below par and he was classed as of the kind of billiardist called "a morning glory," a metaphor used in racing and applied to a horse that works well in the morning but does nothing in the afternoon, when the money is hung up. Ives, however, fancied that since he had been in billiards, for- tune had been somewhat unkind to him, and still had confidence that when luck changed for the better he would reach the front. At Mil- waukee, in a 600-point match with E. Carter, October 28, 1891, he won in the twentieth in- ning, so beating all match records; and when Schaefer and Slosson played for the champion- ship (New York City, January 22, 1892, Schaefer won, 800 to 592, and beat all records, with an average of 23%7), the Plainwell phenomenon challenged the winner before the game took place. At the time he had little faith in his ability to beat Schaefer, but thought, as the latter was out of form, that Slosson would win, in which event "the Student" would 166 be forced into a contest he had persistently declined. The erratic Jacob, as at other times in his career, "came to" and won the match; so that Ives found himself in a bad spot, from the standpoint of one who calculates the financial odds. He had himself posted the $250 forfeit for a championship match, and as the odds were sure to be 2 to 1 against him, nothing remained but for him to back himself at " evens " for the other $250. So he reasoned, but friends took 25 per cent of his game, and when the youth went to the table on the night of March 19, 1892, t( meet the acknowledged speediest billiardist oi the world he had backed himself for $375 a' even money and $100 at 2 to 1. By winning the game he set a peg not likely to be reached while championship billiard matches are played, as here, for the first time, a tyro at the first attempt displaced the champion. The finj betting was $100 to $40 on Schaefer, with w takers. Ives J^ot to 500 on an average of 22, and from that out confined himself to safety play. The final score was 800 to 499. Winner's average, 16i%9 ; high run, 95. Loser's average, 10i%8 ; high run, 45 (made from the spot). With the game two-thirds over the large assemblage cried "air, air!" (the crack billiardists. are said to be bred from salamanders, and always seek to have the hall at furnace heat), and when the windows were opened the balls chilled instanter, and Schaefer's chance was gone, Ives banging away and " nibbling out " by use of the draw stroke, which since has proved to be the real strength of his game. The ravens now began to croak. "Jake's all I ■St 167 Tight," was the doleful cry; " but then Ives, you know, went on a Western tour with him. Don't you see? Why, Schaefer always wanted to give young players a chance. Wait and see what Slosson will do with that 16-average fel- low." For "Gentleman George" had chal- lenged the winner. The match was played May 21, 1892 (Chicago), and Ives won, 800 to 488, his average {2Q%) beat- ing all match records in a game of like length. Slosson's average (16^15) was slightly below that of Ives against Schaefer. Slosson ran 120 in the fourth inning, and looked all over a win- ner, Ives finally got on his stride and ran 124 and 122. When he was close to his opponent he, as if practicing, essayed the jump shot (first shown by J. Dion), and, counting, soon had perfect position. When the remarkable shot was made, James A. Murphy (now the owner of Star Pointer, the champion pacing horse) swung his hat high in air, and his enthusiasm but illus- trated the general feeling. Ives is said to have bet $2,000 of his own money on the game. If so, this is the largest betting transaction credited to a professional billiardist, Wm. Sexton being second with a $1,500 wager, placed on himself when he ran 77 at cushion caroms and defeated J. Schaefer. Ives got on at even money. As yet there was nothing to indicate a marked improvement in billiard speed. Ives had simply done wonders for a boy. Four and one-half years had flown since first he entered the lists, and his rise to champion- ship form was a bad second to the career of Wm. Sexton, whom it had taken only eighteen months to scale the" ladder of billiard fame, he 168 - first appearing in the Garnier tournament, November 15, 1875, and winning the champion- ship (America) medal, May 31, 1877, from J. Dion. That medal became the personal prop- erty of Sexton, as he thrice successfully defended it, once against C. Dion, and twice against G. F. Slosson. Ives, likewise, was never defeated for the challenge cup, but the history of this emblem redounds not to the credit of some ol the parties concerned. Ives going to Paris! Schaefer followed and issued a challenge foi^ the championship. Ives named one placd to play, Schaefer another. M. Bensinger, president of the billiard company which had instituted the championship, named' a third place. A disagreement all around and IveJ brought the cup back to Chicago. The donors decided it forfeited to them, and it now rests in the vaults of the B.-B.-C. Co., and since the challenge cup (14-inch balk-line championship) there has been no emblem either of the Ameri- can championship or the championship of the world at any style of game, either in France or the United States, until the one now held by Jacob Schaefer, which represents the world's championship at " 18-inch no shot in." Up to the fall of 1893, "nothing doing" was the condition of first-class billiards in this country. Our crack players struck a Klondike in Paris, and worked it until the gold was ex- hausted. Early in 1893 Ives was engaged in the games with John Roberts, champion of England, but in November, at Chicago, was played the 4,000- point match (five nights) for $2,500 a side, at 14-inch balk line, between Schaefer and Ives. This was won by the former, who, 505 to the bad 169 at opening of play for the final night, scored 1,305 to the 755 of his adversary, and beat his man 45 points. This defeat was the most expensive to the loser of any ever known in billiards, as Ives stood to take down for his part $6,600. The betting had been heavy, at even money, but as Schaefer was taken ill the fourth day, the odds then laid were 25 to 1 against him, Joe. Ullman laying such price to Frank White for $40, and the last day 10 to 1 found no takers. Leo. Mayer, the backer of the winner, quit $1,700 loser, while James A. Murphy, the backer of Ives, won $2,200. The "hedging" was phenomenal. Mayer had on $1,200 against $1,000 that Schaefer would score the highest run, and when, on the second night, the wizard amassed .343 (anchor). Murphy of- fered his part of the bet for $50. Still the Ives end "cashed" as "the Napoleon" ran 456 (anchor) the fourth night. The grand averages were: Schaefer, 2731/147; Ives, 27i3/i4g. The vic- tory of Schaefer was a most popular one, the more so as Ives took his defeat much to heart, and made intemperate remarks, which were duly retailed by prejudiced chroniclers. Following out the argument as to increase of billiard speed being largely due to improve- ment in tools, it may be stated that about this time (1893) was adopted the method used in English manufacture of billiard tables, where the slate is in thickness two inches and put on the bed by doweling instead of by the use of screws. Solidity and a more perfect level are thus gained. For fifteen years a gradual low- ering of the billiard table had been going on (the idea originating in France), and this facili- tated " reach." Again, shades (copied from the I English) threw the gaslight more brightly on 170 Ij the table and at the same time protected thf eyes of the player. Blue chalk had been intro duced and "live" ivory. But, admitted tha. such improvements aided speed, still one must concede that the forward leap in billiards since 1893 is unaccountable on any other proposition but that when Ives became a first-class player he either originated something, or, appropriating old ideas, refined them; or that Schaefer's grand genius quickened under the spur of this new rival. The subsequent tournaments held at " anchor allowed " conclusively proved that Ives and Schaefer had quite put Slosson out of the race and left to them only one possibility RUDOLPHES O 0«=:^Anchor Nurse" of defeat, that at the hands of the mighty Frenchman, Maurice Vignaux. In passing, it may be of interest to state the history of the "anchor shot." It is said this can be traced to A. P. Rudolphe, which player, disgusted when "rail play" was perfected, through not being able to master its intricacies, invented a jam- ming of the object balls side by side on the cushion, and thought thus to offset the rail. Jacob Schaefer improved upon this idea, and kept one ball free from the cushion. The first time the position came up in public play was in a game of the " handicap-of-lines " tournament (New York, February 20, 1890), and Schaefer ran 140. Ben Garno then and there dubbed this style of play " the anchor nurse." Before 171 the 4,000-point match Ives had discarded the idea of gaining "the anchor," saying "one SCHAEFERS ^^^ "Anchor Nurse*' throws too much away"; but Schaefer's 343 caused him to change his foot, and he struck the position (identically the same spot on the table as had Schaefer — intersecting line on end rail) on the fourth night and ran 456. December 11 to 16, 1893, was played the New York tournament, anchor allowed — Schaefer, Ives, Slosson, the men finishing as named. Schaefer beat Ives one game (each man played two games with the others) by a score of 600 to 50, running 566, and making an average of 100. At Chicago (tournament of January 8 to 13, 1894), Ives, in a game with Slosson (anchor allowed), made 600 in six innings, and ran 487. In this tournament each man was to play the others twice, and Slosson, having been beaten the first round by Schaefer, as well as Ives, cried "peccavi" as to the anchor, and at his suggestion the other players agreed to bar the shot, and finish the series of games, anchor barred. Ives, in the second night's play of the 4,000- point match with Schaefer, had shown the pos- sibilities of anchor barred, as without the use 172 of such shot he had scored 850 to his oppo^- i nent's 800, although Schaefer with it ran 343. He now showed an average of 331^ in 600 points, but being beaten in the celebrated "one I The in+ersecling J Line Nurse. .__AA A mos+ favorable Position, i/-\ allowing Drive to either Side or End Rail. hole" by Schaefer on the second round, the men finished a tie for first money, Slosson having a clean score of four losing games. Wide Nurse Unnatural Rail by Ives O O The trio went to Cincinnati, and there (Febru- ary 1 to 3, 1894) engaged in three nights' play, Ives winning, with Schaefer second, Slosson "UT _!__. Chuck Nurse^ Out of Anchor. Out of Balk. 173 again failing to win a game. But at Boston (February 8 to 10, 1894), ''Gentleman George" popped up and took ample revenge, as there he beat both Schaefer and Ives and took first } "A Cheval^' ' A favorife Nurse j •b Schaefer. lO V money, his grand average being 23^, as against the 284;^ of Ives at Cincinnati. Ives did not win a game in the Boston tournament. The two 3,600-point matches of the fall of 1894 conclusively proved Ives the superior of Schae- fer at 14-inch balk line, anchor barred, as in the first game (New York, November 12th to 17th) Line Nurse on Side Rail ^=*0 a^ which G.F. SLOSSon O IS best. he won 3,600 to 3,074, with an average of 482%7, and in the second (Chicago, December 3 to 8, 1894) defeated "the wizard" 3,600 to 2,831, aver- aging 4133/g7. The speed shown by both men upset all calcu- lations, the betting before the New York match being even money that a grand average of 30 12 174 would not be beaten. Ives ran 359 at Chicago (fourth night) and 331 at New York (sixth night), neither run ever having been approached by any other player. Schaefer ran 244 at New York (fourth night) and 217 at Chicago (fifth night), such breaks being his best of record out- side the 271 made in Boston tournament. Th( last night's pla}^ at New York saw Ives with s total of 600 in ten innings, with Schaefer only 7 behind, with an average of 58%. In the second night's play at New York Ives averaged 631/5 632 points (best on record, number of points con sidered), while Schaefer overshadowed eve: this performance when in the fourth night' play at Chicago he averaged 62i^i 5 in 944 points This settled the game of 14-inch balk line, i far as the first-class players are concernec "Too fast," said the public. Ives receive as the net gate receipts at Chicago less than $60( For the next fifteen months there was nothinj seen of first-class billiards in the United States It looked as if Ives was in a class by himself The year 1895 engaged in bookmaking, he log nearly all his money, and the next winte eagerly accepted an offer to go to Spain, wher in the academy at Madrid he showed a rul of 777 at 14-inch balk line, anchor barred The spring of 1896 found him in Paris, looking over the situation with the idea of starting ai academy, but "times had changed" in th( regard of making big money, and he returnee to America, bringing with him Albert Garnier who twenty-three years before had for fou: days (October 2 to 6, 1873) held the emblems foi the American championship, both at the 4-ball game (" Diamond cue ") and the 3-ball game. It was upon this trip that Ives discovered 175 Kerkau, the youthful champion of Germany, who, coming to the United States, failed to beat at balk line the "shortstop" Edward McLaughlin. Before leaving this country Ives had engaged with Maurice Daly in the manufacture of a billiard cushion. To boom this article was instituted three billiard tournaments. The first was played in New York City, March 31 to April 5, 1896. The balk lines were extended to eighteen inches, one shot was allowed in balk and only five shots in "Parker's box" instead V/z Parkers Box 3 72 X 7 Inches.. of the ten of the anchor-barred game. Ives and Schaefer tied for first money (tie not played off) with three winning and one losing game. Garnier was beaten four straight games, and his highest run was 36. Ives ran 200 and Schaefer 176. "Too fast " again was the cry, (Ives had a single average of, 50 and a grand average of 36i%2 ^.s against the 30 and 241^^ re- spectivebr of Schaefer.) And- so, taking in Daly, the quartette went to Boston (see "cushion caroms") for the second tournament. The third was played at Chicago May 18 to 23, 1896. This was a handicap (Ives and Schaefer, 500; Garnier, 300) at 18-inch, no shot in either anchor 176 or balk. Garnier won, beating Ives twice and Schaefer once. Ives came second through beating Schaefer both games. Schaefer beat Garnier one game. Up to this tournament a player had been allowed a second shot to get out of balk. Ives says that this affair lost for Daly and himself $1,000. This, in the face of the fact that superior billiards were shown, the first Ives-Schaefer game being declared the best exhibition of billiards ever played by the men who passed and repassed each other— Ives win- ning 500 to 439 in twenty-six innings. Only two runs of 100 (Schaefer, 111; Ives 103, from spot) were made, and it looked as if finally a style of game had been discovered to suit the public, and bring together, at a reasonable handicap, the first and second class billiardists. That the latter supposition was incorrect is proven by the tournament for the world's championship held at New York November 29 to December 4, 1897 (won by Slosson), and the Chicago handi- cap tournament of January 17 to 22, 1898, where the scratch men, Ives and Schaefer, tied for first money. Although both these affairs were of like con- ditions to the Chicago tournament won by Garnier, the players, aside from the first-class men, had no chance whatever of securing first money. As a first-class race horse will run on any kind of a track, mud or no mud, so in billiards it has been demonstrated that the more balk lines the more easily wins the first-class expert. A fast cushion was used for the New York tournament, still upon it Ives made an average of 3034 (500-point game), and a run of 140 ; and 177 Jacob Schaefer, on the slow cushion at Chicago, sent in a single average of 40 (400 points), and scored in another game a run of 138 (made from spot in the game with Ives). Compared with Slosson, Schaefer, and Ives, the trio of short- stops, Sutton, Catton, and Spinks (and by per- formance these are the best players of the second-class) are nowhere. Ives' grand aver- age at Chicago was 24i%5; Schaefer 's, 18%; while Slosson's, at New York, was only 9^^. Yet as Schaefer's grand average at New York was 9^, the match for the championship, February 5, 1898, between "the wizard" and "the stu- dent," was thought to be an even thing. Slos- son, by Schaefer, has twice, in his career, been beaten to a standstill, z. e. at straight rail and 14- inch balk line, anchor allowed. At all other styles of billiards (bar three cushions and bank shots, which Slosson does not affect) the men are of like class. The strange feature of the exten- sion of the balk lines to eighteen inches is that thereby the "nursers," Slosson and Schaefer, have been again placed on a plane with Ives, whose excellence at wide billiards is most marked. Jacob Schaefer is now the champion of the world, he beating Slosson (New York, Febru- ary 5, 1898) by a score of 600 to 596. Eighty-one innings were consumed, and the high run was Schaefer's 76. So much for the fast cushion. The game is thus described by Mr. W. P. Foss: Both men played badly; Schaefer's third shot in a run of 59, made in the latter half of the game, was a scratch, and it was here that ''the wizard" began to recover and get his stroke. The 76 run in the last 100 points, which settled 178 , thel :r of! the match, was, of all billiards I ever saw, prettiest; Schaefer here nursing in center table, with occasionally a drive to side cushion, which returned perfect position for " facing the balls." Slosson, however, should have won, he missing twice on easy "follow," scoring which the player had gained fair position. BEST RECORDS. BALK LINE. Fourteen-inch— Milwaukee, October 28, 1891. Ives, 600; Carter, 183. Winner's average, 30; high runs, 133, 115. Fourteen-inch — Lenox Lyceum, New York City, January 22, 1892. Championship and $500 a side. Schaefer, 800; Slosson, 592. Winner's average, 23i%4; high run, 155. Loser's average, 1^3 V33; high run, 119. Fourteen-inch — Chicago, March 19, 1892. Championship and $500 a side. Ives, 800; Schae- fer, 499. Winner's average, 16i%9; high run, 95. Loser's average, lOi^si high run, 45 (from spot). Fourteen-inch — Chicago, May 21, 1892. Cham- pionship and $500 a side. Ives, 800; Slosson, 488. Winner's average, 26^; high runs, 124, 122. Loser's average, 16%; high run, 120. Fourteen-inch (anchor perfected)— Chicago, November 21 to 25, 1893. Match five nights, 4 000 points, $2,500 a side. Schaefer, 4,000; Ives, 3,955. Winner's average, 27^y±4,7', high run, 343 (anchor). Loser's average, 27i%46; high run, 456 (anchor). Fourteen-inch (anchor perfected)— New York City, December 11 to 16, 1893. Tournament, two games each. Schaefer won ; highest average, 100 in 600-point game. Ives second; highest average, 50; high run, 141. Slosson third; high- est average, 41^; high run, 164. 179 Fourteen-inch— Chicago, January 8 to 13, 1894. Tournament, two games each. Schaefer and Ives tied, each winning three and losing one game. Ives, with anchor in, tied Schaefer's New York average, making 600 in six innings, with high run of 487. Slosson lost all his games. The anchor was barred after each of the others had beaten Slosson. Fourteen-inch (anchor barred); ten shots al- lowed in "Parker's box"— Cincinnati, February '1 to 3, 1894. Tournament for $1,500. Ives won; single- and grand average, 284^^; high run, 163. Schaefer second; grand average, 21i%4; high run, 74. Slosson third; grand average, 17i%7; high run, 97. Fourteen-inch (anchor barred) — Boston, Feb- ruary 8 to 10, 1894. Tournament for $1,500. Slos- son won; grand average, 23}^] high pun, 115. Schaefer second; grand average, 16; high run, 271. Ives third; grand average, 19; high run, 146. Fourteen-inch (anchor barred) — New York City, November 12 to 17, 1894. Match for $2,500 a side; six nights; 3,600 points, blocks of 600. Ives, 3,600; Schaefer, 3,074. All records beaten. Winner's grand average, 482%7; loser's, 412%^. Ives ran 331, Schaefer 244. On the sixth night; Ives 600, Schaefer .526 — ten innings for winner, nine for loser. Ives in second night's play, averaged 63I/5 in 632 points. Fourteen-inch (anchor barred) — Chicago, De- cember 3 to 8, 1894. Match for $2,500 a side; six nights; 3,600 points, blocks of 600. Ives, 3,600; Schaefer, 2,831. Winner's average, 413%7; loser's, 324^%7- Ives ran 359, Schaefer 217. Schaefer, in fifth night's play, made 944 points on a 6214^15 average. (Death of 14-inch balk line.) Eighteen-inch (ancjior barred); one shot in 180 balk; five shots allowed in "Parker's box" — New York City, March 31 to April 5, 1896. Tour- nament; two games each. Ives and Schaefer tied with three winning and one losing game. Garnier lost four games and won none. Ived had best single average (50), best grand averj age (36i%2), and best run (200). Schaefer ran 176i Eighteen-inch balk line (anclior barred); nd shot in either anchor or balk — Chicago, May 1^ to 23, 1896. Handicap tournament ; two games each, Ives and Schaefer (scratch), 500; Garnier, 300. Garnier won, beating Ives twice and Schae- fer once. Ives was second through beating Schaefer twice. Schaefer beat Garnier once. Best single average — Ives (19%); best grand average— Ives (165%oo) 5 t)est run — Schaefer Ull). Eighteen-inch balk line Canchor barred); no shot in anchor or balk — New York City, No- vember 29 to December 4, 1897. Tournament for championship. Slosson won four games and lost none. Schaefer -won three and lost one. Ives won two and lost two. Daly and Sutton also started. Best single average — Ives (80^); best grand average — Ives (149^ qq); best run — Ives (140). Eighteen-inch balk line (anchor barred); no shot in anchor or balk — Chicago, January 17 to 22, 1898. Handicap tournament. Ives and Schae- fer (scratch), 400 ; Sutton, Spinks, and Catton, 260. Ives and Schaefer tied with three winning and one losing game. Sutton was third with two winning and two losing games. Tie not played off. Best single average — Schaefer (40); best run — Schaefer (138); best grand average — Ives (2418/65). Eighteen-inch balk line (anchor barred); no shot in anchor or balk — New York City, Febru- 181 ary 5, 1898. First match for the championship. Jacob Schaefer beat George F. Slosson (cham- pion) 600 to 596 in eighty-one innings. High run, 76, made by Schaefer. In the last 108 points the winner averaged 18. Central Music Hall, Chicago, November 21 to 25, 1893— match five nights, $2,500 a side, 14-inch balk line, anchor allowed. J. Schaefer F. C. Ives m 'o U > < fi ^ ^ 'o (1h o be c« u (D > < First night Second " Third ^' Fourth " Fifth '' 800 800 628 467 1305 40 18 29 29 118 *343 87 114 280 663' 20% 850: 4515/19 887| 251^ 800; 47 755 165/9 181 263 296 *456 113 Total 4,000 G'd average. ^Anchor. 2731/1 3,955 2713/146 Madison Square Garden, New York City. December 11 to 16, 1893— tournament 14-inch balk line, anchor allowed; two games each. u 0) OS Si xn > o o m o 3 2 1 o i 2 3 J. Schaefer F. C. Ives "6 1 1 1 'o 1 1 1 100 50 41^ 373%2 25y5 281/5 566 141 G. F. Slosson 164 183 Central Music Hall, Chicago, January 8 to 13, 1894— tournament 14-inch balk line; two games "■^ each. u o o "\ > 1— 1 1 'o o Xfi o n 1 *i 1 o 3 3 o h3 OS to ^ "ni OS It 0< J. Schaefer F. C. Ives _... 1 1 4 373^ 100 34 23% 30M 163^ 216 487 G F. Slosson 144 *Anchor. The anchor was barred after first two games, and all bets on result of tournament declared off by the referee, Capt. A. C. Anson. Cincinnati, February! to 3, 1894— tournament 14-inch balk line, anchor barred. $1,500 in prizes. o 1 as ^ > CD ^ ^ ^ F. C. Ives _... 2 1 1 9 2117/20 1723/27 28^7 2113/24 1717/47 1H8 J. Schaefer Geo. F. Slosson 74 97 Ives won $1,500 ; Schaefer, $900 ; Slosson, $300. Boston, February 8 to 10, 1894— tournament 14-inch balk line, anchor barred. $1,500 in prizes. o 2 1 O 2 1 0) > ^ > Ti ^ < ^ X < . ^ First night 568 351^ 153 600 355/17 129 Second ^' (532 631/5 223 231 231/5 124 Third '' ()00 546/11 157 250 25 61 Fourth " 600 426/7 177 711 549/13 244 Fifth ." 600 355/17 125 756 4734 126 Sixth " 600 60 331 526 583/9 235 Total 3,600 3,074 G'd average. 4824/37 4120/37 Ives' grand average, first 1,800 points, was 50; Schaefer's grand average, last 1,993 points, was 5217/38. Central Music : Hall, Chicago, December 3 to 8, 1894— match $2,500 a side, anchor barred, 14- inch balk line, 3,600 points, blocks of 600. Mon- arch cushion. Frank C. Ives Jacob Schaefer CD b/3 Xfl aj 03 a (D G ^ fl o > ^ PlH < P^ 0. ■ < ^ First night 600 2r%2 158 412 ■ 1817/22 68 Second " 600 426,4- 167 207 1511/13 36 Third " 600 50 281 424 386/11 147 Fourth " ..... 6o0 462/13 359 388 m/s 129 Fifth " 600 371/^ 164 944 6214/15 217 Sixth '^ 600* 40 165 456 324/7 125 , Total 3,600 2,831 ; G'd average. 4133/8. r 3247/87 184 Madison Square Garden, New York City, March 31 to April 5, 1896— tournament given by Ives and Daly — 18-inch balk line (out on second shot, five shots allowed in "Parker's box.' Two games each. u 1— 1 05 o H\ F. C. Ives 1 1 1 3 1 50 36i%2 1\ 200 J. Schaefer...... 6 1 1 1 3 1 30 241/9 176 A. Garnier. 4 139/13 91/11 36 Tie was never played off. Central Music Hall, Chicago, May 18 to 23, 1896— handicap tournament given by Ives and Daly — 18-inch balk line, no shot in anchor or balk. Ives and Schaefer (scratch) 500, Garnfer 300. Two games each. A. Garnier F. C. Ives. J. Schaefer u ct3 C/2 Best Aver 5h ^ -- 1 1 1 3 1 12 93/5 1 1 2 2 197/8 1658/100 1 6 "" 1 3 171^25 127/10 53 103 111 Madison Square Garden, New York City, November 20 to December 4, 1897— champion- ship tournament— 18-inch balk line, no shot in, $1,250 and net gate receipts, $100 entrance. un-a S; ^ ^ s? puBJO o o ::^ :^ f^ :^ o 0:1 ^ t- «3 aS^j9AV ;s9a ^^ ;! :^ ;J^ \« 0? if3 -00 05 ;soq t-i Oi CO ^ uoAV -rf 00 0? Ti uowns ^ ^ ^ ^ : Ai^a !-< r-( T-i ; ^ saAi ,-1 -TH j .I9J9BqDS 1-t • uossojs 0000 c tr X c ft c a a Xi (^ c/ > CJ 1 a: Played on fast cushion. Slosson won $1,218; Schaefer, $730; Ives, $487. Central Music Hall, Chicago, January 17 to 22, 1898— handicap tournament— 18-inch balk line. 186 no shot in. F. C. Ives and Jacob Schaefer (scratch), 400 points each; W. A. Spinks, W. H. Catton, and George Sutton, 260 points each. $100 entrance, $1,750 added by B.-B.-C. Co. un-g pu^JO aSBJ9AV ^S9a c^soq; «OAV ^ O^ CO ' CO CO CO «M tH -T-H s^^uids uo:^;^^ uo;;ns jaj9^H0S S9AI O rn i-t r-l O O O o crt n ,r! d OS O d ^ C/2 ,i4 o o t— 1 be Q CD o Tie not played off. Played on slow cushion. Deficit of $400 taken out of $1,750 added money. 187 SHORTSTOPS AT THEIR BEST. Chicago, January 18 to 27, 1806 (Recital Hall) — shortstop tournament — 14-inch balk line ; mone}^ prizes, $1,000 ; anchor barred. Gallagher . . Maggioli McLaughlin Hatley Sutton Capron (U pq<: o 5-1 > ?^U W ;h > h:i CQ<1 o< 4 2 301O/13 21Vio 5 1 182/11 2 4 21 15^ 5 1 2sy2 isS 8 8 1% 1 5 28 13 1 5 15 9% 169 167 95 158 99 107 118 Grand average of tournament, 14%. In playing off tie (April 12th), Catton beat Spinks 600 to 47'8, averaging 20. Spinks beat all shortstop records for high run, with 194. BILLIARDS CAN BE TAUGHT. Billiards, of all games, is undoubtedly the more difficult to learn, a fact plainly shown by the scarcity of good players. Yet it may be said that it is only in the past fifteen years that methods of teaching have been arrived at, which enable a tutor to put his pupil on the right track. To-day the minor professionals find profitable employment in giving billiard lessons, and such of these as watch the progress of a novice closely are loud in their expressions of faith that, given arable soil, a splendid crop can be raised. It is to be hoped that such is the case, as, once let every young man play billiards fairly well, and much will be removed 189 from the path of mankind in the way of games which, while they amuse, debase. The argument that billiards combines more excellencies than any other game is unanswer- able. The writer has long entertained the idea that the appointment of a professional billiard- ist as instructor at Harvard, or any other col- lege, would be a move in the direction of send- ing young men into the busy world with an added accomplishment. Now, college-bred men, as other billiard amateurs, are saddled with faults, in respect to billiard playing, that never could have grown into bad habits if pointed out at the time of contraction. Not only do most men play billiards awkwardly, but contor- tions of body follow the delivery of every stroke, and not only grace is sacrificed, but even health is threatened by strained positions, which seriously impair the action of the lungs — a portion of the anatomy that should have every freedom of movement to offset the bad effects of the heated air, seemingly a necessary adjunct of every public billiard table. That the beginner may, in the absence of a teacher, be set right on vital points, the author offers the following: SUGGESTIONS TO NOVICES. Stand Erect as -Rossible.— The cue must be sighted like a gun, but the best marksman does not find a stoo^ng position necessary. Rather squat than stqi^p. Stand Firm.— AWid a swinging motion of the body. Ives, when with one leg over the table, invariably hooks his toe under the rail to secure solidity. A billiar-dist should be per- fectly balanced when both feet are on the floor. 13 190 Ives, when possible, braces himself against the table frame. Make a Solid Bridge.— The teaching of Michael Phelan's book, as that of many others printed since, will not answer the requirements of modern billiards. As much of the hand as is possible should rest solidly on the cushion or table-bed, as against the raised bridge where center of hand furnishes no support. Hold the cue naturally, like a cane or fish-pole; there is no arbitrary way. Make a Short Bridge.— The old idea of having the cue-point several inches from the ball has been found wanting, and so discarded. The closer the cue-point to the ball the better, no matter what theory obtains as whether to strike the cue-ball or push it. Two inches play of cue from hand to ball is better than more vibration. Shoot Through the Fingers.— This as against the old teaching of resting the cue on top of the hand. The covered bridge is more likely to direct the cue-point to the exact spot aimed at. Avoid Waste Motion.— There is nothing in fiddling with the cue. The preliminary moves are only to gauge the spot aimed at. Deliver the Stroke True.— Many an old timer aims above the center and then ducks on draw stroke — a bad fault, indeed. Some, again, wishing right twist, fiddle on left side of cue-ball, and then cross over. Strike Cue-Ball Fair.— The best profes- sionals are so little from the center of the cue- ball, no matter what action is desired, that the cue-point, however large, can not be seen over the top or past the sides of the ball. This in con- \ 191 trast to the tyro, who fancies that one must get away off on the edge of the ball to gain desired effect. More miscues come from failure to strike cue-ball fairly than from any other cause. Rudolphe once, while playing bank shots, lost his cue-tip, and offering $7 to $10 that he would win the game without a tip, "got on" for a large amount and captured the stakes. Strike Straight.— A side stroke is used by the genius Jacob Schaefer, but no copyist has ever been able to run 50 at any kind of billiards. The wizard, apparently without sighting, gains all kinds of effects, but there is only one Jacob Schaefer. The pendulum movement of Vig- naux's arm is considered to be perfection. With a thin leather (and this glassy), he never makes a miscue. Hold the Cue Level.— No one can play well if the cue teeters. Such stroke may " look pretty," but has no solidity. Wm. Sexton, of Americans, would be the best teacher of a level stroke, for no billiardist ever hit a ball more cleanly. The side and up-and-down movement of the cue must be avoided. Go Through the Ball. —That is, do not jerk. Players can not seem to understand that the same motion of the cue causes a draw, or a follow, or a stop shot, just as the ball is struck below center, above center, or dead center. Few try to push a ball ahead, but the majority of amateurs seek to jerk the ball back. Do Not Play Favorites. — When a man begins to improve at billiards he fancies a cer- tain stroke peculiarly his long suit, and sacrifi- ces much by always looking for it. Tr}' to think that one shot is as easy of execution as another, and maybe some day you will be a 192 world's champion. Even so great an expert ai F. C. Ives is too much given to one style of stroke' i. e., ''the spread." Maurice Vignaux, when in America in 1885, was "all ball-to-ball," like Ives to-day, but when he learned cushion car- oms, he, in playing balk line, often took a cush- ion where formerly he had spread from ball to ball. Slosson, the opposite of Ives, may u^e cushion caroms too much. Avoid Heavy Twist. — The natural angle is the important thing to learn well. Some teachers argue that a beginner should shoot the cue-ball only around the table for many weeks before trying to hit anything except the cushion. The French corner game is the best practice for the natural angle. At three cushions and bank shots knowledge of the natural angle is indispensable to all players except Jacob wSchaefer, possibly the champion at both styles. Who can say if Schaefer played by the diamonds instead of trusting alone to his marvelous eye that he would not be of higher speed than now. It is far easier to control the direction of a ball when sliding or rolling than when spinning. ''Half Follow" instead of "Fine."— A thing particularly impressed by teachers at the "English game." The first trial from almost any position of the balls will show wherein the player gains. A half follow almost invariably corrals the spheres, whereas a fine shot (other than across the face) scatters them. Go the Short Road.— Play one cushion in preference to two or more, and stay on the end of the table, if possible. Never figure on where balls are going to stop when they are rolling. Do not consider you are in bad luck because cue-ball is frozen to the cushion. "Tommy" 193 Wallace and Wm. Sexton overcame the handi- cap of the frozen ball, and it is possible to make even a masse from such position. Don't " Squeeze." — " Body English " can not do good, and one may make a foul. Ives is an example of how '' kidding " will fasten a bad habit. In 1887 he never " squeezed," but finally did it for fun. Witness the difference in style of Schaefer and Ives, and keep your body still while the balls are rolling. Jno. Roberts is as graceful a player as Schaefer. He never flinches after delivering a stroke. Some "squeezers" begin to ''pull" before they ''let go," and the .stroke is then an imperfect one. Witness T. J. Gallagher. Never Mind a ''Scratch."— If your oppo- nent chances to "fluke," most likely he is playing badly. Scoring one yourself, go on desperately; the inning is not rightfully yours, and points made are so much clear gain. Play Easy Styles.— Amateurs may be seen playing "18-inch balk line no shot in " that are not up to a 30-run at French three-ball billiards. The argument (a bad one) is : "I can make as many at this style as at straight rail." If this is true, how can wide billiards improve any man? Ives had to learn "the rail" before he began to improve, and the best rail players are the best at other styles. In England, Roberts could beat anybody at " the spot stroke " before it was barred. A man without " delicacy " can never be a great billiardist. The beginner should make every count possible before scat- tering the balls. No STYLE Injures Sti^oke.— Alonzo Morris is responsible for the generally voiced opinion that a certain style of billiards should be closely 194 adhered to. He told of a ''cushion -carom stroke," a ''balk-line stroke," etc. The play in the Paris academies showed that there was nothing in Morris' theory. There the first-class men beat world's records in short games at the balk line, and an hour thereafter beat world's records at cushion caroms. Schaefer, when practicing for the championship, thinks nothing of playing at pin pool or 15-ball pool, and will even try bank shots. His theory is the, right one, treating, as it does, of perfect training of the arm, which enables a man to execute as quickly and as correctly as he thinks. Wm. Burleigh, Frank Ives, and Geo. Sutton were 15- ball pool players to start in with, and DeOro, the champion expert at the game, who defeated at pyramids Jno. Roberts (games played in part on English and American tables), was at the time a noted player at three cushions. Use a Heavy Cue.— Ives plays with a cue weighing twenty-three oimces. Nothing is necessary for a 12-inch draw but to let the weight of the cue do the work. Use a Big Tip.— George Sutton is the only expert of class that still sticks to the "tooth- pick" point. In 1884 all experts of America, except Slosson (who always stood by his orig- inal big tip), used a small-pointed cue. Ives, in 1890, went back to the big tip and the others followed. Ives' tip projects over the wood, as "The Napoleon" fancies a "goose-neck" to play through his fingers, rather than a cue that gradually tapers. The theory that a ball will do more things if struck by a small tip is sound, but even the best players can not be sure of hitting the ball exactly as they wish, and so have agreed that a big tip is the best, all things 195 considered. The only reason that Sutton gets along so well on long shots with his "tootii- pick" is, that he has a splendid eye and an un- erring stroke. Play Quickly.— You will lose nothing in speed, and not worry your friends. Avoid Affectation.— Do not look at a hard shot when everybody knows you intend play- ing an easy one. Chalk your cue while the balls are rolling. Life is short. Don't Whine.— Miscues generally come from fault of the player. The file and sand- paper are for use before and not after the mak- ing of a miscue. Blame Yourself.— If you ''come close," "•tie up," "miss the first ball," and in other ways are hampered, it is probably your own fault. Some professionals blame the chalk line for the ''roll off"; others the fold in the cloth; yet others claim a '' toothpick " spoils the chalk. These men are only objects of ridicule. Never Use the Bridge.— The use of the left hand should be cultivated from the start. Pro- fessor Kaarless' little daughter makes a ''fol- low and force" left handed. This shows the possibilities. Any superiority Ives may pos- sess as against Schaefer can be attributed to the fact of his having been born left handed. Ives, forced to use the bridge when playing with Roberts on a 6 x 12 table, used it with one to go (match with Schaefer), so meeting defeat when the shot was " on " without aid of bridge, and easily reached left handed. Never Put Cue Behind Back.— It will take you years to do this without knocking out somebody's eye, and then' your back will so have thickened that the kidneys will be in- 19^ j tired. With cue behind back it is difficult to "sight." Stand Close to the Table.— Jacob Schae- fer occupies less space than anybody, and in France even he is known as the most graceful of experts. Never Play Deliberate Safety. -It takes a general to win through crippling his opponent. Most players Only injure themselves. Such safety, as a rule, acts as a boomerang. At ball- to-ball billiards, keep away from the red when you miss ; at three cushions stay with the red ; at cushion caroms leave the balls in center of table for your opponent, with his ball against the cushion, but endeavor, when playing your- self, to get one or both object balls near some cushion. Fiddle-bow Movement of Wrist.— Pretty, but not necessary. This was proven when Jacob Schaefer twice broke his wrist. He now, with a stiff wrist, plays better than ever, although his nursing masse is not so effective. Forearm Movement.— Best to copy. Shown to perfection by G. F. Slosson. More billiardists use this stroke than any other. The full-arm stroke shown at times by Ives and Schaefer is sure only to such great masters of the cue. System to Copy.— Slosson's. He rarely "ties up." One trying to copy the position-play of Schaefer makes a draw all right, but where the wizard goes on with a masse the other stops through inability to effect such stroke. An inferior player can not get along with Ives' system at all, for this is a series of difficult side draws, where position is eventually secured by landing on the right side of second object ball. 197 Watch Good Players.— The best profes- sionals have had but few shots shown to them. In fact they are men that never ask questions. Each has picked up some excellence from the other. Great power of observation has carried them to the front rank. The future champion maybe, as it were, college bred, but these men are self taught. Excellence at billiards is much more a matter of knowledge of positions than is generally supposed. Ives and Schaefer might be sitting near where you (a half average man) were playing, and by something executed by so poor a player, add a mite to their stores of valuable positions. Therefore, you can afford to watch all others while at play, and noting excellence, incorporate it in your system. No professional billiardist of the past or present but that has made a close study of the game. Once interested, you will never weaken, and as you improve, derive a measure of such satisfac- tion as feels the writer in giving you ''the tip." THE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP OF AMERICA. In 1887 the New York Racquet Court Club conceived the idea of discovering the best ama- teur billiard player in the United States, and for such purpose instituted a tournament for the championship, and a solid silver tankard of the value of $500, such emblem to become the personal property of the winner. The best amateur billiardist in and around New York was Wilson P. Foss, a man of middle age, then, as now, engaged in the manufacture of dyna- i 198 mite at Haverstraw, N. Y. This gentleman the governors of the Racquet Court Club tourna- ment pronounced ineligible, because of the fact that as a poor boy, many years before, Mr. Foss had been glad to serve in the employ of the well known C. J. E. Parker of Chicago, who then kept a billiard room at Springfield, Mass. Mr.^ Foss at no time in his career appears in the rec ords of billiards, but good naturedly he sus- tained the objection against him, and actuall served as one of the referees of .the tourne; from which he had been barred. The best amateur billiardist in America at the time was Wayman C. McCreery of St. Louis. He also was barred through a fancied taint of professionalism, coming from his par- ticipating in the tournament (handicap) held in St. Louis in 1878, where Schaefer first astonished the world by beating Sexton's record run of 417 with 429. Mr. McCreery here started to fill vacancy caused by illness of J. Dion, and had no suspicion as to his amateur standing being affected. Thus, with two really good players barred, the tourney was a walk-over for Mr. Orville Oddie, who, playing "straight rail," could show nothing better than a single aver- age of 151^19, a grand average of 11, and a high run of 195. McCreery, in the series of games above mentioned, had, nine years before the Racquet Court Club tournament was held, made a single average of nearly 18, a grand average of over 12, with a high run of 88, and then defeated Slosson. At the time of the Racquet Court Club tourney, Martin Mtillen, a big shipper of coal, living at Cleveland, Ohio, was considered the equal of McCreery at ball- to-ball billiards. 199 • Mullen cares only to play billiards for amuse- ment (but if he feels like it, is apt to bet $500 on the side), and he never gave the New York affair ia thought. Still it is understood that then, as now, he would be barred from an amateur tour- nament, because in 1875 he started in a tourna- ment held at Cleveland, for the Ohio champion- ship. Certainly no man has a right to question the framing of rules by any body of men, looking to institutions entirely their own; and if the Rac- quet Court Club wished to declare in its privacy "Orville Oddie is the amateur billiard champion of America," well and good. But when this expert's speed was compared with that of Foss, McCreery, or Mullen (the first and last named have met several times in fast and even con- tests), it looked a trifle like the doings of a man who, in his own backyard, declared: "I can lick John L. Sullivan." However, the record shows that Mr. Orville Oddie is the only amateur champion that America ever had, and so he must be taken seriously. The only thing he lacked was speed at billiards. In all else the amateur champion is up to all standards ; and would that there were more like him— an ornament to the game of billiards. Mr. Oddie, in 1888, won the Townsend cup (value, $1,000), representative of the amateur championship of the United States. This beau- tiful emblem was the gift of the president of the Racquet Court Club (No. 55 West Twenty- sixth Street, New York City), and must needs be won three times at the annual tournaments to become personal property. Mr. Oddie won it the second time in 1889, and when, in 1890, no player entered the lists against him, the " Townsend cup " was voted his, to hold forever. New York Racquet Court Club, May 23 to 28, 1887— tournament for the amateur champion- ship of the United States; 5x 10 table; 2% balls; straight rail. o 0) -^ bjo biO 1 nJ 'd <3j ■ n Vn gs u > ^ ■ ^ m<1 o 78/11 45/7 413/18 36/17 109 81 47 New York Racquet Court Club, May 13 to 18, 1889— second renewal of amateur championship; games, 300 points; 5x 10 table; 2% balls. Special 201 rule allowing option of spotting or playing away in case cue-ball is frozen. Orville Oddie, Jr. . Arthur Townsend Richard J. Magninness Dr. H. D. Jennings Andrew Miller o 0) bo _ bo cS 'd ca s r/! f„fe §s ^ n h5 W<1 o<^ 4 13 syr 3 1 111/9 511/17 2 2 11%3 1 3 5%o 5^13 4 5%o 4 195 138 101 42 Chicago, February 25, 1895 (B.-B.-C. Co.'s warerooms)— tournament, amateur champion- ship of Illinois— 14-inch balk line, 5 x 10 table, 2% balls. C. E.Ellison. Frank Rice.. Wm. Kellogg Thos. Nolan. Goodwin Adams Ed. Rein Brown , k5 PQ< o<< 7 10 " 7M 6 1 9 5y5 4 3 Q}4 4M 3 4 5 3% 3 4 6 4 4 3 61^ 4% 1 6 4 31/5 7 4 3 Ellison played one match for the emblem, then defeating Mr. Milburn at the Chicago Athletic Association on a 6 average, and the medal finally became his personal property. C. E. Ellison, of Chicago, is thought to be as good a player as any amateur in America, at the balk-line games. 202 ALL KINDS OF BALKS. MANY LINES DRAWN TO CHECK BII LIARD PLAYERS' SPEED. Billiards, a game that has been centuries il developing, is played wherever civilization e:a ists. It mimbers among its votaries the intelli gent of all nations, but it has reached the high- est plane in the United States of America, and the champion of the world, at the style of bil- liards considered the standard, is an American — Jacob Schaefer. Forty years ago the billiard table in use was in size 6 x 12, with six pockets. The size of the balls, of which there were four, was 2% inches (same as now used in match play). The first damper to high scores was when pocketing the balls was barred, and in 1859 the Phelan-Seerei- ter match for $15,000 stakes was played, caroms only counting. Until the tournament in 1869, for the championship (diamond cue), the player effecting a count upon red and white was credited with 2 points; striking the two reds counted 3. After this, until the 4-ball game went out of existence (1876), a single carom counted 3; double caroms, 6 points. In 1863 the number of pockets was reduced to four. Until the Dion-McDevitt match of June 10, 1867, pushing and crotching were allowed. Dion made 616 in the jaw, and crotching was barred. McDevitt, September 16, 1868, ran 1,458 by aid of the push shot, and that style of stroke was barred. But curtailment of speed in one way was made good in another; as here, for the first time, a 53^ x 11 table was used by the champions. 203 So the diamond-cue championship contests were played on a 53^x11 table; 2% balls; push and crotch barred. For several years before the death of the 4-ball ^ame, some of the experts of high-class had been experimenting with the view to the im- provement of billiards, and when, in 1873, Albert Garnier won the first 3-ball championship of the world, a 5x10 carom table was used, and upon such size table has every champion- ship game, from then till now, been con- tested, except in the case of the Collender tournament at cushion caroms, where a 41/^x9 table was used. As, although the crotch was barred at the 3-ball game, the players fiddled closely around the corners of the table, the 1874 tournament, for the American champion- ship (won by Vignaux), was played with the first balk line ever put upon a billiard table, triangular spaces occupying the corners, and in these (made by a line drawn from 5^ inches on side and end rails) only two shots could be made, the third in balk causing loss of the inning. Until, in 1879, Jacob Schaefer, perfecting rail play, made 1,000 points in three innings, no new bar was thought necessary. Now came in ''the Champion's game," and the triangular spaces of the 1874 tournament were increased in size by lines drawn from 28 inches on side cushion to 14 inches on end cushion. It was at this style of billiards that Slosson held the championship, and at which he put on record the only defeat Maurice Vignaux ever sustained in France at ball-to-ball billiards, since, in 1878, he became the acknowledged champion of his own country. Slosson having averaged nearly 38, and run 204 398, and Schaefer and Vignaux classing with him, the game was voted ''too fast," and al- though the lines were increased to 40x20 inches ''the Champion's game" went out of existence in 1885. Four years before, cushion caroms had been tried, but "too slow " was the verdict. In 1883, Benjamin Garno, a noted writer on old-time billiards, conceived the idea of a continuous balk line to be drawn at any desired distance from the cushion, and to this venerable and accomplished newspaper man is accorded the honor of inventing the balk-line game of bil- liards, (In country towns the supposition is that Julius Balke, the elder, first put balk lines on the billiard table; so much for similarity of names.) Jno. Randolph Heiser is said to have suggested the intersecting line. The first tournament held (1883) was at 8-inch, but Vignaux' aver- age of 44% in 3,000 points (1884) caused a widen- ing of the lines, and 12-inch was tried (January, 1885), at which, in 800 points, Schaefer averaged 14 April 20, 1885, was played the first tourna- ment at 14-inch, and no further extension of the lines was found necessary until ten years later, when they were set at 18 inches from the cushion. At about the same time the original "one shot in" (erroneously called "two shots in") was changed to "no shot in." When, in 1893, "the anchor" made possible runs like Schaefer's 566, C. J. E. Parker invented a rectangular space {3% x 7 inches) placed at first diamonds of side and end rail, and ' such space is known as " Parker's box." Ives' great averages of 48 and 41 (made in matches of 3,600 points, anchor barred, 14-inch) caused fertile brains to seek a new arrangement of balk lines, 205 and now that Schaefer has averaged 40 at 18-inch, speculation is more active than ever in the line of discovering a way to hold first-class billiardists down to runs of 100 and still not spoil the beauties of ball-to-ball billiards. BALK LINES vSHOWN. Herewith will be found diagrams of the vari- ous balk-line games of billiards, with the best performances, and by whom made, as well as the inventors of the several styles as far as known: 14 Inches Diagram 1 — Continuous Balk Line. Shows a game invented by Ben Garno of New York. No match or tournament was ever played at this style of game. 8 TO 14 Inches 8 TO 14 , Inches Diagrann 2 — The Intersecting Balk Line. 14 206 m The short lines are said to have been sug- gested by Randolph Heiser. Best records, 8-inch, America, Jacob Schaefer, average of 40 in 600 and 38 in 800; high runs, 220, 211. France, Maurice Vignaux (match with Schae* fer), average of 44% in 3,000; high run, 32g| Schaefer was beaten only 131 points. Fourteen-inch, anchor unknown, America! Maurice Vignaux, tournament average of 75 iil 600. Jacob Schaefer, average of 25% in 3,000; high run, 230. (Match with Vignaux.) Fourteen-inch, anchor in, but imperfectly played. Frank C. Ives, average of 30 in 600 and of 26 in 800 in the championship match with Slosson. Jacob Schaefer's 31 in 600 (match with Vignaux) and high run of 230 not yet beaten. Fourteen - inch, anchor perfected. Jacob Schaefer and Frank C. Ives both scored 600 in six innings (tournament play), and Schaefer ran 566 to the 487 of Ives. In all the public play between these experts, at this style of game, Schaefer's grand average was 31 ; that of Ives, 29. In France, on Ives' first visit, he claims that his grand average in the handicaps of the academies reached 45, as against the 36 of Schaefer in like contests for the same length of time. Vignaux, anchor in, although he can not play the system, beat Schaefer a match in Paris with an average of 37^^ in 1,200 points, which is the French record. The method of preventing anchor play is credited to Charles J. E. Parker of Chicago. Best records, 14-inch— Frank C.Ives, average of 48 in 3,600; high runs, 395 and 331. Jacob 207 Schaefer, 41 ; high run, 271. One night's play an average of 63 in 994 made by Schaefer. --t m Diagram 3 — Anchor Barred — " Parker's Box," 10 Shots- Eighteen-inch, anchor barred, one shot in balk, five in "Parker's box." F. C. Ives (New- York, March 31, 1896), average 50 in 600. High run of 200 made by same player in the same tournament. Eighteen-inch, anchor barred, no shot in balk and no shot in anchor. Jacob Schaefer, aver- age 40 in 400, with high run of 138 (Chicago, January 21, 1898). F. C. Ives, average of 30^ in 500, and high run of 140 (New York, December 2, 1897). Grand average of 2418/65 in 1,578 points (Chicago, January 17 to 22, 1898). 14 Inches / 14 TXCHES ^ / Diagram 4 — Mussey's Game. &08 Diagram No. 4 shows a change suggested W. P. Mussey of Chicago, and at once voted "too easy." " Gray Tom " Gallagher in practice ran 100 al this style of game. ed byl L 14 Inches r J "L 14 Inches J n n r Diagrams — Spinks' Game. Diagram No. 5 shows a game suggested by Spinks, the California champion, and pro nounced "unsound" by Jacob Schaefer, a fate which also befell a further innovation which called for additional short lines midway the end rail. Diagram 6 — J. Schaefer's Game —Anchor Barred. Diagram No. 6 shows Jake Schaefer's game. At it the wizard has practiced a few times. His first essay resulted in an average of 16 in 209 400, with a high run of 160, and later he aver- aged 44% in 400, scoring a break of 196. When assailed with "It's too fast," Schaefer replied: " Maybe so, but I assure you that performance was the greatest in my billiard career." Diagram 7 — Slosson's Diamond Game. Diagram No. 7 shows the diamond game. It is the invention of George F. Slosson of New York. This is practically the champion's game with the lines extended. It never has been given a fair trial. An amateur suggests that 38 Inches IS I.NCHES 18 Inches 38 Inches Diagram 7^^ — "Champion's Game" Amended. [Lines 18x38.] the apices of the diamond beremoved 4% inches from the cushion. 210 Diagram 8 — Four-Space Game. Diagram No. 8 shows the four-space game anchor allowed. This is strongly advocated hy Henry Rhines. With two shots allowed in balli (as at the ordinary 14-inch game) Schaefer some years ago made an average of 8^, but later, with five shots allowed in balk, he showed an average of 13. Witnessing this performance, good judges were heard to remark : "A first-class man with practice would surely average 50 at that style of billiards." 20 Inches 28 Inches 28 Inches 20 Inches Diagram 9 — Maggioli's Game. Diagram No. 9 shows Maggioli's game. The champion of the South is responsible for this, at which style he recently averaged nearly 4, and 211 Harry Pagin, his opponent, averaged S%. Only two shots in balk are allowed, either in the cen- ter inclosure or elsewhere. 28 Inches 28 Inches Diagram 10 — Varied Four-Space Game. Diagram No. 10 is the varied four-space game. It is untried in public, but is spoken well of. The idea was originated by an amateur. Diagram 1 1 Game. Diagram No. 11 shows the X game. It is un- tried in public. There are modifications of this game made by marking additional lines bisect- ing the table both ways, or by adding still more lines till the center of the table is all marked up into a crazy quilt. In diagrams 18, 14, only one shot allowed in balk. iil2 Diagram 12 — The Kite Frame. 28 Inches X X X X 28 Inches \/ X X X X X X X X X X X Diagram 13 — Tiie Crazy Quilt. / / X / \ X XX Diagram 14 — Lattice Work In the composite game, diagram 16, nothing is barred in the spaces marked "A," where '*the rail" and "anchor" are allowed. In "Parker's box" on the end rail 20 shots are allowed. In all other spaces only two shots. 21 Inches 21 Inches / 14 Inches \ \ " "/ \ / Inches \ / Inches \ 14 Inches Diagram 15 — Space Game Played at Hartford, Conn., February, 1884. A— 6 Inches IB — 20 Inches Diagram 16 — Thatcher's Composite Game. The idea is to force play to the center of the table. "ALBANY PONY" IN ENGLAND. THE DEFEAT OF AMERICA'S REPRE- SENTATIVE IN 1832. " When at the opening of the billiard toui'na- ment ('triangular,' Chicago, 1885) Judge Gary (later of anarchist trial fame) honored the occasion with a splendid speech, some of the listeners (and Central Music Hall was crowded with a representative body of citizens) thought the able jurist stretched the point a trifle by the phrase ' I, myself, have held the cue while the bishop ran out the game'; but I can assure you that no less a personage than ' the father of his, country' occasionally had a chance to make aj miscue, which was more frequent in those day! than the accomplishment of 'winning haz- ards,'" said, one day, nearing the close of his' long and honorable career, James W. Cochran, a pioneer of Chicago. The interested listener sat silent while the old gentleman (long sitice passed to the final account), known as " the father of the billiard pla^^ers," edified him thus : " As I was saying. Gen. George Washing- ton played at billiards. When his armj^ wintered near Morristown, New Jersey, the Commander-in-Chief made his headquarters at the abandoned mansion of a Tory in the vicinity. (This story came direct to me, my boy, for my grandfather was Surgeon-General in Washington's army, and, as a boy, I well remember the tales he was wont to tell.) The owner had purchased in England a 6x12 six-pocket billiard table, the heavy carving upon the sides of which would look strangely at the present day. The bed was made of marble slabs, and cloth and cushions were fashioned much as now. Indeed, if I mistake not, this antique piece of furniture may be seen to-day, where for 110 years it has afforded facilities for the visitor's exhibition of proficiency at bil- liards. '• The tale as told by the register, wherein ap- pear the greater names of American history, I 215 would indicate that the vanity so marked in modern billiard players is no new development, for iiere and there is record made of supposedly great performances, I recollect that ag-ainst one signature was placed 'scored a run of 10,' provocative of laughter when it is understood that four balls were used, and pocketing the balls, the push shot, and ' crotching ' was al- jfowed, while caroms counted either two or three points. The player then had, mayhap, pocketed the red ball thrice, and taken one point for his opponent's miss, or possibly made five caroms on red and white. "Who was the first great American profes- sional? Michael Phelan, did you say? Why, Lord bless you, boy ! 1 date back to 1832, and Phelan's day didn't come along until the 50's. When a young man, I one day, in the city of Albany, N. Y., chanced to stroll into a saloon, and there saw manipulating the ivories on a billiard table, surrounded by a crowd of admir- ers, a young man afterward known to fame as Lynn Higham, 'the Albany pony.' Returning home to Schenectady, I told my father of the wonderful strokes I had seen executed. The next day, when going down street to the store, my father pointed out the barber-shop in which Higham had been given his first lesson in bil- liards. Now, the idea of a billiard table in a barber-shop causes a smile 1 see, but such things were common in those days. The 'pony,' too short to reach well, was helped out by his father, who carried a stool around the table for the son to stand on when playing billiards. I should say that in manhood Higham was just about George Slosson's height, than whom in build he was slightly stouter. He was a fair, fat, chubby 216 little fellow, somewhat on the dough-face order, and, not to belie his looks, had the heart of a rabbit. ''Somewhere about 1832, this expert went to New York City and there attracted the atten- tion of the sporting fraternity, the chief member of which was a man named Jackson, bearing the sobriquet of 'Moccasin.' Like many a gambler of our day, he had a business schemfe for a blind, and upon the walls of his boot and shoe establishment, on Broadway, might be .seen an innumerable lot of painted moccasins, and from these he took his nickname. "A sporting nobleman of England, happening to note the skill of Higham, suggested to Jack- son the scheme of taking the young billiardist to England, and this agreed to, ' the Albany pony' at once went hard into practice at the spot stroke (holing the red ball), which culminate in a run of 600 points. 'Moccasin' meantim was up-country securing other attractions foi money getting in Albion, and when he returne( such materialized in the shape of a trotter an a pacer, each of which could barely cover a mile in three minutes. " As this was the time when the Erie Canal was building, the towpath offered the track where these star equines were trialed — the somewhat inaccurate method of timing being to start the watch (held by a man at the finish) at the drop of a flag. , "Eventually the nobleman and the sport landed in England with America's best horse- flesh and 'the Albany pony.' The success ol the four-legged animals was conjectural, bul for the billiard player everything looked rosy, as the then champion of England, known as I 217 'the Brighton Marker,' was clearly his inferior in speed. A grand private match was arranged to be played at the house of the nobleman. When the appointed evening came, Higham .stepped to the table and confronted an assem- blage unlike that before which any billiardist had ever shown his skill, composed as it was of members of the peerage, cabinet officials, and the nobility in general, each gentleman being accompanied by wife, sister, or sweetheart. The sight of the ladies ablaze with jewels quite unnerved poor Higham, and when he heard ' My Lady So-and-So, I will lay you a monkey on the Brighton Marker,' from the lips of a goddess he had settled upon as a sympathizer, he was, as the sa^^ing goes, ' knocked cold. ' At any rate, he was badly beaten and his backers were said to have lost $200,000. *' The Americans managed to get back to London, and here Higham, in the cellars, man- aged to pick -up some $700, with which, after selling the 'side wheeler ' and his comrade (for little interest was taken those days across the water in other than the thoroughbred race horse), 'Moccasin' and 'the Albany pony' re- turned to America. " Could our best player of this date go to Eng- land and win ? Slosson says not, and Schaefer backs up his statement, that at the English game Jno. Roberts is invincible." IVES BEATS ROBERTS IN ENGLAND. Never, concerning sport, has the American, in his desire to convince in the matter of the supremacy of Brother Jonathan over John Bull, 218 advanced so fallacious an argument as the one treating of the victory of Frank C. Ives over Jno. Roberts at the game of English billiards. That in London, Derby week, 1893, in a match of 6,000 points, Ives did defeat Roberts, is the truth, but it was by no means at the English game that the American accomplished this feat. The story runs as follows: Ives, in 1892, after winning the American championship at 14-inch balk line from Jacob Schaefer, and holding same against Geo. F. Slosson, ambitiously sought other fields of conquest and journeyed to Paris, France, where for several months he sojourned, and met and defeated all comers, with the exception of Maurice Vignaux and Jacob Schaefer, which pair were engaged at a rival academy. It was when returning to America, Ives, passing through London, tarried and informed himself as to the probability of securing a match with Roberts at some style of compromise game. For Ives, like Slosson and Schaefer, knew well that at the regulation Eng- lish game no living man had a chance to beat Roberts. Calling upon the English champion, the American was well (if coolly) received, and at once the men began figuring as to the con- ditions which would bring them together in the matter of billiard speed. Nothing was done until, in the spring of 1893, Tom Taylor (an English professional billiard- ist, who really discovered the system of "em play," which, perfected by Roberts, account! for championship form) landed in Chicago with credentials from John Roberts as match maker. On the 29th day of April, 1893, articlei of agreement were signed. Such called for 12,000-point match, under English rules, foi i 219 $5,000 a side ; the table to be 6 x 12, with six pockets of the best make of Burroughs & Watts ; size of pocket, 334 inches ; size of balls, 234 inches. Mr. Taylor went home entirely satisfied, as he had no doubt that "Jack" (as all Englishmen call Roberts) had a good thing. The concession, "English rules to govern," had settled all his fears. But Yankees have been famed since time immemorial as being up to selling wooden nutmegs, and even wooden oats. In carefully digesting the book of Eng- lish rules, the youth from Plainwell, Michigan, had discovered something. Section 44 of the rules reads: "The balls being jammed in the pocket so that the greater part is off the table, they shall be considered to have been holed.' (?- Jaw O Compromise(lvES-ROBERTs)Game and Old American Four-Ball Game. 3 'A ■m.Pocke+ 2 'A in Balls. But this did not bar the jaw with a 234 ball, for with such size one can not so place two balls in the mouth of the pocket, but that some portion of the bed of the table will be between them and the fall of the pocket. The rule was all for which it was intended (the regular Eng- lish game calls for S% pockets and 2yxG balls), 230 I but the Yankee saw the flaw and so readily accepted Taylor's conditions. ^ Jaw ^=^0 at English Game barred. 35/8 in. Pockei 2'/i6ln. Balls. Ives kept his secret well and was never seen to practice with the balls wedged (a position in which any amateur could make enormous runs), the first trial having assured him that the posi- tion once gained, any length of game was over. He contented himself by playing "the rail" and acquired such skill that the balls could be held past the side pocket. Breaks of 600 and 800 were scored, and when he left for England the American thought that he could win " hands down " without the jaw. Just before the date of the match Ives was taken ill, and the damp- ness of London affecting him seriously, he, when the match was two-thirds over, was ap- parently beaten. Roberts had played miich better than had been bargained for, in fact had demonstrated that he outclassed any English billiardist ever produced by easily adapting himself to changed conditions. Ives, in response to a cablegram from an American friend, had "jogged "the first night, in order that some money might be placed. But Thursday he probably wished that he had gone on from the start. His friend in America who knew about 221 the jaw kept saying to himself, ''Will he never get it?" and finally gave up hope. But Friday morning the dispatches read: "Ives runs 1,540 and is ahead." How the American was hooted for "silly business," as the English onlookers expressed it, and how finally, after scoring 2,540, he de- stroyed the lock he had on the spheres, is famil- iar to all interested. The game was his, and later advices told of the "peculiar position of the balls." It seems that Ives did not gain the jaw, but near the pocket got something like Where Ives ran 25A-0 in Game wi+h / Roberts O ^ "the anchor," and, with the delicacy never dis- played other than by J. Schaefer and himself, kept on clicking off "cannons." An Iowa bil- liardist of the long ago, named McAfee, is said to have run 6,000 shots in almost the same posi- tion on a carom table. Although the English- men all said, "That was an easy thing to do" (referring to the immense break of Ives), when Ives' American companion offered to bet Rob- erts or anyone else a large amount of money that no man from a like position could run 100 shots, the wager was not accepted, and it is understood that fairly good English profession- als in trials lost the balls before scoring a break of twenty shots. 15 222 , i Later in the year Ives and Roberts played in | Chicago, and the American won. Afterward, \ in New York City, they met again, and here Roberts, playing extraordinarily well (the pock- ets having been enlarged to 3% inches), beat his man. The English champion gained greatly in billiard speed from the matches played with Ives, and the American was taught some valu- able shots by the other, notably "a long smash follow," which, executed in the Chicago handi- cap tournament of January, 1898, brought down the house. In making this style of shot, Ives catches his cue as far back as possible, just as does the Englishman. While in America, Rob- erts was taught to play ' ' the rail ' '—after a fash- ion. He at once saw that he could work this system on the end rail without sacrificing any- thing, as failure would injure him not at all, because he could hole the red and once more get the balls. Before this the English record for high run was the 737 of Roberts, and no other man at " spot barred " had come anywhere near this break. Returning to England, his first week's play returned a run of 850, and soon thereafter he put up 1,300. In January, 1898, (according to Ives) Roberts ran 1,600. At Eng- lish billiards he stands ready to concede any American 8,000 in 24,000. Ives, in the spring of 1897, challenged Roberts for $10,000 a side to play, using a 3i/4-inch pocket and a 'ZYiq ball, but his forfeit of $2,500, posted in London, was not covered. Ives claims that years ago what was known as the " champion pocket " for the Eng- lish game was 3^4 inch. The reputation of Frank C. Ives is in no sense injured by the correction of the popular error as regards his defeat of Jno. Roberts. As his 223 coming to the front rank of native experts greatly augmented in speed the game of bil- liards, so his play with Roberts resulted in the amalgamation of all that is best in the styles at which each of the contestants were at the time champions. There are now living five first- class billiardists : Jacob Schaefer, Frank C. Ives, Maurice Vignaux, Geo. F. Slosson, and Jno. Roberts, and the rapid development of billiards, no matter what the style of game, is directly traceable to the work of this quintette. No one of the five but what has made valuable contribution to the general fund of billiard information, and when partisanship seeks to exalt this one or that over the others, the advo- cate should meet a well deserved contempt. London, England, May 29 to June 4, 1893 — Match, 6,000 points, spot barred. Compromise game, 2i/4 balls, 3i/4 pockets; 1,000-point blocks. (The original articles called for 12,000 points, and stakes of $5,000 a side.) F. C. Ives, 689, 981, 573, 1,757, 1,000, 1,000; total, 6,000. J. Roberts, 1,000, 1,000, 1,000, 418, 413; total, 3,831. Ives ran 2,540 (fourth and fifth nights), then destroyed the position purposely. The last night he again got position and ran 852. Rob- erts' highest run was 249. The betting in England before the match was largely in favor of Roberts, but 6 to 5 against Ives was the best price obtainable in Chicago. Of the position where Ives made the immense run, the Ijondon Sport smait said: "The balls are peculiarly paired (upper right pocket). They don't touch. The white is well in the top shoulder and the red certainly well on in the jaws." 224 Roberts, when in America, at the World's Fair, played Ives two matches. The first one (Chicago) was won by the American; the second (played in New York City) fell to Roberts. The table used in the last match was fitted with 3% pockets. In both the American games the crotch and anchor shot were barred. The ravens croaked: " Hippodrome ! Ives and Roberts are after the public money." The Chicago match cleared (gate money) less than $500. The personal expenses of Roberts and family, during his Chicago visit, more than doubled such amount, and his American trip all around (loss of business interests included) cost him over $5,000. THE JOHNSON-REEVES MATCH. In the fall of 1883 (November) there was played a match at cushion carom billiards which, as a means of the interchange of money, far eclipsed any contest which ever was known in American billiards. In the private room, with seating capacity of about 600, over the Columbia Billiard-room (now, 1898, owned by G. F. Slosson), corner Twenty-second Street and Broadway, New York City, there were assembled on the night in question the notables of the Eastern sporting world. Every seat was filled and all corners crammed, although no one who could not show an invitation passed the doorkeeper. The contestants were Capt. Jno. T. Reeves and David Johnson, the former aij old-time billiard expert, who had again and again faced the starter. His opponent was a , youthful sport, destined some years later to cut 225 a wide swath in bookmaking circles, as of all "block men" the most dashing, inasmuch as frequently when two horses raced, he took the money on one and bet it on the other, " letting the tail go with the hide," as the saying runs. His "high rolling " proclivities were considered natural and the result of heredity, as his father had for years been known as New York's chief seller of auction pools. Reeves was a man somewhere around forty years of age, of medium height, pudgy, round- faced. There was somewhat of the retired sea captain about his appearance, but more of the well conditioned hotel clerk. However, the massive watch chain, glittering scarf pin, and insouciant air betrayed the gamester bred to the bone. Johnson, in height, was by several inches the taller man, but his proportions were ample. Of the Jim Fiske type, in single company never was he the least observed, being boisterous and ostentatious, with a jolly laugh and a rollicking air. As a youth he had gained a record of so plunging on Checkmate for the Saratoga cup as to take down $23,000 by the victory of the horse. "A likely fellow," mused the astute and care- ful " Luc " Appleby, then, as now, one of the richest sporting men in the United States. And the firm name became Appleby & Johnson— a Gould-Fisk sort of deal— with the financier on the big end, the devil-may-care adventurer on the other. During the races at Washington, D. C, early that fall. Reeves and Johnson had met at cush- ion caroms for a comparatively small amount of money, and the elder man won. Then " Davy " proposed to play for $2,500 a side in New York 226 City, after snowfall, and " Ridge " Levine, book- maker, accepted on Reeves' behalf. Great interest at once was aroused, and as it was a certainty that large amounts would be wagered on the game, Johnson engaged "Tom- my " Wallace (Schaefer's protege, and as wonJ~ derful a billiardist as ever lived of like age), a^ trainer, and kept the matter more or less of j secret, as the lessons were given at the book-l maker's club. Here Johnson out-managed Reeves, who did not appear to consider the fact that a new system of play at cushion caroms had been found an improvement (that of play- ing one cushion instead of two, or three, or six), and so in practice kept banging around the short angles of the 4,}4, x 9 table, getting all the kisses, but confidently expecting to put up an average of SJ^ no matter how badly fortune might use him. On the eventful night of the match, Mr. Appleby, before going to the hall, declared that he had bet enough (some thousands outside of the main stake), and the general feeling favored Reeves to win. But just as the game began, when bookmaker Tully kept crying $100 to $90 against his man, Appleby could stand it no longer and put down a bet of $2,700 against $3,000 on Johnson. For an hour betting trans- actions had been large. There were seated about the billiard table the leading bookmakers, and when this or that turfman or other sport- ingman wished to "get on," he simply did so through his bookmaker friend. Therefore, it was not necessary to appoint stakeholders and "flash" money (happenings which, to the inex- perienced, convey the idea of a "world of money" being wagered, and, as in the case of 227 the Phelan-Seereiter match at Detroit, put on record fallacious estimates); business was trans- acted rapidly, and so unimportant was a bet of $80 that a man yelled himself hoarse before anybody paid any attention to him. The old- timers aver that in horse racing any one of the moss-grown four-mile events of "befo de wah" produced high gambling, and are loth to accept as a fact that since bookmaking and pool rooms struck the United States (less than twenty years ago) there is more money bet throughout the country on a race for "maidens" than changed hands in all the four-mile races ever run in America. So with billiards at the Phelan-Seereiter match, whatever money was at issue ($15,000 stakes and all) was nothing compared to that wagered on the Johnson- Reeves match, even before the game started. The first 100 points (the game was 250 up) was contested so closely that neither player could be said to have an advantage, but midway the sec- ond 100, Johnson forged ahead and stood 30 points to the good. James Kelly had come in late and hadn't bet a cent. He now " unbelted," and his quiet offer of "$100 to $40 on Johnson" "got a game" for a large amount, as Joe Cotton, a con- servative man, and the bookmakers that fully appreciated the fluctuations incident to a cush- ion carom game, hedged off in a twinkling, and put Mr. Kelly where he stood to lose $5,000. Reeves made a spurt, and, playing with as high a rate of speed as shown in his practice, closed the gap, and going on strongly, turned the second hundred with a run of 12, and the score stood : Reeves, 206 ; Johnson, 200. Now bedlam reigned. Kelly was in a tight place. Stedeker flopped around until he had a " Dutch" i 228 (a book that loses no matter how it comes), and the game w^s stopped, while amid shouting, "guying," laughter, and great uproar, each gamester tried to fix his fences. Soon the even money on Reeves went to $100 to $90, and landed at $100 to $80. But the break in the pro- ceedings had quite undone the apoplectic cap- tain. The excitement and the heat had de- stroyed his chance. He was seen to falter, then stammer for water, and with a desperate grasp as if to loosen his necktie, tore it, his collar, and shirt-band loose. The spectators, so used to quickly spy a horse's tail go up, let not so ominous a sign escape, and 100 to 25 on Johnson went begging when "Davy" only led by 15 points. So obvi- ous was the disparity of odds and stage of game, that when $100 to $10 was offered, John- son openly took quite a bunch of the short end himself. Despite this, e3,ch time he went to the table his adherents exultantly shouted, " Pay off!" and never had reason to change the cry, as their man won the game by 17 points, finishing "hands down," and with a better average (2) than had been expected of him under such try- ing circumstances. Johnson's personal friends had stuck to him from first to last, kept on bet- ting that he would win from the worse stage, and from the money that night landed, it is said, have sprung the large fortunes of several of the lights of the Eastern betting ring of the present day. "Tommy" Wallace was well paid for his services, and the Johnson-Reeves match conclusively proved that the best way to play cushion caroms is to hit one cushion in preference to more, no matter what the speed of billiard experts. 229 NEW GAME OF BILLIARDS. THE CORNER GAME. The French corner game of billiards has become popular with amateurs, and in the leading rooms players at several tables may at times be seen devoted to its practice. The sim- plicity of the gaine commends it to all classes of players, and its freedom from any necessity of making the cue-ball do extraordinary things — the real test of a billiard artist — is so apparent that the ordinary billiard player at once pronounces it " so easy," the more readily if at the first trial he should fortunately win the game in one stroke. As an educator the corner game is of value, its teaching being that of "natural angles"; by it also is shown the value of correctly mak- ing easy shots, which the tutor of English bil- liards so ceaselessly drums into the heads of his pupils. Indeed, if a man never missed an easy shot and let the hard ones take care of themselves, he might have a chance to become the world's champion at any style of billiards. The corner game is played with two balls, red and white, the former of which is placed in the crotch at the upper right-hand end of the table, the white ball being in hand. The idea is to effect as quickly as may be the purpose of driving the red ball into the op- posite corner at the head of the table, and when this ball rests inside the triangle, made by drawing a line from the first diamond on the end to the first diamond, on the side, it is declared "in" and the opposing player can only win by getting it there in fewer strokes than his adversary. The player has the privi- 230 A — Position for double kiss. B — Spinks' favorite "in " in one shot. C — Schaefer's " in " in one three-cushion shot. D — Wonderful stroke by Catton, "in" in one shot driven on two cushions. lege of placing the cue-ball wherever he pleases inside the string, not only for the opening shot, but for any thereafter necessary. The cue-ball must first hit the left-side cushion. A foul on the white ball is counted a stroke. ^31 The game is one bringing into play the prin- cipal knowledge necessary to the primitive billiardist, whose teaching told of how the angle of incidence is equal to that of reflection. To aid him the diamonds were placed upon the rails of the table. This was before twist (" Eng- lish*') was discovered, and if a ball hit fair struck one diamond it must of necessity travel to some other diamond with unerring accuracy, provided the tools were perfect. One day an English drover — so the story goes — chanced, upon passing a billiard table, to hit a ball with the butt of his leathern whip, upon which the sphere, striking the cushion, showed an unnatural angle, and that ended the use of the diamond, and at the same time it rendered possible the evolution of billiards to its present advanced state. There are no diamonds on an English billiard table. Probably most persons using them see on American tables only an ornamentation to relieve the idea of bareness. But some of the old-time experts use them, notably Thomas J. Gallagher, and thus is partially accounted for his reputation as a "hard-shot player," justly gained through the completion of most start- ling strokes. Jacob Schaefer never looks at a diamond, and the same may be said of new-school billiardists, aware that the instant "side" is applied the natural angle is destroyed. W. H. Catton is the best American player at the corner game. What his system is is his own afifair, but the spectator sees him, with his cue, measuring the spot to be hit on the right-hand side cushion, rebounding from which the cue- ball hits the red perfectly as it stands in the center of the table, and drives it home on the stroke. Catton learned the game in Pari^, where he stood next of class to Ducasse, the Frenchman, and Manuel, the Spaniard, which pair are the best in the world, and either of them can be backed to complete the game in four strokes. Catton first showed the corner game in Chicago at the "academy" opened by- Jacob Schaefer in 1895, and at once the locai experts sought a system to offset his. T. H, White — who some thirty-five years ago was the' champion billiardist of Maine — a man noted as a mathematician, was not long in studying out a system of natural angles and making this known to his son Frank, who is one of the best local amateurs at angle games. The younger White in a short time acquired proficiency sufficient to cause the issuance of a challenge on his behalf — never accepted — to play any man that could be produced, bar Catton. It was the adoption of White's system that enabled Spinks, a superior billiardist, to make such a showing against Catton. In fact, Spinks' record of putting the ball "in" nine times in thirty shots, may be unequaled in any country. In opening, Catton places the cue-ball at the intersection of the lines marked on the table for 14-inch balk line. Spinks places his near the end rail at the first diamond. The latter player seems the surer to hit the red ball, but this may result because of his soft stroke, which can not cause the red to dance far from the corner, the theory of the player, apparently, being to nurse the sphere over by easy stages, as opposed to Catton's idea of landing it by a hard stroke in one shot, failing which, some- times the red rolls out in the center of the y I 233 table. Seldom does Spinks have the red outside the 14-inch balk line, rarely outside the string, while Catton often has it below the middle pocket, and sometimes at the upper end of the table. Jacob Schaefer has never been able to play the corner game well — finding great difficulty in dislodging the red — yet, with the object ball once loosened, the wizard can get it "in" more quickly than the others, although going entirely by eyesight, and never looking at the diamonds. In opening, he places his ball close in on the left-side rail and smashes hard. This he copied from Garnier, as effective a player as Catton, and the man who more often accom- plished the feat of finishing the game in one stroke. With perfect tools the White system is un- doubtedly the best. The theory is that given the red on one side of the table, the white placed exactly opposite on the other side and driven on three cushions perfectly, will surely hit the red on the side necessary to drive it toward the corner. Placing the white is a ques- tion of eyesight, as no artificial aid can be used, and should the stroke be ineffective, the first shot is a guide for the next, the player altering the spot where the cue-ball hit the first cushion. When the red ball has traveled to a position near the line of the spot, the cue-ball is sent against the left-side cushion, just below the fourth diamond, and at all times the cue-ball is struck just above the center with slight natural twist. - " As Spinks plays the game there is little of brilliancy, as the variety of shots is few. Other players, "shooting in the air," get the red into 234 the worst possible place on the table and some- times in desperation - trying experiments - land the refractory sphere home in one 100-to-l stroke, thus winning the money of the backer and receiving tumultuous applause. |> There are some pretty shots, the double kisf ^ probably being the most astonishing. When the red lays nearly on the left-side rail it can be driven up and down, the cue-ball taking only the side cushion, or banked in by the use of two cushions. There are variations of the corner game, the red ball being placed in lower right-hand or lower left-hand corner ; and at such styles Professor Kaarless, the Belgium strong man and fancy-shot billiardist, is without an equal. RECORD ODDS AND ENDS. Four balls— 51^x11 carom table, 2% balls. Pierre Carme, Chicago, July 22, 1868, averaged 3438/43, and ran 382. Pin pool — J. F. B. McCleery, Virginia City, Nev., December 28, 1872, played ten and one- half hours with Chas. Douglass, and won $6,330 in gold coin. In June, 1890, Jacob Schaefer easily beat Mc- Cleery, and a few days later, according to F. C. Ives, but for miscarriage of plans, had a chance to win $25,000 at pin pool, by beating the Califor- nia pet. Three balls — In "snap game" at Pittsburg, Pa., April 14, 1884, Albert Ziemer of Cleveland, Ohio, lost $4,600 to William Walker of Pitts- burg. The winner in speed was up to " 50 or no count," while the loser never ran 20 in his life. 235 Thinking he was "going too far," Jno. Staley, Walker's backer, told his man to lose the last game ($1,500 a side), thereby outmanaging him- self, as Ziemer had $20,000 in his pocket. Cushion caroms — 4i^x9 table. Martin Mul- len (amateur), at Cleveland, Ohio, 1890, beat Jacob Schaefer "three straights," 100-point games, and in the 300 points made a grand aver- age of 10. Mullen made game in 8, 9, 13 in- nings respectively. High runs : Schaefer, 43; Mullen, 41. The stakes were small, but vessel- men, friends of Mullen, won a large amount of money from the local sports, who naturally thought Schaefer a cinch. Mullen had pre- viously beaten Ives, then the "champion short- stop," who, when twitted by Schaefer, hotly said : "If he plays that kind of a game, he can beat you, too," and this talk brought on the MuUen-Schaefer contest. Mullen, in 1875, defeated at pin pool Wm. Burleigh, who then was considered as second only to Tim Flynn, the recognized pin-pooi champion. BANK SHOTS. Jacob Schaefer is the best player in the world, and is said to have scored a run of 19. To the best amateurs — Chas. Nolan of St. Louis and Albert Dexter of Chicago — Schaefer concedes the odds of 30 per cent, although these gentle- men hold their own with all billiardists except W. C. McCreery and E. Carter, players by 15 per cent their superiors. FANCY SHOTS. Schaefer and Ives are the best players, either man being able to make any shot possible to / 236 other artists, ailti up to some not executed by the others. Professor Kaarless, with his great all-around draw shot, may be an exception. L/Ouis Shaw pleases at exhibitions, and Eugene Carter, some years ago, was known as a star. In France most of the professionals are fine fancy-shot player^, and Gofart is considered the best. FINGER BILLIARDS. H. T. Perry of Cincinnati, Ohio, has no equal. Unlike others, he executes with any size ball up to 2%6 inches, and at cushion caroms picks up his ball wherever he finds it. " Yank " Adams, always a popular entertainer, is entirely out- classed by Perry. Louis Shaw is as good with fingers as with cue. Eugene Carter, a few years since, made a big hit in London, England, with the small ivory balls (used at pin pool and 15-ball pool), these being twirled about in amaz- ing fashion. Jacob Schaefer originated the trick, and can spin the wee spheres much more effect- ively than Carter. LADY FANCY-SHOT PLAYER. F. C. Ives is authority for the statement that Miss Kaarless, age twelve years, the daughter of Professor Kaarless of New York, can exe- cute a "follow and force" with either hand, and accomplish results impossible to any other expert. Her father is a noted Belgian strong man, who carries a 100-pound dumbbell on his shoulder while showing the more extraordinary of fancy shots, and the daughter bids fair to be a most athletic woman by the time of " Paris, 1900," when the pair will visit Europe. ARMLESS BILLIARDIST. - Geo. Sutton (a namesake of "the billiard comet") is the marvel of the experts. By a railway accident he lost both arms (cut off just below the elbow), but with the stumps handles a cue so well that on a 4i^ x 9 table, at " straight rail," he has scored 200 points in three innings. At 14-inch balk line he can easily defeat a "2i^- man," and draws and spreads excellently. This wonder plays " 15 or no count " at ball pool. ENGLISH BILLIARDS. San Francisco, March 15, 1871 — Joseph Dion, 1,000 ; A. P. Rudolphe, 956. Winner's average, 45%3g ; best run, 29. Rudolphe ran 40. Played on a 6x12 six-pocket English table, with 2% balls. Three-ball "French " game (afterward devel- oped into "straight rail"), played on a 6x12 six-pocket English table, 2146 balls — New York City, October 9, 1874. Match for $1,000 a side. A. P. Rudolphe, 400 ; William Cook (champion of England), 274. Winner's average, 19%o4 ; high run, 26. Cook ran 16. Time of game, 4 hours 12 minutes. Cook, upon his return to England, introduced the American tournament system, whereby each player meets all other contestants, an innovation said to have materially aided the rise to popularity of professional contests. AMERICAN EXPERTS IN EUROPE. The Dion brothers played in London, Eng- land, July, 1875, but their exhibitions at French billiards turned out badly, the English public caring nothing for the game. Wm. Sexton went to Paris in 1876, Geo. F. 16 238 Slosson in 1880, Maurice Daly about the same time, then followed Jacob Schaefer in 1883, and Frank C. Ives, who landed in France in 1892. The last four mentioned experts have each crossed the Atlantic several times. Eugene Carter has made more than one trip to England and France, and now makes his headquarters at Barcelona, Spain. In the years following 1892, Wm. H. Catton, F. Maggioli, Wm. A. Spinks, and Chas. Schaefer all exhib- ited their speed in the Paris academies. Schae- fer and Ives, in 1892, gave exhibitions of balk- line billiards in London, England, and met with success of mild type. FOREIGNERS IN AMERICA. M. Claudius Berger, champion of France, was the first Frenchman to dare the watery wastes which Vignaux so fears, that a $5,000 offer for six months in the World's Fair year was no inducement for him^to take the steamer for New York. Berger was present when the first American tournament (New York, October, 1860) was framed, and he contributed the second prize — a French inlaid cue. Giving exhibitions throughout the United States, Berger intro- duced "the masse," then called "the perpen- dicular shot." Pierre Carme, A. P. Rudolphe, and Albert Garnier were the next importations, followed by Francois Ubassy and Maurice Vignaux. When Catton returned from France he brought with him Fournil, a player of Garnier's speed. Kerkau. champion of Germany, recently tried our players, but was unhorsed by " Shortstop " McLaughlin. 239 Wm. Cook and Jno. Roberts have filled pro- fessional engagements, and T. Taylor, a retired expert, came over to make the Ives match for Roberts. The latter first saw the Yankees some twenty-five years ago, he then passing through the country on his way to Australia. BEST HANDICAP. The most remarkable of handicaps was that made by Henry Rhines in 1891. There were five contestants, all well-known gentlemen of Chicago — Jno. Lavally, Fred. Ackerman, Nelse Humphrey (dead), Morris Morley, and Chas. Gregory. Ackerman and Humphrey started at " scratch " (200), the others at 150. The tourna- ment resulted in a tie all around, as each man won two games. RUB NURSE AT CUSHION CAROMS. Peculiar to the inventor, Eugene Carter, who, striking the position in the first inning of a 100- point contest (5x10 table) with A. C. Anson (Slosson's Monroe Street Room, Chicago, 1887), ran the game out. Carter, in Cleveland, four years before this, had shown on an old 4^^ x 9 table in "Oyster Ocean," a run of over 500, but the balls were anchored in a hole on end rail. KISS IN CORNER NURSE AT CUSHION CAROMS. Played by Wm. Hatley for a run (5x10 table) of 103 at M. Carey's Room, Chicago, 1896, and another of 186 at Duluth, 1897. 240 SHORTSTOP. A term originated by Jno. Frawley, the last champion billiardist of Ohio at the 4-ball game. This expert, the Mark Tapley of billiards, could find no better nickname for a professional that missed championship form, and so called him a "shortstop," /. ^., one who stops short. In an article to the New York Clipper^ written from Akron, phio, 1879, the author of this book signed himself '' Shortstop," arid in 1887, in first adver- tising Frank C. Ives in the Chicago Eve^img News, used the term as Frawley had intended. FOURNIL IN AMERICA. In the fall of 1894 Fournil, the Frenchman, showed practice runs of 300 at 14-inch balk line (New York City), and in a match with Galla- gher ran 201. A year previous he was beaten 300 in 1,200-point match (14-inch) by Jacob Schaefer. Fournil (New York, J894) easily beat T. J. Gal- lagher at cushion caroms. MANUFACTURE OF BILLIARD TABLES AND CUSHIONS. E. D. Bassford was the prominent manufac- turer before Michael Phelan and "Chris" O'Con- nor started in the business. It is said that Bassford had a large billiard room in New York City at an early day. By winning the Seereiter match at Detroit, in 1859, Phelan gained the money to extend his operations, and O'Connor retiring, the firm name became Phelan & Collender (the latter being a son- in-law of the former). In 1857, when at Phila- delphia, Pa., Phelan played the series of games with Ralph Benjamin (the " Albany Pony," who kept a billiard room in New York City, was um- 241 pire for Benjamin); the billiard table bed was of wood (this according to David T. Pulsifer who witnessed the play), and the cushions were of cloth. Soon thereafter Phelan introduced the ''combination cushion" so long known by his name, and which, in the year 1898, is still spoken of by the professionals as probably the most reliable cushion ever made. At the time, a man named Holman sought to introduce a whale- bone-faced cushion, but while some players favored this, it met with scant public favor. The first improvement on the wood bed was the substitution of marble slabs (Ives, the youngest of the champions, has now and again, since 1887, ran across a wooden bed table in the wilds), but as this material " sweats," it was not many years before the introduction of slate to take its place. H. W. Collender was a fine mechanic and so invented the best methods now in use for putting together a billiard table, other than the system of doweling, in securing the slate slabs which is copied from the Eng- lish. For years after the rise of the western house of Brunswick & Balke (an alliance of two different manufacturing concerns), this firm used the Phelan cushion and paid a heavy roy- alty to its inventor. After Phelan's death Col- lender continued the business, and later con- solidated with Brunswick & Balke. From 1860 until 1898, there have started many manu- facturers having this or that innovation as to cushion, some using wire, others more rubber and less cloth, still others less rubber and more cloth. Competition has produced billiard cush- ions of superior quality, and without these .such averages and runs as are shown to-day would be impossible. S4S MICHAEL PHELAN IN EUROPE. After Higham, "The Albany Pony," the first American billiardist of the first class to visit Europe, was Michael Phelan, who crossed the Atlantic in 1848. He played some billiards in London, and is said to have tackled the French- men in Paris. Dudley Kavanagh says: "Mr. Phelan did not wish his visit to Europe to be made public at the time." D. T. Pulsifer, who remembers Phelan's return to America, thinks that "The Father of American Billiards" met defeat at the hands of the French experts. 243 FINALE. William Riley tells the following: " Many years ago, when about the county fairs —oh, yes ! I had a ' racket,' but whether it was the 'white mice and the canary birds,' or the ' rings,' or the ' wheel privilege,' I decline to say. I naturally took an interest in other men's ways of 'getting the money,' and so curiosity carried me to a street corner, where, during the even- ing, a fakir attracted the human moths with a sputtering, brilliant coal-oil light. "As I advanced, the vender began his relation of the virtues of a liniment asserted to be good for anything from neuralgia to rheuma- tism. ' I have here,' cried he, ' most magic stuff. The ancients, as you know, utilized for pur- poses of suppleness the juices of the lowly angleworm (which, as you know, gentlemen, is on record as turning when trod upon— but, really, I can not see how this helped him any), which, used in childhood, created a race of acrobats and contortionists (none, however, quite up to the standard of ' the boneless won- der,' which will be exhibited here next week by P. T. Barnum), performing feats spoken of by the poet that told that ghost story about the Trojan horse. Excuse me, gentlemen, for wasting your valuable time, but the digression seemed necessary to allow the platoons from the side streets to get in. To resume : I got the tip on my present specific (which, later^you can buy by the quart for two shillings per) from Gibbon, who wrote the petering out of the boom at Rome, N. Y. This author, in a foot note (memory serving), speaks of the aforesaid angle- worm oil, and I reasoned by analogy, that the electrical eel ought to yield a fluid that would 244 kill rheumatism more quickly than the con- ventional method of transmitting the essence of the lightning to the diseased periosteum by means of a battery, a sponge, and a bath-tub. You know, gentlemen, that you of the provinces are short on bath-tubs. Well, well ! I found in Brazil the serpent I was after, and by his scintil- lating, glassy, incandescent eye was he undone, for its beams made him easily discoverable. By the way, although this eel lives in a marshy country, such is his wonderful electrical dis- seminating quality that no tadpole even but that, free from rheumatism, frisks with an abandon elsewhere unknown. To return. Your minds refreshed, you w-ill remember the elec- trical eel mentioned in the Bible as found only in Brazil— well and good. Modern science has appropriated such reptile, and here I am, will- ing for a consideration to proffer to you the best^that modern research affords. ' "As I strolled away the fakir was doing a lively business at a quarter a throw. Meeting him later at the hotel, I said: 'Young man, you're good! I wouldn't mind having any part of your game you care to give away, but see here. You spoke of Brazil, a part of South America, as the home of the basis of your rheumatism cure. Allow me to suggest that you leave out that portion of your discourse relating to Biblical days, inasmuch as then South America was not on the map.' 'Thanks,' said the fakir; 'your suggestion is timely. Still,' he mused, 'what difference. This is news to me, and it's 100 to 1 that it would be news to anyone in the county.' " With like assurance as to errors in this book; the author faces the public. 4 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 029 708 291 7