  All play, unless otherwise stated, was with 2? balls on a 5×10 carom table, and until 1885 on an 8–inch line. Abbreviations.—Such figures as 600—50.—375 stand in that order for total, average, and high run, the loser’s average being omitted as not a record. Those of 8:2, 14:2, 18:1, and 18:2 signify eight, fourteen, or eighteen-inch line with either one or two shots or plays in balk, regardless of count. First Public Contests. What is known simply as “Balkline” took its name originally from the table’s having a continuous line running around it six inches from the cushion. This form, with three shots in balk, was practiced by Rudolphe and the Dions in 1875, pronounced too difficult, and never played in public. The intersecting short lines near every corner were added early in 1883, and the main line was then put eight inches from the cushion; and in this form, with its eight balks and the two shots or one valid count therein, as described for the Champion’s Game, the “Balkline” was first played publicly for the world’s championship in Central Music Hall, Chicago, March 26th to April 6th. Of the seven contestants, Alonzo Morris and Thomas Wallace were graduated from a preliminary tournament held at the J. M. Brunswick & Balke Co.’s warerooms, that city, March 6–13th. In addition to the challenge emblem, there were money-prizes aggregating $3,000, and the tournament was akin to a marvel in embodying so many as seven players without a single tie. Average of the twenty-one games, 12.86. J. Dion’s 17.71 and Sexton’s 16.58 were their best averages—not winning ones. During Sexton’s run of 170 the first glimpses in public were seen of what, in 1890, was dubbed “The Anchor.” It had been played in private at the regular three-ball game, but lacked favoring opportunities at the Champion’s Game, while at Balkline it was impossible until the eight short lines were added near the corners.
Matches were to have been 800 points for $500 a side, but none was ever made, and in due time the emblem became Schaefer’s to keep. This was the second case of first-class championship tournament without ever a match. Nor was there a balkline championship Vignaux vs. Schaefer. At close of foregoing tournament these experts played two games in public. The one in Hartford, Conn., was at cushion caroms, and Schaefer won it. The other, played at Academy of Music, N. Y. City, June 12th, was in all respects on balkline championship terms, except that, as there was no challenge, therefore there could not be a championship match. V., 800 (total)—22.22 (winning average)—106 (highest run); S., 644 (total)—90 (highest run). First Balkline Match Abroad. Grand CafÉ, Brussels, Belgium, November 21–25th.—$500 a side, 4½×9 table. Garnier, 3000; Daly, 2839. Averages and runs not cabled. Second game, Lyons, France, December 10–14th.—Same size of table. Garnier, 3000—27.23—238; Daly, 2970—309. Vignaux vs. Schaefer. Grand Hotel, Paris, November 26–30th.—$1,000 a side. V., 3000—28.85—165; S., 2859—164. Same place and terms, January 14–18, 1884. V., 3000—44.75—329; S., 2869—201. Vignaux vs. Rudolphe. Paris, December 10–14th.—Same terms as last two games above. V., 3000; R., 1415. Runs and averages not cabled. Vignaux vs. Schaefer. See 1883, November 26–30th. Championship of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. M. H. Hewins’s Room, Hartford (except last game, which was played in Allyn Hall), January 29th to February 15th.—Tournament at “Space Game,” a combination of Balkline and the oblique line of the Champion’s Game. L. A. Guillet, 5—0; Hewins, 4—1; H. Behrens, J. A. Hendrick and C. T. Shean, 2—3 apiece; and J. Pletcher, 0—5. Play-off gave Behrens third money, and Shean fourth. A gold watch was championship emblem. Three matches followed, all played in Springfield, Mass., the home of Guillet, who defeated Hewins by 500 to 286, received forfeit from Except as here set forth, the “Space Game” has never been played in public. McLaughlin vs. Heiser. Assembly Buildings, Phila., Jan. 17, second of three different styles of game, $250 a side apiece. McL., 600—10—64; H., 470—43. (See Regular Three-ball and Champion’s Game for the two other contests.) Maggioli vs. John T. Moulds. New Orleans, February 28–29th, March 1st.—Former gave odds of 25 per cent., for $500 a side, and won by 1200 to 1153. Nothing of moment in runs or averages. Schaefer vs. Slosson. Central Music Hall, Chicago, May 12th.—$500 a side. Schaefer, 800—38.10—211; Slosson, 384—200. First game of a match at two different styles (see Champion’s Game, 1884, for the other). Later there were a few 8:2 matches between lesser experts; but this was the last, of either match or tournament, between first-class ones. First Handicap Tournament. Starting early this year, there were many handicap tournaments during that and the next half dozen or more; but in only a half dozen of such tournaments was aught accomplished worth recording. The one in Platt’s Hall, San Francisco, January 4–6th, this year, is cited first among the exceptional six because of its having been the first at the game, the first tournamental playing of it on a 4½×9 table, and the only instance of a player’s single averages being the same as his general average. Entrance fee, $250, with $250 added by the B. B. C. Co. Three games.
Morris’s averaging 18.52 against both opponents necessarily made his general average 18.52 also. Increased to 14:2. Philadelphia roomkeepers’ championship handicap tournament, begun March 2d. Ed McLaughlin, Wm. Rockhill, and Pincus Levy won, 6—1 apiece, and Rockhill won emblem and $100 in playing off, Levy taking second prize ($75), and McLaughlin third ($50). There were about a dozen match-contests for the trophy. Winning it from Rockhill on May 28th, at odds of 300 to 200, McLaughlin would have made it his own had not James Palmer, on May 25, 1886, defeated him by 175 to 254 in a possible 300. Ed. Burris beat Palmer on September 23, 1886, and others later at intervals, among them McLaughlin twice (handicap 225 to 300), and finally became owner of the emblem by defeating Pincus Levy, June 2, 1887, by 200 to 126 in a possible 150. What is worth recording here is not in the play itself, but in the logic of the situation. That it was a handicap championship necessarily made McLaughlin the champion all along as the giver of the longest odds. In December, 1890, at the Continental Hotel, the Philadelphia roomkeepers engaged in another 14:2 handicap (John Cline, Ed. Burris and Ed. McLaughlin first, second, and third on imposts of 225, 300, and 400 points), but avoided the championship contradiction. First Public Match at 14:2. Central Music Hall, Chicago, March 25th.—$250 a side. Capt. A. C. Anson, 500—5.43—39; Frank Parker, 364—22. Catton vs. Gallagher. Mercantile Library Hall, St. Louis, $500 a side, 8:2. C., 800—10.67—74; G., 687—78. First Strictly Public Tournament at 14:2. Irving Hall, N. Y. City, April 20–29th.—$2,250 added by the B. B. C. Co. to entrance fees of $250 apiece and to net door-money equally divided among the five. The approximate average of tournament, which instituted no championship, was 11.
After this tie, the three proposed to divide all, and did divide all but the $1,000 of the B. B. C. Co., which required them to play to a finish. The next round was also a tie, but in the final one Schaefer beat both, and Vignaux beat Slosson. Nothing of moment signalized the six extra games, save that Schaefer lengthened his high run to 187, that Slosson reached 159, and that Vignaux fell from a winning average of 75 to 22.22, and then to 13.11. Schaefer vs. Vignaux. Cosmopolitan Hall, N. Y. City, January 26–30th.—$2,500 a side. S., 3000—20.97—180; V., 2838—143. Same hall, March 9–13th.—$1,000 a side. S., 3000—25.86—230; V., 1855—149. Gallagher vs. Carter. B. B. C. Co.’s Warerooms, Chicago, March 9th.—$250 a side. G., 500—9.61—41; C., 381—37. McLaughlin vs. Heiser. Cosmopolitan Hall, N. Y. City, March 8th.—$500 a side, home-and-home. McL., 500—7.35—51; H., 435—65. Return game, Assembly Buildings, Philadelphia, March 19th. H., 500—9.61—55; McL., 429—48. Purse Game at 10.2. Allyn Hall, Hartford, Conn., December 20th. Sexton, 500—9.61—69; McKenna, 369—52. An unexampled feature of the year was that three winners out of four—Gallagher, Heiser, and Sexton—did 500 points in 52 innings (or 9.61) in matches. 1887.Twelve Players Tied Out of Thirteen. St. Louis, January 3d to February 17th.—Handicap for six prizes (aggregating $725) and a challenge medal. Wayman C. McCreery did the handicapping, E. Carter and T. J. Gallagher being high at 300 each. There were two ties of four each, and two of two each, W. H. Catton, sixth from both top and bottom with his 6—6, being the only one who escaped. Among amateurs, Chicago has since surpassed this in the striking particular that all five contestants tied alike, every one winning and losing two games of a tournament held in the late Henry Rhines’s room. In playing off for from first to fourth in St. Louis, Frank Day and John Thatcher tied again for first and second, and Gallagher and Maggioli for third and fourth. Thatcher beat Day, and Maggioli lost to Gallagher. Carter, who, with 5—7, was among the other tieing four, made the highest single average (18.75) by 50 per cent., and was the only one who ran triple figures (101), Maggioli coming next with 78, Gallagher with 69, and Catton with 68. The regular games numbered 78. McLaughlin vs. Heiser. Natatorium Hall, Philadelphia, February 24–26th.—$250 a side. McL., 1500—5.60—46; H., 1064—45. Daly’s Assembly Rooms, Brooklyn, March 15–17th.—Return game, $250 a side. H., 1500—7.81—55; McL., 1258—60. Schaefer vs. Slosson. Central Music Hall, Chicago, April 12th.—$500 a side. Schaefer, 800—17.78—126; Slosson, 639—135. Connecticut Championship at 8:2 on a 4½×9. M. H. Hewins’ Rooms, Hartford, January 17th to February 6th.—Tournament of 250–point games. Fred Hawks, 5—0, first prize; J. A. Hendrick, 4—1, second prize, and also prize for high run (36); W. G. White, 2—3, third prize, having beaten R. W. Kellogg in play-off. Same room, game, and table, April 9th.—Match for championship. Hawks, 300—4.55—27; John H. Kingsbury, 217—7. The championship emblem was a billiard-table, to be defended fifteen months. Slosson Defeats Schaefer. St. Paul, Minn., October —, 14:2, purse game, $250, given by the B. B. C. Co. No data as to totals, runs or averages. First Championship of Shortstops. Madison Street Theatre, Chicago, November 26th to December 8th.—200–point games. Carter, who won 7—0 in games and $254.80 in money, made highest run, single average and general average (87—13.33—9.33). Catton and Gallagher tied for second and third, and divided $302.80, and Maggioli and John T. Moulds, tieing for fourth, divided $64.60. The other contestants were Frank C. Ives (2—5), Wm. F. Hatley (2—5), and Henry Rhines (1—6). In December, 1889, Ives challenged Carter, who, intending to go to Paris, declined to defend the emblem. There was never a match-contest for the emblem, Ives holding it the required time without challenge. After Carter’s return from Europe, there was a second tournament for the shortstop championship (see 1891). New England Championship at 10.2 on 4½×9. J. J. Murphy’s Hub Palace, Boston, ending December 18th.—Eight in. Fred Eames first, Moses Yatter second, Chas. F. Campbell third. (See February 16–26, 1891, for their being 1—2—3 also for another 10.2 championship.) Maggioli vs. Hatley. Madison Street Theatre, Chicago, January 23d.—Match for $250 a side and the championship of Western players below first grade. M., 500—9.26—71; H., 327—28. Old Line Against New. Chickering Hall, N. Y. City, February 20th to March 1st.—First appearance of Ives and Catton in the East. To six entrances of $250 apiece, the B. B. C. Co. added $2,500. Games 500 up, Slosson and Schaefer playing 14:2 against the 8:2 of the others, three of whom divided third, fourth, and fifth prizes.
Going to Chicago, the same players contended in Central Music Hall, April 5–12th for a like amount of money, but handicapped in points, all at 14:2. In place of $400 thrice, now read Slosson, $800; Catton, $400. Average of tournament, 12.48.
Maggioli vs. Ives. Madison Street Theatre, Chicago, April 16th.—$250 a side. M., 500—15.15—121; I., 440—73. First World’s Championship at 14:2. Instituted without the formality of a tournament in a match-contest at Chickering Hall, N. Y. City, December 1st.—Stake, $500 a side in money and a silver Challenge Cup presented by the B. B. C. Co. Schaefer, 800—19.51—128; Slosson, 609—60. SCHAEFER VS. CARTER. Second match, same terms, Central Music Hall, Chicago, May 6, 1891.—S., 800—21.05—104; C., 481—111. SCHAEFER VS. SLOSSON. Third match, Lenox Lyceum, N. Y. City, January 22, 1892.—Schaefer, 800—23.53—155; Slosson, 592—119. SCHAEFER BEATEN BY IVES. Fourth match, Central Music Hall, Chicago, March 19, 1892.—I., 800—16.33—95; S., 499—45. IVES VS. SLOSSON. Fifth match and last contest, same place as above, May 21, 1892.—I., 800—26.67—124; S., 488—120. First Reversion of an Emblem to Donors. For their failure to play the sixth match in Paris, where it was made in 1892 by Ives and Schaefer, the official stakeholders declared match off, Challenge Cup reverting to donors under the rules. 1891.Second New England Championship at 10.2. J. J. Murphy’s Hub Palace, Boston, Feb. 16–26, tournament for challenge emblem valued at $100 and $320 in money, 250 points on 4½×9. Eames, Yatter, and Campbell were again 1—2—3, but this time against T. R. Bullock (fourth money) and Wm. Gilman. Eames lost not a game and made best single average, run, and general average—10.87—55—7.58. Second Shortstop Championship. B. B. C. Co.’s Warerooms, Chicago, February 10–27th.—Games, 400 points. Average of tournament, 9.86.
Either Capron’s is a losing average or the figures are an error for 13.33, a winning one. CARTER VS. IVES. Central Music Mall, Chicago, April 29th.—Only match contest. I., 500—9.43—70; C., 478—72. Again 10.2 on a 4½×9. Union Hall, Providence, R. I., March 10–14th.—C. F. Campbell, 2—1; Eames, 2—1; Bullock, 1—2; and Moses Yatter, 1—2. Campbell won in play-off. Eames made best single average and run—9.68 and 66. First Balkline Amateur Tournament in the East. Daly’s Assembly Rooms, Brooklyn, March 9–20th.—8:2 on 4½×9, handicap. Won by Samuel Ehrlich (165). Best averages, single and general (6.43 and 5.70), by Wm. Barnard, who carried the top weight (225), and best run (76) by Dr. H. D. Jennings, who was next in weight (200). Eastern amateurs last played 8:2 in formal contest on February 2 and March 4, 1893, in Brooklyn, Frank A. Keeney scoring 300 to Dr. Jennings 189 first, and 300 to his 212 next. Championship of Pennsylvania. Pittsburg, March 16–21st.—Challenge emblem and money-prizes aggregating $800. Average of tournament, 4.22.
Stake in matches, $300. Challenged by Dodds, McLaughlin won in Philadelphia, May 4th, by 400 to 181. Slosson vs. Schaefer. N. Y. City, October 26th.—$500 a side. Slosson, 800—22.22—173; Schaefer, 392—48. Ives vs. Carter. Milwaukee, Wis., October 28th.—Consideration not known. As it was played out of the bailiwick of both, it was probably a purse game. I., 600—30—133; C., 183 (total). [See 1890 for championship matches in this year, together with explanation of later inaction.] Vignaux vs. Schaefer. Paris, France, December 21–22d.—$500 a side. V., 1200; S., 982. Runs and averages not cabled. First Known 14:2 Tournament of Amateurs. G. F. Slosson’s Room, N. Y. City, 1893. Byron Stark first, Dr. A. B. Miller second, and Dr. A. L. Ranney third. But at Daly’s, Brooklyn, December 23, 1886, two amateurs had played a match at 12.2. Orville Oddie, Jr., who won, gave odds of 100. Winner, 400—4.40—18; loser, 338—21. Sutton’s Caromic Beginnings in Public. Toronto, Can., championship of Canada and $500. George Sutton, 500; Joseph W. Capron, 459. (January 27th, $500, the former ball-pool player beat Capron at regular three-ball game by 700 to 266.) Galt, Ont., March 28th.—Championship and same stake. C., 500; S., 306. Galt, Ont., April 20th.—Championship and same stake. S., 500; C., 408. In January, 1894, S. forfeited championship to C. Half in Toronto and half in Galt, March 29–30, 1894.—Fourth time for championship and $500. C., 1000; S., 830. December, 1894, Montreal, C. again encountered Sutton, but now in a tournament in which he had to play off with Spark B. Watson to get first prize, Sutton being third, Thomas fourth, and W. Jakes fifth. Championship of Canada at 14:2. See Sutton, above. Capron vs. Ed. M. Helm. Chicago, July 7, 1893.—$200. C., 400; H., 246. Schaefer vs. Ives. Chicago, November 21–25, 1893.—$2,000 a side. Schaefer, 4000—27.21—343; I., 3955—456. When last night’s play began, winner had 1305 to go to Ives’s 800. Run of 456 chiefly by anchor, due to the Ives-Roberts London match in prior spring. Second Tournament of Doubled Games. Madison Square Garden Concert Hall, N. Y. City, December 11–16th.—$600 entrance fee apiece, winner to take 50 per cent. of it and of the net receipts, second and third taking 30 and 20. Schaefer first—average, 100—run, 566 (against Ives in final game); Ives, second, 50—141; Slosson, third, 41.67—164. Schaefer’s 566 was nearly all anchor across short line ending at left-lower cushion. Going to Chicago, the three played January 8–13, 1894, in Central Music Hall, ending in a tie (not played off) between Schaefer and Ives, who had anchored up to 487 and equaled the Schaefer average in New York. Slosson won no game. After the others had each beaten him once, anchor was barred, and neither first nor second class players have ever revived it, eyes like Ives’s and Schaefer’s being scarce. Next to Cincinnati, February 1–3d, and there, playing but once around for $1,500, Ives was first—general average, 28.60—run, 163; Schaefer, second—general average, 21.52—run, 74; and Slosson third—general average, 17.36—run, 97. Next to Boston, February 8–10th.—Same terms as in Cincinnati, and this ended tour. Slosson first—general average, 23.50—run, 163; Schaefer second—general average, 16—run, 271; Ives third—general average, 19—run, 146. 1894.Philadelphia Three-handed Handicap. March 19–24th.—Purse of $300 added to entrance fees, Burris and Dodds, second and third, playing 300 to the 400 of McLaughlin, first. Boston Match at 4½×9 10.2. April 11–13th.—Eames, 1200; Geo. R. Carter, 883. Sexton vs. Heiser. N. Y. City, August 13–18th.—Opening of Maurice Daly’s Annex. Purse game. S., 1500; H., 1152. Ives vs. Schaefer. Home-and-home match, November 12–17th in New York, and in December 3–8th in Chicago.—$2,500 a side each game. First: I., 3600—48.62—331; S., 3074—244. Second: I., 3600—41.38—359; S., 2831—217. This was the last stake-match at 14:2 between stars of the first magnitude. Gallagher vs. Fournil. Daly’s, N. Y. City, beginning December 17th.—Purse game. Edouard Fournil, of Paris, France, gave odds of 50 per cent. and won by 3000 to 1421, actual score, the best run being the winner’s 176. A little later, Gallagher won with odds of 1800; G., 3000—14.65; F., 2289—27.91. Sutton’s First in Carom Tournament. Recital Hall, Chicago, January 18–27th.—Shortstops at 14:2, anchor barred, $1,000 in prizes. Order here is games won and lost, best average, general average, and high run: Gallagher, 5 to 0—28.58—19.80—104; Hatley, 3 to 2—12.15—11.—93; Maggioli, 3 to 2—14.29—10.54—91; McLaughlin, 2 to 3—21.—13.50—114; Sutton, 1 to 4—13.80—9.75—80; Capron, 1 to 4—13.—8.40—54. Hatley and Maggioli divided second and third. Sutton beat McLaughlin only. Amateur Championship of Illinois at 14:2. B. B. C. Co.’s Warerooms, Chicago, Ill., February, 300 points. With the exception of the winner-in-chief’s, which we have corrected, the averages—some winning and others losing—are only roundly expressed, as they appeared originally in a Chicago daily newspaper in 1895.
W. A. Spinks vs. George Carter at 14:2. Boston, October 13–14th.—$100, 4½×9. S., 900; C., 477. Roomkeepers’ 14:2 Tournament. Philadelphia, ending October 26th.—Order of finish: Burris, H. Cline, McCabe, J. Cline, and Rhoads. Shortstops in Chicago. Recital Hall, Jan. 18–27; game, 400 points, 14:2; prizes, $1,000.
Intercity and Interclub Amateur Tournament. The first was held at Maurice Daly’s Assembly Rooms, Brooklyn, in 1895, and the second, held at his rooms in this city, January 13–27, 1896, is given a place here because of its having embraced nearly all of those who have since been busiest en amateur in and around Manhattan.
There were three other competitors—Messrs. Wm. Barnard, Dr. H. D. Jennings, and Fred Oakes. The game was 14:2. First Tournament at 18:2. Madison Square Garden Concert Hall, March 31st to April 5th, under the auspices of Ives and Daly. Two shots in balk and five in anchor-box, instead of ten, as had latterly been the practice at 14:2. Games, 600 points, all three contestants playing twice around. Schaefer and Ives 3—1 each, but never played off; Albert Garnier, 0—4. Best winning averages, general averages, and high runs: I., 50—36.48—200; S., 30—24.11—176; Garnier, ...—9.99—36. Repairing to Chicago, they next played the First Tournament at 18:1. Central Music Hall, May 18–23d.—Only one shot either in anchor or in balk. Playing twice around, Schaefer and Ives 500 to Garnier’s In Boston their tour ended. See Cushion Caroms. Temporary Revival of 14:2 by Stars. Bumstead Hall, Boston, April 18th.—Four-handed. Daly and Schaefer, averaging 23.81, defeated Garnier and Ives by 500 to 347. All Tie in Pittsburg, Pa., Tournament of Shortstops. Davis’s Room, February 27th to March 6th.—14:2 without anchor, $1,000 in 40, 30, 20, and 10 per cent. divisions, 400–point games. Average of tournament, approximately 12.70. In play-off, Sutton beat both, and Spinks, running 187 and averaging 40, put third prize upon Gallagher.
Same Players, Plus John Matthews, in Chicago. Under the auspices of and at Clarence E. Green’s Imperial Room, April 6th.—Same game and the like prize-money. In playing off, Catton won by 600 to 478, but Spinks topped the shortstop record with a run of 197. Maggioli’s 28 is either a losing average or an error. Average of tournament, 14.65.
Hugo Kerkau’s American Debut. Daly’s Room, N. Y. City, July 5–10th.—Purse game, 300 points of 14:2 nightly. K., 1800; Morningstar, 1523. Same place and terms, July 19–24th.—McLaughlin, 1800; K., 1702. First World’s Championship at 18:1. Madison Square Garden Concert Hall, N. Y. City, November 20th–December 4th.—Emblem and $1,200 in cash, both presented by the B. B. C. Co., added to
SCHAEFER DEFEATS SLOSSON. Same hall, February 5, 1898.—First match for championship and $500 a side. Schaefer, 600—7.46—76; Slosson, 596—34. IVES DEFEATS SCHAEFER. Central Music Hall, Chicago, April 4, 1898.—Second and last match. I., 600—15—91; S., 426—90. As there was no challenge outstanding, and as Ives declined the emblem without waiting to qualify as champion, it reverted, under the rules, to its donors, and there was no 18:1 championship again until December, 1901. Schaefer vs. Slosson. Opera-house, Hartford, Conn., February 16th.—18:1 purse game. Schaefer, 400—7.84—39; Slosson, 317—59. First Handicap at 18:1. Central Music Hall, Chicago, January 17–22d.—Ives and Schaefer playing 400 to the 260 of Sutton, Catton, and Spinks. Schaefer’s defeat of Ives by 22, coupled with his own defeat at the hands of Spinks by 262, caused a tie between the “scratchmen,” who divided first and second moneys, as Spinks and Catton did the fourth prize. The B. B. C. Co. had added $1,750 to the entrance fees. Average of tournament, 14.57.
Roomkeepers’ New Handicap Championship. Philadelphia, April 4th.—Match won by Edward Burris (225—5.—28) from Sol Allinger, who played for 175. Knickerbocker A. C. Championship. N. Y. City, April.—14:2. Making best single and general, 9.67 and 7.50, Byron Stark won, Dr. A. B. Miller, Dr. L. L. Mial and F. Poggenburg finishing as named. Amateur 14:2 Handicap. Ives’s Room, N. Y. City, November 2–9th.—Won by Florian Tobias (215) from Messrs. Stark, Mial, and Poggenburg (all three at 300), Wm. Gershel (240), and Wm. Arnold, Dr. W. G. Douglas, and L. A. Servatius (all at 200). Arnold was second, and Stark third. A. A. U.’s First Class B Tournament. Knickerbocker A. C., beginning December 5th.—300–point games, 14:2. All the singles except Stark’s and possibly Miller’s are either losing averages or slightly inaccurate in their fractions.
Al Taylor, of Chicago, won play-off from J. De Mun Smith, of St. Louis. Approximate average of tournament, 5.25. Figures are not at hand to test whether or not the general averages of Taylor and Poggenburg were exactly alike. If they were, it was the first known case (see Metropolitan Championship, 1900, and “Another Tie in General Averages,” 1903). A. A. U.’s First Class A Tournament. Knickerbocker Club, N. Y. City, February 13–18th.—Doubled 400–point games of 14:2, anchor barred, for an unchallengeable championship trophy presented by the B. B. C. Co. Martin Mullen, of Cleveland, lost none but opening game, and that to Wayman C. McCreery, of St. Louis, who won no other. Wilson P. Foss, of Haverstraw, N. Y., second.
Average of tournament, 8.56. Liederkranz Amateur Trophy. Liederkranz Society’s Room, N. Y. City, May.—300 points of 14:2 nightly, best in five, J. F. Poggenburg, averaging 12 in one session, won three, and J. Byron Stark two. Schaefer vs. Slosson at 18:1. Lenox Lyceum, N. Y. City, May 13th.—First of match of two games, each for $500 a side (see Cushion Caroms, May 22, for second). Schaefer, 600—13.64—139; Slosson, 418—62. First Tournament National Association Amateur Billiard Players. These were two sets of handicap 14:2 games, both one as to the main prize (the Daly-Slosson Cup), but independent as to the two sets of other prizes. Poggenburg won at G. F. Slosson’s Room, beginning November 13th, and Keeney at Maurice Daly’s, ending December 15th. The records of the two tournaments are given side by side.
Approximate average of whole play at Slosson’s, 5.75; at Daly’s, 4.32; of both combined, 5.30. Play-off for the Daly-Slosson Cup, December 19–20th: P., 600—6.82—44; K., 439—33. A. A. U.’s Second Class B Tournament. Knickerbocker A. C., N. Y. City, December—300 points, 14:2. This and all later ones given under authority of the A. A. U. were not strictly invitation tournaments, the box-office being open to the public. A. G. Cutler’s run of 74 does not properly belong to this series of games, having been accomplished by reason of his preliminarily playing in
Tournament’s approximate average, 5.55. Chicago Amateur Handicap. Foley’s Room, December.—14:2. Harris (145), 9—0; Al Taylor (300), 7—2; Levine (145), 6—3; and Lang, Atwater, and the younger Foley (severally 200, 135, and 170), all 5—4. Best single and general averages and highest runs were 7.14—6.20—66 by Taylor, and 6.10—4.—56 by Nolan (250), who won but two games. A. A. U.’s Second Class A Tournament. Knickerbocker A. C., February 5–16th.—400–point games, 14:2, anchor barred, for championship Silver Cup given by the B. B. C. Co., to become the property of anyone winning it thrice.
Average of tournament, 7.95. Metropolitan Amateur Championship of 14:2. First tournament held by Hanover Club, and second participated in by the N. A. A. B. P., Brooklyn, N. Y., March 12–17th. Average of tournament, 6.57.
The remarkable features were presented of three players, Stark, Keeney, and Poggenburg, having the same total innings (125), of Stark and Keeney with 821 points each, and of their also tieing on general average for the first time known to us in a demonstrated way. Roomkeepers’ Championship of Philadelphia. This time without a handicap, it began May 3d in a tournament at 14:2. Merrick Levy won it, but had to average 4.88 against John Cline to do so. John Thornton was second. Cook County Amateur Championship. What with tournament bouts and challenge matches as a sequel, W. P. Mussey’s memorable Chicago 14:2 series lasted this year from February 26th to August 15th. That four out of the nine in the tournament met on even terms tended largely to overcome the logical objection to handicapping as a championship factor. The table below exhibits a winning average of 9.68 for one “scratch,” as well as a general average of 7.10. The challenge matches were always interesting, and often impressive, as when, with a run of 76 and an average of 10.34, Conklin took the emblem from Kellogg. McGinniss, like Kellogg, Brown, and Dr. Parker, lost half his tournament games; but he made amends by winning his whole six matches, thus acquiring ownership of the “Mussey Medal,” in the final match for which, August 15th, he averaged 7.50 against Adams.
In beating Conklin by 225 to 232 on the tie, Adams averaged 5.77, and Kellogg reached 5.88 in depriving Adams of the championship in the very first match. Expressed in a round way, the average of the tournament was 4.80. Doubled Tournament Games at Daly’s. N. Y. City, October 15–20th.—Handicap at 14:2. Gallagher (400), 4—0; Morningstar (250), 3—1; Howison (200), 3—1. Highest runs, winning averages and general averages: M., 73—9.62—7.78; H., 39—10—6.07; G., 84—general, 12.55. Playing off tie, Howison won by 2 points on an average of 8.78. Clubmen Made Desperate by Ties. October.—The 14:2 tournament of the Olympic Club, San Francisco, ended in a first-place tie of four out of seven—Dr. O. B. Burns, F. L. Taylor, J. J. Roggan, and W. Franklin. The first three tied again, shutting out Franklin; and after tieing again and again, they played once three-handed, which summarily cut the Gordian knot thus—Taylor, Revival of 8:2 in New Orleans. Capt. John Miller’s Room, October 22d to November 16th.—Louis Abrams and George H. Miller, the two “scratchmen,” were first and second among six. Best runs and averages: Abrams’s 8.33 and 46, and Miller’s 7.14 and 57. Following week, same game, match for $50, best in three nights. Abrams made the more points, but Miller won the three nights, averaging 5.88 as his best, and running 48 to Abrams’s 29 for high. Knickerbocker A. C.’s Championship of 14:2. N. Y. City, beginning December 26th and recordable chiefly because of the winner’s having the unexampled privilege of “keeping warm” in the depth of winter by playing all his games one after another without interregnum, which necessarily had to deprive the remaining games of interest. Contestants: Chas. S. Norris, J. A. Hendrick, Dr. A. B. Miller, Dr. L. L. Mial, and Albro Akin. Best general average, 5.77 by the winner-in-chief, Norris. Championship of the N. A. A. B. P. First tournament, under the patronage of the Hanover Club, Brooklyn, N. Y., for the Brooklyn Eagle’s Gold Cup, but the third annual one of the Association, Brooklyn, N. Y., January 14–26th. Arthur R. Townsend won play-off. Average of tournament, 5.96. Three tied on high run, and the other three were not far from virtually tieing on general average. Such closeness, practicable for any grade of performers at any form of cushion caroms, is phenomenal at 14:2 balkline for players of the speed of these.
A. A. U.’s Third Annual Class A Championship Tournament. Knickerbocker Club, N. Y. City, February 5–15th.—At 14:2. Average of tournament, four 400–point games apiece, 6.39.
As winner-in-chief, Conklin on February 16th played Foss, holder of the A. A. U.’s championship. F., 400—10.87—69; C., 262—43. Morningstar vs. Howison. Maurice Daly’s Room, N. Y. City, beginning February 18th.—Six nights’ purse game at 14:2, even up. M., 1800—8.78—92; H., 1761—76. Progressive Billiards. City Athletic Club, Toronto, Can., February 23d.—Game so called, ten members on each side, using five tables with four players apiece. Messrs. White and McDonald made highest and lowest individual scores—177 and 37. Three-handed Doubled Games. Daly’s, N. Y. City, March 18–23d.—Handicap purse tournament at 14:2. Morningstar (300)—1122—23.08—183; Gallagher (400)—1158—19.05—75; McLaughlin (400)—1414—20.—92. G. A.—M., 14.20; McL., 13.09; G., 12.12. Competition by Telegraph. March 26th.—14:2, St. Louis and Cleveland, Wayman C. McCreery playing in John Lacari’s room and Martin Mullen in Ed. M. Helm’s. Runs, etc., wired to and fro. Averages not announced. Totals and highest runs: M., 500—80; McC., 471—53. McCreery, who suggested this experimental contest, proposed to spot at every inning. As the St. Louisan later wrote The Weekly Billiardist: “Mullen thought that too easy, and amended by commencing in the ordinary way, viz., playing on the far ball, then playing with still ball for five innings, then respotting,” and so on. “The Mussey Handicap.” Mussey’s Room, Chicago, ending May 7th.—Amateur 14:2 tournament for gold watch and chain. Messrs. Adams, Kurtz, Gerhardt, and Miehle, severally in at 240, 200, 215, and 200, were trailers in that order. The other five, with their handicaps, best single averages and highest runs, were Ed. Rein (230)—6.76—52; Dr. Harley Parker (230)—5.90—65; W. W. Kellogg (275)—8.60—45; C. F. Conklin (300)—8.57—49; and H. A. Coleman, of Milwaukee (300)—6.25—36. The two postmen, Conklin and Coleman, won 5—3 each, while Rein and Parker, third heaviest weight-carriers, but first and second winners, won 7 to 1 and 6 to 2. Morningstar vs. Jose Ortiz, of Spain. Daly’s Room, N. Y. City, May, five nights’ purse game of 14:2. M., 1500—10.49—83; O., 1032—68. John Miller’s Plexus, or Bunch of Ties. New Orleans, 14:2 handicap, ending October 2d.—Of seven entries, Abrams (160), G. H. Miller (160), and Zaehringer (140), tied in high run (31), as also did Van Gelder and Peterson (120 each) on 21, while there were two ties for first prize, Abrams winning play-off, and three for fourth. Gallagher vs. Ortiz. Daly’s, N. Y.; October 7–11th.—14:2 purse game. G., 1500—11.54—82; O., 913 (with 250 odds)—58. Daly Handicap at 18:2. N. Y. City, October 21–26th, and Willie Hoppe’s first in tournament, which was for purse. Handicap, best winning and general averages, and highest run, individually: Hoppe (200), 10.—8.81—54; Morningstar (300), 12.—12.75—59; McLaughlin (300), 15.79—13.79—89; Gallagher (300), 11.11—9.50—75; Ortiz (225), 5.22 (gen. av.)—49. Hoppe and Ortiz reversed in games, 4—0 to 0—4, and the other three, tieing at 2—1, tied again, and then divided. Chicago Handicap at 14:2. Foley’s Room, October 18 to December 9th.—Amateur contestants—Harris and Kent, 200; Cochrane and Sorenson, 175; Miller, 160; Dethke, 145; Ballard, 135; Gunther and Shute, 130. Outcome—Harris, Ballard, Sorenson and Cochrane. High runs, with averages of both kinds: 49—5.26—4.00, by Harris. Miller’s 44 was second in runs. Second World’s Championship at 18:1. Madison Square Garden Concert Hall, N. Y. City, December 2–10th.—Tournament for jeweled badge and $2,000 in cash added by the B. B. C. Co. to $1,500 in entrance fees and net receipts. This was the public dÉbut of Leon Barutel, Orlando Morningstar, and Leonard Howison in first-class company. Tournament’s average, five 400–point games apiece, 6.61.
Championship of the Northwest at 14:2. Played for on a 4½×9 table in Duluth, Fargo, Minneapolis, and St. Paul, November. Emblematic cup presented by B. B. C. Co.
Schaefer vs. Barutel at 18:2. Frank A. Keeney’s Knickerbocker Academy, Brooklyn, N. Y., December 19–21st, three nights’ purse game. S., 1800—16.90—85; B., 946—58. Last Class B. Tournament of A. A. U. Knickerbocker Club, N. Y. City, winter of 1901–2.—Game, 14:2. Instead of by games, this tournament was to be decided by best general averages in case of tie for first place. A. G. Cutler, W. W. Kellogg, and J. A. Hendrick tied, and Cutler was winner on average. Other contestants were Frank Billiter, of Minneapolis, C. S. Schmitt, of Chicago, and W. A. Paige, of Boston, all new to this series of games. Second Tournament for “Brooklyn Eagle” Gold Cup. Brooklyn, N. Y., January 13–18th, under patronage of Hanover Club and under auspices of the N. A. A. B. P. Four games apiece, 300 points, 14:2. Average of tournament, 5.32. Uniformity of runs and general averages is remarkable for players of their speed.
Championship of France at 18:2. Grand Hotel, Paris, February, 500–point games.
Average of tournament, 18.22. The three ties were determined in the same hall in March, and placed Cure first, Fournil second, and Vignaux third.
Chas. S. Schmitt played in the opening game, was beaten by Sigourney (400 to 251, average 8.70), and then withdrew, Sigourney losing the credit both of his victory and of his highest average, instead of Schmitt’s forfeiting his other games. (See “Revival of Cushion Caroms,” 1903.) Mial alone beat Sigourney, and Sigourney was the only one who beat Norris (55 in 400). In playing off, Norris won by 25. February 19, as chief winner, Norris played Wilson P. Foss, who was 100 when Norris was 71, 153 when he was 211, 237 when he was 307, and winner when he was 464. F., 500—6.85—52; N., 464—70. The B. B. C. Co.’s Challenge Cup then became the property of Foss, he having won it in tournament in 1900, defended it in 1901 match with Conklin, and now in match against another Chicagoan. Adorjan vs. Morningstar. Daly’s, N. Y. City, May 26–30th.—300 a night, 18:2. A., 1500—17.08—105; M., 929—80. On the final night, the winner made double figures in ten innings out of his twelve—something whose like probably cannot be matched at any style of game, whether free three-ball or full four-ball. These were successive in the last eight—27, 17, 21, 35, 23, 76, 46, 26. Championship of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Doubled 300–point games of 14:2, 4½×9, closing May 28th.
11. The one winning average by Spears is lacking. Championship of Minnesota at 14:2. Opened at Ryan Hotel, St. Paul, June 16th.—300 points, 4½×9.
Julius Adorjan, of Hungary, vs. McLaughlin. Daly’s Room, N. Y. City, May 12–16th.—300 points at 18:2. A., 1500—18.29—118; McL., 1294—120. Average of the whole play, 17.15 in 2794 points. Pittsburg, Penn., Handicap at 14:2. Great Northern Billiard Parlors, ending May 15th.—Won by James English, who was “scratch” with Messrs. Marshall (second prize), Phillippi and Roberts. The two last mentioned tied with Beymer for third, without playing off. English made the best single average (4), as well as the best run (33), which, however, was equaled by one other. Messrs. Powers, Jack and Billings were the remaining contestants. Chicago 14:2 Handicap. Foley’s, May 12th to July 12th.—Miller (150) first with 7 up and 2 down, and Rein, Kent, Brown, and Hale, respectively at 250, 210, 210, and 140, were tied with 6—3 for from second to fifth. Rein was highest in averages and run, 7.58—5.33—45, and Kent next with 5.53—4.34—41. Amateur Class B Championship of Pacific. Waldorf CafÉ, San Francisco, July 12th to August 12th.—Games, 150 up, 14:2. Won by J. J. Roggan, who had beaten Frank Pecchart, the favorite, by 1 point in tournament proper, and beat him by 44 in playing off. With no higher run than 16 in the game by which he won third prize, Frank Whitney made best average, 5.17. Pecchart’s 36 was best run of all. The other players were Dr. O. B. Burns, Henry White, Frank Dubois, and Dr. W. E. Davis. Championship of the Northwest. St. Louis Hotel, Minn., October 1st.—Wm. F. Hatley vs. G. E. Spears, 14:2 on 4½×9. H., 300—13.04—44; S., 165—31. Waldorf CafÉ Handicap at 14:2. San Francisco, November.—Class B amateur tournament. Dr. O. B. Burns won his whole six Fast Play by Chicago Amateurs. December 29, 1902, to March 18th.—Thos. Foley’s annual winter handicap. Six ran past 40.
G. E. Spears vs. Wm. Ryle. Kansas City, January 12–14th, Minneapolis, January 19–21st.—At 14:2. S., 3000—7.—75; R., 2447—45. April, 1904: S., 1800—73; R., 1493. Third Tournament for “Brooklyn Eagle” Gold Cup. Brooklyn, N. Y., February 2–13th.—Under patronage of Hanover Club, 300 points nightly, 14:2. Game that directly caused a tie: W. P. Foss, 300—10.—67; E. W. Gardner, 280—31. Play-off, February 14th—F., 300—15.—73; G., 149—38. Tie of four not played off. Average of tournament, 7.87.
Gardner lost only to Foss, and Foss to none but Conklin, who then made his best average. Of the three—Townsend, Gardner, and Foss—having an equal lien upon this championship, the last declined to compete in the tournament of 1904, which see. Townsend vs. Conklin. Knickerbocker Academy, Brooklyn, N. Y., February 16–19th.—14:2 for a jewel trophy offered by Frank First World’s Championship of 18:2. Grand Hotel, Paris, France, February 15–20th.—Tournament for emblem and $1,000 in cash, both given by the B. B. C. Co., and added to entrance fees and net receipts. Average of tournament, 17.47. Games, 500 points up.
Weeks before play began, the four entered into a parole agreement to play off ties, as well as to divide the net receipts equally. Months before that, the first three had signed a document requiring all ties to be determined by the general averages, and specifying as prizes only the emblem, the given money, and the entrance fees. At the conclusion of the final game (Vignaux vs. Cure), it was announced that ties would be played off in the same hall, beginning February 25th. Vignaux declined to play off, claiming to have won on general average, and carrying the case into court. Litigation lasted nine months, the claimant being awarded the championship in his first suit, but denied the equal share in the receipts forming the basis of his second. All matches are for the jeweled emblem and $500 a side, 500 points up. The first was also the last of this series. Vignaux vs. Sutton. Grand Hotel, Paris, January 29, 1904. V., 500—19.23—148; S., 496—128. Another Tie in General Averages. Yearly championship of the N. Y. A. C. at 14:2, closing February 26th.—Dr. Walter G. Douglas had for years been the club’s champion at both caroms and pool (beaten at the latter this year), and the tournament of 1903 is given only because of the rarity of an exact tie in general averages, which might not have occurred, however, had not Percy Gardner forfeited to J. V. B. Rapp.
Philadelphia Amateur Championship at 14:2. Hall of Philadelphia A. C., closing March 27th.—Won by T. Mortimer Rolls, Belmont Cricket Club, who had also won in 1902, when this championship Armless Sutton vs. Gallagher. Given 300 in 1500 at Clarence Greens, March 16–20th, and 600 in 3000 at Maurice Daly’s, March 23–27th, and losing by 653 in N. Y. City, but by only 89 in Brooklyn, George H. Sutton made first formal appearance in the East. Amateur Championship of Twin Cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul. West Hotel, March.—14:2 on 4½×9. Parker won by 6—0, with highest single average, 5.72. Thayer was second. Huyck made highest run, 51. Amateur Championship of France and Belgium. National Academy of Amateurs (El Dorado), Paris, France, March and April, games 400 points, 18:2. Eight entries, MM. RÉrolle, Rasquinet, R. Maure, Lejeune, Fouquet, Naves, NÉlys, and Comte de DrÉe. First and second winners were RÉrolle of Toulouse, and Rasquinet, then an army officer in Brussels. One scored 2800, not losing a game, and the other, beaten only by RÉrolle (400 to 391), 2791. Against Rasquinet, opponents scored 2319; against RÉrolle, but 1485. The highest runs, allowing only one for each player per game, were 109, 103, 87, 73, 73, 61, and 55 for RÉrolle, and 91, 67, 63, 42, 41, 30, and 27 for Rasquinet. In single winning averages, Rasquinet reached double figures but twice, viz., 10, and 10.50, while RÉrolle reached them in every game, viz., 11.70, 14.60, 14.80, 14.80, 15.30, 17.30, and 33.33 (Lejeune in this game scored but 64 altogether). The general averages, as forwarded from Paris, were 17.40 and 10.10 for RÉrolle and Rasquinet; but their single averages, as forwarded, together with their total points per game, show their general averages to have been 15.91 and 9.83. Pittsburg, Penn., Handicap. Great Northern Room, April and May.—At 4.2, and probably on a 4½×9. Bennie (185) tied Poland (170), 5—1 in games each, for first prize ($100), and won play-off. Phillippi (185) beat English (200) for third and fourth after tieing at 4—2. English, who won the series in 1892, this year made best winning average (5.56), first against Poland and next against Jack. Powers and Miller were the other two players. Chas. Ferris vs. Al Taylor. West Hotel, Minneapolis, October.—Three nights of 14:2 on a 4½×9, purse game. F., 1200—19.67—112; T., 1008—105. High Amateur Averages. Maurice Daly’s, N. Y. City, ending October 26th.—Ferdinand Poggenburg and Dr. L. L. Mial going 300 to Wm. Gershel’s 250, doubled games of 14:2.
Championship of the Northwest. Fargo, N. D., Duluth and Minneapolis, Minn., ending November 13th.—For cash prizes and a challenge emblem presented by the B. B. C. Co. Doubled games of 14:2, 300 points, on a 4½×9 table. Average of tournament, 10.03.
J. W. Carney vs. George Kenniston. Hoffman Billiard Parlors, Los Angeles, Cal., November 18–20th.—Purse game, 14:2. C., 1000—7.60—50; K., 953—45. McLaughlin vs. Gillette. Daly’s Room, N. Y. City, December 1–3d.—Purse game, 18:2. McL., 1000—13.16—100; G., 485—38. Brooklyn Amateur Tournament at 14:2. Keeney’s Knickerbocker Academy, ending December 14th.—200–point games. Won by C. B. Barker, who made high run and average—41 and 8.70. In playing off ties for second and third prizes, C. E. White beat Dr. H. D. Jennings. Other contestants were Frank Boyd and L. A. Servatius. Amateur Tournament at 14:2. Metropolitan Academy, N. Y. City, games of 200 points, ending December 15th.—Won by L. A. Eames vs. Cutler. Hub Billiard Parlors, Boston, November 3–5th.—400 points nightly, 18:2, $250 a side. E., 1200—15.19—124; C., 1021—84. The remote cause of this contest was that Cutler, having withdrawn from the amateur ranks, had the year before, in Boston, while Eames was in Denver, Col., played and won from Thomas, formerly of Montreal, a balkline match of multiple nights announced as for the championship of New England. First American Amateur Tournament at 18:2. Daly’s, N.Y. City, beginning January 4th. Handicap.
First Match for 18:2 Championship of the World. See Vignaux vs. Sutton, January 29, 1904, under February, 1903. Pittsburg, Pa., Handicap at 14:2. Great Northern Billiard Hall, January 11–26th.—4½×9 table. First to fourth, Messrs. Bennie, Jack, Powers, and Brown. Bennie, the only “scratchman,” made highest run and best average—36 and 6.90. Chicago Handicap at 14:2. A. M. Clarke’s Room, ending January 28th.—J. M. Miller (175), first in field of ten, winning every game. C. F. Conklin (300), beaten only by Miller (175 to 213), made highest run (112) and best average (12). John Daly, who also was at 300, won only a game or two. Fourth Annual Gold Cup Championship. Under patronage of the German Liederkranz Society and the N. A. A. B. P. Held in the minor hall of the German Liederkranz Society, N. Y. City, February 1–13th.—Game, 300 points, 14:2, Arthur Marcotte, of Quebec, representing Canada; C. F. Conklin, Chicago; J. De Munn
Tie game, February 13th: Poggenburg, 300—9.68—41; Mial, 185—31. By agreement, high run in this game also determined the tie as to high run of tournament. Four players now have equal claims upon the Gold Cup, viz., Messrs. Townsend, Gardner, Foss, and Poggenburg, severally as winners of the tournaments of 1901, 1902, 1903, and 1904. Championship of “The Young Masters.” Salle Scribe, Grand Hotel, Paris, France, beginning January 31st. Tournament at 18:2 (in reality, 45 centimetres, or 17¾ in.), 400–point games. There were ten in at the outset, but Jose Ortiz, of Spain, and Mons. Payan, of France, appear not to have played, while Juan Alvarez, of Spain, and Al Taylor and Joseph Capron, of Chicago, seem to have withdrawn after playing two unsuccessful games apiece. This table, forwarded from Paris, limits itself to the four games played by every one of the five named therein after the others had withdrawn.
We make the average of the final four games apiece, or ten in all, to be 11.82. As matter of exact record, Hoppe’s best winning average is 20, made in defeating Taylor by 400 to 164; Morningstar’s 21.05, in defeating Capron by 400 to 85; and Glorieux’s 12.90, in defeating Taylor by 400 to 310. The general averages of those known here to have played six games apiece are: Morningstar, 14.14; Hoppe, 13.66; and Sanchez, 12.36. Omission of the first two games played by every one of those three affects the single and general averages Boston Class A Amateur Tournament at 14:2. “The Hub” Academy, closing about February 26th.—Won by W. A. Paige, who defeated Charles Eaton in final game by 300 to 260. Table probably 4½×9. Championship of the World at 18:1. Paris, France, March 4th.—First match contest for championship instituted in 1901 and $500 a side. Maurice Vignaux, 500—12.82—89; Geo. Sutton (as champion), 387—79. (For later matches, see Jan., March, and Oct., 1906.) Brooklyn Amateur Handicap at 14:2. Keeney’s Knickerbocker Academy, February and March.—H. Hoxie, H. White, and F. Lowenthal, tied, won play-offs in that order March 7th, 8th, 9th. Fifth Avenue Hotel Amateur Handicap at 14:2. N. Y. City, ending March 12th.—C. E. White (300), 5—0; E. O. Presby (250), second. In playing off for third prize, Dr. W. G. Douglas (300) defeated L. A. Servatius (250) and J. M. Millette (225). F. M. Canda (300), who beat Douglas only, made highest run of tournament (46), and White the highest single (6.67) and general average (5.51). Interclub Tournament at 14:2. Arts Club, Philadelphia, February and March.—Won by T. Mortimer Rolls, of Belmont Cricket Club, who made highest runs and single averages (94 and 10.87, both against T. R. Reaney, and 51 and 6.95, both against Dr. C. A. Borda). Other competitors were Harrison Townsend, Julius J. Hovey, J. E. Cape Morton, and Dr. Holden. Foley’s Chicago Amateur Handicap at 14:2. Ended March 23d.—J. M. Miller (155) first, Ed. C. Rein (250) second, and Messrs. Hale and Cochrane (both 180) tied for third and fourth. Rein made highest run (76) and best single average (11.36, against Hale, in final game). Amateur International Souvenir Match at 18:2. Theatre of the Automobile Club of France, Paris, March 29th, 30th, 31st, for an Championship of Billiard Club at 14:2. N. Y. City, ending March 29th in tie among Dr. A. B. Miller, Florian Tobias, and Dr. W. G. Douglas. Of the eight contestants, Wm. Gershel made the highest run (65), Douglas the next highest (51), and Tobias the third highest (50). The highest average (8.06) was made by both Douglas and Miller. Miller, in winning both plays-off, ran 52 and averaged 11.36 against Douglas, this final contest of theirs occurring April 18th. All games were of 250 points. The 11.36 is Miller’s best performance in a set competition to date. Championship of Minneapolis. Hotel Vendome, March and April, game 14:2 on a 4½×9 table, with seven contestants.—Winner was Hogue, who lost no game. Logan, who was second, was beaten only by Hogue, and made best run, single average, and general average, viz., 43, 7.14, and 5.28. Interborough Amateur Tournament at 14:2. Maurice Daly’s Room, N. Y., March 28th to April 14th, including ties. All games were 300 up. Average of tournament, 5.50.
The playing-off resulted in another tie, Douglas being beaten by Lewenberg, Canda by Douglas, and Lewenberg by Canda. In beating Canda for the second time, Douglas averaged 9.68, thus surpassing his best previous one—8.06 (vide “Championship of Billiard Club at 14:2,” above). In the second play-off, Douglas beat both Lewenberg and Canda, and the latter lost to Lewenberg. Mussey’s Handicap at 14:2. Chicago, Ill., March and April, with C. F. Conklin and R. J. Maginniss at “scratch” (300). Of the other eight, H. A. Coleman represented Milwaukee, and C. S. Schmitt, once of Chicago, had latterly moved from Boston, Mass., to Racine, Wis. Messrs. Reinman, Huntley, Adams, Harley Parker, and George Kent were of the eight representatives of Chicago. French Amateur Championship of the World at 14:2. Billiard Palace, Boulevard des Capucines, Paris, March 7–21st, under the auspices of the Federation des SociÉtÉs FranÇaises d’Amateurs de Billard. Unlike that at 18:2, won by RÉrolle a year before, this championship is typified in a Challenge Cup, the gift of the B. B. C. Co. There were twenty-one entries, but a weeding-out process left but six for the final rounds, whose fifteen games resulted in these winnings:
Maure forfeited a half-finished game to De DrÉe. The best runs of the whole tournament were 111 by RÉrolle (in the last game of all, which was with DarantiÈre, second winner) and 108 by Maure. The third-best run seems to have been DarantiÈre’s 89. The best winning average was RÉrolle’s 20 against Blanc. As to general averages, there are no complete figures at hand as to any one of the players; but RÉrolle’s was probably not far below 15. The games were 400 up. A special round of 250–point ones for a consolation prize terminated as follows: NÉlys, 3—0; Castel, 2—1; Faroux, 1—2; Lamare, 0—3. In the deciding game of this round, NÉlys vs. Faroux, the former averaged 8.62, with 31 for high run to 27 for the loser (Faroux). San Francisco Handicap at 14:2. At J. F. Morley’s Room, May 2–19th.—H. A. Wright, winner-in-chief, averaged 16.67 in one game and 14.85 in all (1500 points), and ran 101, 95, 84, 76, and 67 for high in his five games. Wilson H. Sigourney, beaten by Wright and Frank Dubois, had 18.75 for high average, 12.62 in 1426 points for general, and 111, 95, 83, 79, and 79 for high runs per game. The two general averages are high for amateurs in this country. Dubois, Frank Coffin, Dr. O. B. Burns, and J. F. Morley played 150 to the 300 of Wright and Sigourney. Al Taylor vs. John Matthews. Chicago, September 14th.—Match at 18:2 for $50 a side. T., 400—11.11—61; M., 259—39. Ten Games Straight. Summer handicap at 14:2, Foley’s Room, Chicago, July 7th to October 3d.—Roney (115) won all his games. Myers (150, scratch) tied Bevington (140) for second and third, and Bevington forfeited. Eleven contestants. Amateur Handicap at 14:2. Maurice Daly’s, New York City, October 3–10th.—Winners of the first eight games made an aggregate average of 8.25, which is high for the start of an amateur tournament having as many as six competitors. After defeating J. Ferd. Poggenburg (scratch, 300) by 240 to 292, and Wm. Gershel by 240 to 188, averaging 8 in the first game and 8.28 in the second, Albert Brock had to withdraw, and those games and his unplayed three were canceled. This was Paul Van Dieman’s first tournament, H. A. Coleman’s first in the East, and Albert Lewenberg’s first tournamental victory at balkline.
12. Two games only. Boston Class B Amateur Championship at 14:2. “Hub” Billiard Parlors, October.—Amidon won all five of his games, and also made high winning average (4.26) and second highest run (26). Smalley’s 39 was highest. Chas. Threshie vs. Wm. A. Paige. Class A challenge match at 14:2, Boston, Mass., about November 15th.—T., 400—11.11—48; P., 203—36. Championship of Northwest and Southwest at 18:2. A tournament so announced was held in St. Louis toward the close of November, and was won by Al Taylor, of Chicago. The other contestants were Chas. Peterson, Frank Maggioli, and Lewis Shaw. They played afternoon and night, 300 points up, and every game (600 points in Handicap 14:2 at Louis Bensinger’s, Chicago. October 31st to December 8th.—Chas. F. Conklin (scratch, 300) won every game of his but the last, which was with Ed. Rein (265), who finished second. Tieing Bliss for third and fourth, A. J. Brown won play-off. Bliss had been the leader until Conklin, making high average (14.29), defeated him by 300 to 46. Maurice Daly’s Class B 14:2 Tourney. N. Y. City, December 5–14th.—Won by Albert Lewenberg, with H. A. Coleman second and F. M. Canda third. The chief winning averages were 9.26 by Lewenberg, 8.03 by J. B. Whitehead, and 7.58 by Canda. This was the first tournament of Whitehead and James Vantine, and Canda’s last up to the present time. A sixth competitor was Louis A. Servatius. Championship of Illinois at 18:2. Louis Bensinger’s Room, Chicago, December 12–17th.—Three-handed tournament among Clem E. Ellison, John Matthews, and George Wheeler. Ellison, the winner, made the best run (124 in the first half of his game with Matthews), and the latter the best full-game average (13.33) in his contest with Wheeler. They played in double sessions of 300 points each, and in his first session with Wheeler Matthews showed the remarkable speed of 33.33 per inning for the 300 points. Foley’s Chicago Handicap at 14:2. October 17th to December 24th.—Ballard (175) lost only one game to the two each of Jenkins (140) and Ed. Rein (scratch, 300). In the play-off for second prize, Jenkins beat Rein. Of the other seven, J. M. Miller (200) failed to win a game. Rein made the best run and average (84 and 9.38), Ballard the second-best run (37), and De Witt Cochrane the second-best average (8.70). Amateur Match, Ed. W. Gardner vs. Dr. L. L. Mial. German Liederkranz Society’s Rooms, December 29th.—Game 14:2. G., 300—14.29—137; M., 100—46. Northwestern Amateur Championship. West Hotel, Minneapolis, Minn., November and December, Messrs. Logan, Huyck, and Campbell tieing, playing off, and winning the first three prizes in that order. Thayer made the best run (50), and Thayer, Logan, and Fremont Maurice Daly’s Class B Amateur Championship. Begun January 23d, N. Y. City, and won by H. A. Coleman.—In playing off tie for second and third, February 3d, Wm. Gershel averaged 11.11, defeating Albert Lewenberg by 300 to 119. Other contestants were Chas. E. White, Louis A. Servatius, and James Vantine. Games were 14:2, 300 up. Fifth Annual Gold Cup Championship Tourney. Held in Chicago January 30th to February 11th, under the auspices and at the clubhouse of the Chicago Athletic Association. Known as the “Diamond Tournament.” Games, 300 points, 14:2. The day before play began, H. A. Wright, of San Francisco, was summoned home, his father having been mortally stricken by paralysis; after playing one game, defeating Edward Rein, of Chicago, J. Ferdinand Poggenburg was called to New York by the death of his mother; and Rein, having won from Ed. W. Gardner and lost to Chas. S. Schmitt and Wilson H. Sigourney, was forced by illness to forfeit to Chas. F. Conklin, Chas. S. Norris, Byron Stark, and Charles Threshie. The C. A. A. threw out the games of Poggenburg and Rein, but the subjoined table retains them, inclusive of the 51 to 1 score by Conklin and Rein as a factor in their general averages, as well as Poggenburg’s run of 79, which was actually the highest of the tournament, although Conklin’s 78 was awarded the special prize in consequence of the canceling of games.
Stark has no winning average because the two games credited to him were won by forfeiture only, and Poggenburg lacks a general average because of having played but one game. Averaging 8.33, Norris won the play-off for fourth and fifth prizes by 300 to 256. The championship tie was won by 300 to 231, Conklin averaging 6.52; and Conklin averaged 9.09 in winning from Gardner, by 300 to 263, the special prize for high single average. Mussey’s 14:2 Handicap, Chicago. Held in February, and won by Dr. Harley C. Parker, who was at “scratch” with C. F. Conklin, A Shortstop Championship. McLaughlin’s Room, N. Y. City, February 27th to March 10th.—Tournament for the 14:2 shortstop championship of Greater New York and vicinity. Frank Hoppe won his whole four games, Louis M. Crane and Walter Aborn tied for second and third prizes (Crane won play-off by 250 to 227), and Wm. Cox and Fred. Harer tied for last two places, Cox winning by 250 to 160. Crane made highest run and best single average, 45 and 6.94, and Hoppe the best general average, 4.85. This was meant to be a challenge championship for an emblem given by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co., but there have been no matches. Philadelphia Clubmen’s 14:2 Handicap. Tournament under auspices of the Schuylkill Navy’s Athletic Club, February 20th to March 20th.—Every man played in nine games. Dr. Uffenheimer, of the Pennsylvania University Club, won his every game but one, and that the opening one, in which Hovey defeated him by 20.
Alcorn, who made the highest run in the tourney proper, was defeated in the play-offs by both Rolls and Morton. In defeating Alcorn, Morton surpassed his tournamental average by making 5.98, and Rolls made 7.22, surpassed only by his 9.56 in beating Moon by 325 to 82. Also defeating Rolls in the play-off (275 to 292, with 5.73 for winning average), Morton secured second prize. French Championship of the World at 14:2. Classes A and B were both determined in March. The Class B tourney, held first, was won by Roudil, of Montpellier, who lost but one of his six games, and tied NÉlys, of Fontainebleau, as to highest run (51), but was second in winning average (6.81) to Rose, of Paris (7.89), who lost four games. Roudil’s general average was 4.79, which was second to Lucien RÉrolle won Class A, although he lost one game to Letellier by 400 to 259, the winning average being 16.
In the play-offs, DarantiÈre scored 400 to 213 and averaged 14.29 against Letellier, and 400 to 218, with an average of 16.67, against De DrÉe; and Letellier, in defeating De DrÉe, averaged 11.11, making the ninth winning average above 10 in thirteen games. The play-off high runs were: DarantiÈre, 82; Letellier, 72; De DrÉe, 60. The average of the tournament may be roundly expressed as 10.35, exclusive of the three tie-games. Bensinger 14:2 Handicap, Chicago. Ed. Rein won by defeating C. F. Conklin in the final game, about March 15th, leaving Conklin tied for minor prizes with Thos. J. Nolan and Dr. Harley Parker. Conklin and Nolan defeated Parker in the play-offs. Amateur 14:2 Handicap in Brooklyn, N. Y. Frank A. Keeney’s Room, February, March, and April.—Won by J. M. Millette (225), who lost but one game out of seven. Chas. E. White (scratch, 260) and Wm. A. Leonard (200) tied on 5—2, and no one else did better than 3—4, which was the tally of Louis A. Servatius (230), Frank A. Boyd (225), and John A. Keane (220). The other two were Geo. C. Seeley (200) and Henry Hoxie (190). The best winning averages were White’s 7.03 and Leonard’s 4.76, the best general averages White’s 5.72 and Millette’s 3.89, and the best runs Leonard’s 43 and Servatius and White’s 41 each. Jacob Schaefer vs. W. F. Hoppe. Three nights of 18:2, John Miller’s Room, New Orleans, April 18th, 19th, 20th.—S., 1500—16.85—117; H., 1467—118. French “Championship of the World” at 18:2. Paris held a tournament in April and May.—The winner was Van Duppen, of Antwerp. Totals were made public, but not averages and runs.
Foley’s Summer Class B Handicap, 14:2. Chicago, Ill., May 15th to October 13th.—Twelve entries, J. M. Miller (scratch, 200) tieing Roney (145) and C. L. Jackson (200) for first, second, and third. Harris (200) made the highest run, 41, and Jackson, new to tournaments, the best winning average, 6.90. Playing off the ties put Jackson, Miller, and Roney from first to third. Summer 14:2 Tourney at Daly’s. N. Y. City, June 12–21st.—Won by Eddie Foy, beaten only by W. Wefers, who made the highest run (31), which was duplicated by M. Conly, whose winning average (4.65) was second only to R. Dittman’s 6.45, and whose general average, 3.42, was highest of all. Games were 200 up, L. Wormser winning none, and S. B. De Young, Dittman, and Wefers tied on 3—2 for second, third, and fourth prizes, play-offs resulting as those players are named. Al Taylor’s Stunt at 18:2. Wagered that he could not average 15 in six sessions at Foley’s Room, Chicago, week ending June 24th, Taylor to choose his opponent and selecting George Wheeler, he failed by 20 per cent. T., 2500—12.14—104; W., 1683—74. Three-handed 18:2. Louis Bensinger’s Room, Chicago, week ending September 2d.—Games played in double sessions. Clem E. Ellison won, defeating both George Wheeler and Frank Maggioli, who came out even. Wheeler made highest run (120) and average (21.40), but it was against Maggioli. Against the safer Ellison, who won by 600 to 523, he could not reach 9.50. Maggioli lost to Ellison by 449 to 600. Amateur Championship at 14:2. Challenge match, 4½×9 table, West Hotel, Minneapolis, about September 7th.—Ed. Huyck (champion), 200—5.26—30; W. F. Thayer, 142—26. Maurice Daly’s Class A Handicap at 18:2. N. Y. City, October 2–7th.—H. A. Coleman (240) was first; J. Ferd. Poggenburg (300), Class B 14:2 in San Francisco. “The Savoy,” September and October.—Won by George Kennedy. High average, 10, was made by Wm. Maguire. Within a few days, these two played 1,000 up at Jas. F. Morley’s Rooms, Kennedy winning by 31 and averaging 6.90. Handicap 14:2 in Portland, Ore. J. G. Reddick’s Room, September and October.—W. F. Lowry, A. Clark, W. R. Cody, and J. Mayer played 250 to C. B. Hansen’s 160. When last heard from here, Lowry or Clark should have been winner-in-chief. DÉbut of Calvin Demarest in Tournament. W. P. Mussey’s Room, Chicago, October 2d to November 9th.—Handicap at 14:2, Demarest and C. F. Conklin being the “scratchmen” at 300. Four of the competitors—Conklin, Collins, Huntley, and A. J. Brown—were at the same time playing in the tournament at Bensinger’s, recorded below. Walker was another competitor. Demarest won Mussey’s, winning every game and making the highest run, single average, and general average, viz., 79, 13.04, and 9.95. Handicap 14:2 at Bensinger’s, Chicago. October 2d to December 13th.—C. F. Conklin and Ed. Rein at “scratch” (300), and other contestants being Messrs. Huntley, May, Barrett, Collins, Dr. Harley Parker, T. J. Nolan, and A. J. Brown. Opening with Collins, Rein made his best average, 11.11; in early defeating May, Conklin ran 92, the best of the tourney; and in the final game, in which he defeated Rein by 300 to 109, he made the best average, 17.67. This tied Conklin, Parker, and Huntley (and the play-off placed them in that succession), put Rein fourth, and tied Brown and Nolan for fifth and sixth, and May and Barrett for eighth and ninth. Final Contest for the Gold Cup. By agreement of those chiefly concerned, it was decided to end this series of annual amateur competitions,
The Gold Cup thereupon became the personal property of Poggenburg, who lost no game, while Gardner and Conklin lost one to each other. Phenomenally Close and Uniform Play. Maurice Daly’s, N. Y. City, December 11–22d.—Six games apiece, 300 up, 14:2.
Every general average was in the 5 block but Van Vleck’s 4.99. Six of the high winning averages were only 20 per cent. apart in their extremes, 5.66 and 7.14. Gershel’s 82 apart, the extremes of the high runs, too, were at only 20 per cent. variance. Nearly one-fifth of the twenty-one games (ties were not played off) were won by fewer than 10 points, and about one-half by fewer than 30. Professional Tournaments at 18:2. Beginning at Frank A. Keeney’s Room, Brooklyn, December 11–16th, going thence to Maurice Daly’s, Manhattan, January 1–6, 1906, and from there to Splaine & Cutler’s, Boston, January 15–20th, Thomas J. Gallagher, Edward McLaughlin, and Albert G. Cutler took part in doubled games, or 400 points separately, twice around. McLaughlin won in Brooklyn, and Cutler in Manhattan and Boston. The striking features of the whole play were Cutler’s run of 193 and average of 40 in Boston, where Charles F. Campbell was added; and it was in his second game with Campbell that Cutler made both run and average. 1906.Foley’s 14:2 Handicap, Chicago. Begun October 19th, and finished January 5, 1906.—Jackson (200) and Van Haften (170) tied for first and second, and Jenkins and Roney, 140 each, for third and fourth. Jackson and Jenkins won. High run (33) was made by Cochrane (200), and he and Jackson tied on high single average, which was 7.15. J. M. Miller, another “scratchman,” lost his whole eight games. McLaughlin, Gallagher, and Cutler. See “Professional Tournaments at 18:2,” last paragraph of 1905 but one. Crescent A. C. Championship, Brooklyn, N. Y. Doubled games of 14:2. The tourney narrowed down to Dr. H. D. Jennings vs. Geo. A. Fish. The latter had won their first game, but on January 16th lost the second by 250 to 155. Next night they played off, and the Doctor, running 44 and averaging 5.56, acquired the year’s championship by 250 to 151. Class C 14:2 at Daly’s. N. Y. City, January 22–31st.—Conway won without a losing, and Eddie Foy tied Wormser for second and third prizes. Dittman’s 37 won the high prize, and that for high average, 5.58, was played off by him and Conway on February 6th, the latter winning. Philadelphia Clubmen’s Handicap at 14:2. Begun February 19th in the hall of the Philadelphia Athletic Club, the “scratchmen” (300) being T. Mortimer S. Rolls, of the Arts and the Belmont Cricket Club, and J. E. Cope Morton, of the Germantown Cricket Club. Dr. Wm. E. Uffenheimer (275) represented the University of Pennsylvania, and James S. Alcorn (260) and Joseph Mayer (260) the Lawyers’ and the Mutual Club. The other participants were J. Julius Hovey (260), and Charles A. Shedaker, Charles Stiltz, and Warren A. Hawley, all three at 240. The Phila. A. C. gave three prizes: hall clock for first, silver candelabra for second, and a modern double reading lamp for third. Afternoon and night, about 5000 persons witnessed the games by invitation.
Professional 18:2 in Four Cities. Beginning on February 5th at “The Casino,” Philadelphia, Harry Cline, Al Taylor, Ed. McLaughlin, T. J. Gallagher, and Albert G. Cutler played a round a week in that city, Trenton, N. J., Maurice Daly’s in Manhattan, and Frank A. Keeney’s in Brooklyn, the chief prize being a loving cup presented by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co. Taken ill, McLaughlin had to withdraw in Philadelphia. He played one game in Trenton, the second stand, but had then to withdraw for good. This series of games involved no championship. Cline won the cup, and also made the highest averages, as a rule, but Gallagher made the highest run (138). The best average was Cline’s 22.22, all games being 400 up. At Daly’s, Cline, Cutler, and Gallagher tied, but did not play off. At Keeney’s, Gallagher and Cline tied, and did play off, Cline winning. New National Amateur Championship at 14:2. This, succeeding that of the “Brooklyn Eagle” Gold Cup of 1901–5, was established by the Chicago Athletic Association, the medium being a tournament held at their gymnasium, Michigan Avenue, March 12th to 21st. Inclusive of an ornate silver cup, serving the winner-in-chief as a perpetual memento of the initial tourney, all the prizes but one were given by the C. A. A., the exception being another silver cup, proffered by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co., symbolizing the American amateur championship, and needing to be won by someone in two annual tournaments to confer permanent possession. Games consisted of 300 points, and were fifteen in number, exclusive of the three ties, which determined second, third, and fourth prizes in favor of Demarest, Poggenburg, and Wright, the game between the latter two at the same time deciding their tie for high-average prize in favor of Poggenburg.
In his play-off with Wright, Demarest averaged 17.65. Alike in direct execution and in generalship when preferable at times, the playing was of a high order, as suggested by the average of the fifteen regular games, which was 8.70; and there was scarcely a particular in which the tournament was not a gratifying success. French Amateur Championship of the World at 14:2. Paris, France, February and March.—Class B:
In the preliminary, Labouret had 9.37 for high winning average and 6.87 for general, while Duluard had 6.97 and 6.25. In Class A, the 133 and 100 were run in the opening game, wherein Sutra, though twice running 100, lost by 400 to 397 to RÉrolle, who averaged 16.67. On the other hand, when RÉrolle made his best average, which was against Hecking, his best run was only 72. The average of the tournament was 10.60.
Championship of the World at 18:1. Grand Central Palace, New York City, March 27th.—Third match contest of the second series for the world’s championship at 18:1 and $500 a side. Wm. F. Hoppe, champion, 500—10.64—56; Geo. F. Slosson, 391—61. In its financial aspect, the attendance surpassed that of any other one-night billiard match ever played. Fourth match contest, Madison Square Garden Concert Hall, New York City, October 17th: W. F. Hoppe (champion), 500—10.64—96; Jacob Schaefer, 472—42. Handicap 14:2 at Frank A. Keeney’s, Brooklyn. Interrupted by illnesses and also postponed nine days by a professional tournament, this lasted from January 29th to March 16th, when there were ties yet to play. C. E. White, scratchman at 275, of course made the highest average (6.40), but near the finish lost three games straight to Keane, Smith, and Boyd. Leaders in high runs were Leonard, White, Boyd, and Robinson, with 35, 33, 30, and 30. Servatius was another contestant.
The play-offs were won by Cure from Cutler, and Sutton from Schaefer. Madison Square Garden Concert Hall, New York City, October 18th.—First match ($500 a side): George Sutton (challenger), 500—31.25—202; George F. Slosson (champion), 375—75. Grand Central Palace, New York City, December 18th.—Second match ($500 a side): George Sutton (champion), 500—107—26.32; Wm. F. Hoppe (challenger), 258—78. Continued under years 1906, 1907, 1908. Professional Tournament in Chicago. Thomas Orchestra Hall, May 7–12th.—Games 18:2, 500 points up, for a purse of $2000 guaranteed by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co., and divided pro rata. Ties were not played off.
Average of tournament, 21.97. This is high, but it was by five chosen players out of seven, which five had aggregately averaged 20.11 in the championship tournament in New York City. Class B 18:2 at Maurice Daly’s. New York City, closing as follows on May 23d:
Muldaur won play-off for first prize. Calvin Demarest vs. A. J. Brown. W. P. Mussey’s Room, Chicago, week ending October 13th.—Undertaking to play 2000 points of 14:2 to Brown’s 1000, Demarest failed to reach 400 on any of the five nights, and scored but 1550 in all. Brown on the final night made his 200 at a 9.52 gait. Minor Championship of America at 18:2. Concert Hall of New York Theatre, November 19th to December 1st.—Tournament for gold-lined silver challenge emblem, presented by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co., and 50, 25, 15, 5, and 5 per cent. of $950, of which $775 were subscribed by that company ($500) and the following named roomkeepers: Timothy Flynn and Maurice Daly ($100 each), Frank A. Keeney ($50), and Keyser & Garraty ($25). In the tournament, Boston was represented by Albert G. Cutler, Philadelphia by Henry P. Cline, Chicago by Al Taylor, St. Louis by Charles Peterson, and New York City by T. J. Gallagher, Edward McLaughlin, and Frank Hoppe. Games, 400 points.
Cutler was defeated by Gallagher only (400 to 200), and Cline by none but Cutler (400 to 288). Their tie was played off at Maurice Chicago 14:2 Handicap. W. P. Mussey’s Room, November.—With 13.64 as best average and 10.50 as general average, Calvin Demarest won his whole seven games, and A. J. Brown, with five victories, won second prize. Amateur 18:2 Tournament. Maurice Daly’s Room, New York City, December 10–15th.—Games, 250 points.
Mixed Amateur and Professional Handicap. L. Bensinger’s Room, Chicago, December.—Defeating A. J. Brown by 230 to 58 on an average of 17.69 and a high run of 85, C. F. Conklin closed his series without having lost a game. George Wheeler, professional, was second, and Edward Rein, amateur, with two games won and three lost, tied Frank Maggioli, professional, for third and fourth prizes. The play was 18:2. Maxine Thomas’s Formal New York Debut. Maurice Daly’s Room, December 31, 1906, and January 1–2, 1907. Style, 18:2. Averaging 16.46, and having 102 for high run, T. J. Gallagher won by 1200 to 889. Calvin Demarest vs. Ora Morningstar. W. P. Mussey’s Room, Chicago, January 14th to 19th.—Exhibition six nights’ game at 18:2, Morningstar to make 500 points nightly to Demarest’s 300, but failing on the whole by 792. Demarest averaged 16.36 in his 1800, with 152 for high run to Morningstar’s 143. Same hall, November 5th.—Fourth match. George Sutton (champion), 500—232—33.33; Jacob Schaefer (challenger), 241—93. Lenox Lyceum, New York City, January 27, 1908.—Fifth match. George Sutton (champion), 500—93—7.46; Orlando C. Morningstar (challenger), 309—26—4.68. Madison Square Garden Concert Hall, New York City, March 27, 1908.—Sixth match. George Sutton (champion), 272—83; Wm. F. Hoppe (challenger), 500—99—20.83. The week following, Hoppe returned the emblem to its donors. There being no challenge pending, this closed the second 18:2 series. Interclub Handicap Championship. Philadelphia, February, 1907.—Game 14:2. T. Mortimer S. Rolls (scratch, 300) was first, with 11.54 for best winning average; J. E. C. Morton second, with 7.24; and Joseph Mayer third, with 5.48. The other contestants were James S. Alcorn, J. Julius Hovey, Dr. W. E. Uffenheimer, and Warren A. Hawley. High runs were lighter than usual in this series, but the general play was better. 18:2 vs. 14:2. L. Bensinger’s Room, Chicago, six nights, closing February 23d.—C. F. Conklin, 1800 at 14:2, with 11.76 for average; George Wheeler, 1419 at 18:2. National Amateur Championship at 14:2.—See year 1908. Minneapolis Amateur 14:2 Championship. February.—Defeating J. C. Fremont in the final game, Edward Huyck retained the Brunswick-Balke-Collender medal. Dr. Parker tied Wilmot for second and third prizes. World’s Championship at 18:1. (Series continued from 1905–6.)—On January 2, 1907, electing to go abroad, Wm. F. Hoppe forfeited the championship and $250 to George Sutton, who was soon challenged by Jacob Schaefer. Orchestra Hall, Chicago, March 11th.—Contest for 18:1 championship and regulation stake, $500 a side. George Sutton (champion), 448—51; Jacob Schaefer, 500—100—13.88. Same hall and terms, December 2d.—Jacob Schaefer (champion), 500—88—11.63; George Sutton (challenger), 486—37. Orchestra Hall, Chicago, March 11th.—Same terms as before. Jacob Schaefer (champion), 500—95—14.29; Wm. F. Hoppe (challenger), 423—59. Owing to illness, Schaefer forfeited in May, 1908, to Sutton, who had challenged in the prior February. French “Amateur Championnat du Monde.” Third and last annual tournament of the series, and held at the Billiard Palace, Paris, closing March 15, 1907.—The victor was Lucien RÉrolle, DarantiÈre and Francois tying for second and third prizes. Next to RÉrolle’s 17.39, 20, 21.05, and 26.67, DarantiÈre’s 16.67 was the highest winning average. The only triple-figure runs were DarantiÈre’s 130 and RÉrolle’s 103. The other contestants were Pasco, Blanc, and Mortier. The last withdrew after losing his first two games, one to RÉrolle, and the latter was the only unbeaten player. This was RÉrolle’s fourth successive annual triumph, and brought this particular championship to a close, it having been projected for 14:2. The first annual he won was projected for 18:2, and its championship ended with the tournament that instituted it. The other had to be won three times, we think. N. Y. A. C. Championship at 14:2. May, and again won by Dr. Walter G. Douglas, who in this tournament had but two competitors. Calvin Demarest vs. Clarence Jackson. Exhibition at 14:2, October 1–4th, first and third nights at W. P. Mussey’s Room, and second and fourth at Thomas Foley’s.—Demarest was to go to 1200 against Jackson’s 800, but failed by 42 points, although making five runs—127, 122, 77, 73, and 64—superior to his opponent’s best, which was 58. The winning average, as near as can be ascertained in penalty of resuming play in an irregular way on three of the four nights, was 9.88. In reason, it should have been higher. C. F. Conklin vs. Clarence Jackson. Chicago, week ending October 26th, four nights of exhibition 14:2 alternately at Thomas Foley’s and A. M. Clarke’s Room, Conklin playing 1200 to 1000, and winning by 23, with an average approximately 10.50. High runs—Jackson, 80; Conklin, 79. T. J. Gallagher vs. Ora Morningstar at 18:2. Maurice Daly’s Room, New York City, October 28th to November 2d, the latter to play 2500 to 1800.—Gallagher, 1800—150—16.09; Morningstar, 1467—79. Gallagher vs. Ed. McLaughlin. Maurice Daly’s, New York City, November 4–9th, six nights of 18:2.—Gallagher, 1800—80—14.06; McLaughlin, 1571—105. “Imperial” Class B Tournament at 14:2. L. A. Curtis’s Room, Boston, closing November 6th.—Prior, who won his whole five games and made the highest run (36), was winner of the gold watch. Parker, beaten only by Prior, was second, besides being high in both averages, 4 for single and 3.42 for general. Trenton, N. J., Tournament. Held in November, and tied for by three whose playing off placed them in this order: Wm. Allen, of the Mercer County Wheelmen, first prize; Whitehead, second; and Fischer, third. Foley’s Class A 14:2 Handicap. Thomas Foley’s Room, Chicago, ending week of December 11–16th.—Ten competitors, with Clarence Jackson as scratchman (300). With 84 and 17.65 as the highest run and winning average of the tournament, and with a general average of 10.96, Jackson won every game but that with A. J. Brown, who tied W. K. Cochrane for third and fourth, Percy Collins being second. Collins and Brown were at 260, and Cochrane at 200. Brown had second highest run, 56, and Collins second highest winning average, 10.40. George F. Slosson vs. Albert G. Cutler. Slosson’s Room, New York City, December 9–21st, two exhibition games at 18:2.—Slosson won the first by 1800 to 1430, and the second by 1800 to 1518. Neither game went beyond 10 in winning average, and the highest runs were 77 by Cutler and 72 by Slosson. 1908.World’s Championship at 18:1 and 18:2. For contests in 1908, see pp. 312–13. Crescent A. C. Annual 14:2 Championship. At Brooklyn, N. Y., ending January 3d.—Tournament won by Dr. H. D. Jennings from E. A. Clough (second prize) in final game, increased from 200 to 300 points. Jennings, 300—41—5.77; Clough, 145—29. The highest average of the tournament, 8.33, was by Jennings in defeating Banker by 200 to 49. Knickerbocker Annual 14:2 Handicap. F. A. Keeney’s Room, Brooklyn, tournament closing January 1st.—J. Ferdinand Poggenburg (400), Chas. E. White (250), Frank Boyd (225), and Walter A. Leonard (220) tied for first four places. Playing off the ties made the winning order White, Leonard, Boyd, and Poggenburg. Naturally, the scratchman (Poggenburg) made the highest run and average, which were 136 and 11.11 in his last regular game, won from Boyd by 69. The second highest run was 69, made by J. M. Millette (230) when averaging 5.90 in defeating Poggenburg by 111. The other contestants were Christian Scheidig (250), Dr. H. D. Jennings (230), and John A. Keane (185). E. W. Gardner vs. Ferdinand Poggenburg. Tim Flynn’s Room, New York City, January 31st.—Match at 18:2 for one hundred cigars. Gardner, 400—89—11.76; Poggenburg, 345—60. T. J. Gallagher vs. Ora Morningstar. February 3–7th, match of single games of 400 points at 18:2 for a purse subscribed by patrons of Maurice Daly’s Room.—Gallagher won the three middle games, and Morningstar the two at the extremes. The highest run, 136, and the highest winning average, 28.57, were made by Morningstar in the final game, which was of no use to either. Gallagher’s best run and highest winning average were 85 and 26.67. California 18:2 Handicap. W. H. Berry’s Room, Los Angeles, January 27th to February 1st.
Championship of Wisconsin at 14:2. Coleman & Perrigo’s Room, Milwaukee, Wis., tournament ending February 25th in the sixth regular game, which, between James Brown and Alexander Emslie, determined first and second places, Brown winning by 300 to 147, and making at once the highest run (36) and the highest average (7.32) of the tournament. With Thomas Bigelow, winner of third prize. Brown and Emslie represented Milwaukee, Charles H. Schweizer coming from La Crosse.
Roomkeepers’ 18:2 Championship of Wisconsin. Tournament closed April 22d, Milwaukee, with decisive game: H. A. Coleman, 300—47—6.98; John Hahman, 221—32. National Amateur Championship at 14:2. Instituted March 12 to 21, 1906 (see that year), this was continued in March, 1907, at the rooms of the German Liederkranz Society, N. Y. City, with the results in the table first appended, and concluded at the rooms of the Chicago, Ill., Athletic Association, March 14–23, 1908, as set forth in the second table.
Conklin and Poggenburg defeated Gardner and Mial in the extra or play-off games, Poggenburg running 115 and averaging 42.86. Neither the average nor the run counts against the figures in the table. Nevertheless, the 42.86 was the highest of record for a player of Poggenburg’s class. The regular games, 300 points up, were fifteen. In Chicago they numbered the same, but were 400 points up. Demarest’s victory in Chicago closed the series by making him owner of the emblem, with 202 (in his tie game with H. A. Wright) and 57.14 (in his regular-schedule game with E. W. Gardner) as
13. Lost to Wright by 133 (average and high run 16.67 and 83 for winner, and 11.13 and 66 for loser), which caused a tie among himself, Wright, and Conklin. American Debut of Firmin Cassignol of France.—March 2, Geo. F. Slosson’s Rooms, N. Y. City, beginning a series of 18:2 exhibition games with the proprietor. New French Championship at 18:2. Tournament held in Paris, France, April 3–10, 1908. The general average of RÉrolle is closely approximate only, all known on this side as to the final game, which was between him and Robert Mortier, is RÉrolle’s recollection that Mortier averaged 25, and that he himself did not make half the game. Points were 400, and balls presumably 61 millimeters. Games, 400 up.
International Tournament for Amateur World’s Championship at 18:2. Held in the large hall of the German Liederkranz Society, N. Y. City, five competing and finishing in the order given in the subjoined summary, viz., Lucien RÉrolle, Toulouse, France; Calvin Demarest and Chas. F. Conklin, Chicago, Ill.; and E. W. Gardner and J. Ferd. Poggenburg, N. Y. City. Apart from the championship emblem, which, the gift of the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co., and formally presented by the National Association of Amateur Billiard Players, is subject to annual competition until some one player shall have won it twice, the prizes were at the choice of the players in the order of their standing as winners of games, which were 400 points up, April 28 to May 7.
Conditions of the tournament barred “anchor” and imposed balls of a diameter of 61 millimeters, or 2? in. plus. Games, 400 points. 26.67 in 800, 14:2—F. C. Ives, 1892. 15.00 in 600, 18:1—F. C. Ives, 1898. 33.33 in 500, 18:2—George Sutton, 1907. 20.83 in 500, 18:1—W. F. Hoppe, Paris, France, 1906. RUNS IN CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES.155 in 800–point game, 14:2—J. Schaefer, 189. 91 in 600–point game, 18:1—F. C. Ives, 1898. 100 in 500–point game, 18:1—J. Schaefer, 1907. 232 in 500, 18:2—George Sutton, 1907. AVERAGES IN CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENTS.40 in 600, 8:2—J. Schaefer, 1883. 31.25 in 500, 18:1—F. C. Ives, 1897. 50 in 500, 18:2—M. Vignaux, Paris (championship of France), 1902. 100 in 500, 18:2—G. Sutton (championship of the world), 1906. RUNS IN CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENTS.246 in 600–point game, 8:2—M. Vignaux, 1883. 140 in 500–point game, 18:1—F. C. Ives, 1897. 175 in 600–point game, 18:2—M. Vignaux, Paris (championship of France), 1902. 234 in 500–point game, 18:2—G. Sutton (championship of the world), 1906. BEST GENERAL AVERAGES (CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENTS ONLY).23.23, game 8:2, Chicago—J. Schaefer, winner, 1883. 9.39, game 18:1, N. Y. City—G. F. Slosson, winner, 1897. 14.95, game 18:1. N. Y. City—F. C. Ives, loser, 1897. 27.73, game 18:2, Paris, France—Edouard Fournil, tied with L. Cure and M. Vignaux, and second in play-off, with Cure first (championship of France), 1902. 22.29, game 18:2, Paris, France—M. Vignaux, tied with L. Cure and G. Sutton (championship of world), 1903. 24.14, game 18:2, N. Y. City (championship of the world)—G. Sutton, 1906. AVERAGES IN NON-CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES.44.75 in 3000, 8:2—M. Vignaux, Paris, 1884. 38.10 in 800, 8:2—J. Schaefer, 1884. 14.55 in 800, 12:2—J. Schaefer, 1885. 25.86 in 3000, 14:2—J. Schaefer, 1886. 22.22 in 800, 14:2—G. F. Slosson, 1891. 27.41 in 4000, 14:2—J. Schaefer, 1893. 48.62 in 3600, 14:2—F. C. Ives, 1894. 18.29 in 1500, 18:2—J. Adorjan, 1902. 22.90 in 3000, 18:2—J. Schaefer, Paris, 1904. RUNS IN NON-CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES.329 in 3000–point game, 8:2—M. Vignaux, Paris, 1884. 211 in 800–point game, 8:2—J. Schaefer, 1884. 109 in 800–point game, 12:2—J. Schaefer, 1885. 230 in 3000–point game, 14:2—J. Schaefer, 1886. 173 in 800–point game, 14:2—G. F. Slosson, 1891. 456 (anchor) in 4000–point game, 14:2—F. C. Ives, 1893. 359 in 3600–point game, 14:2—F. C. Ives, 1894. 139 in 600–point game, 18:1—J. Schaefer, 1899. 255 in 3000–point game, 18:2—L. Cure, Paris, 1904. AVERAGES IN NON-CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENTS.75 in 600, 14:2—M. Vignaux, 1885. 38.46 in 600, 14:2—J. Schaefer, 1890. 100 in 600, 14:2—J. Schaefer in New York and F. C. Ives in Chicago, both due to anchor, 1893. 50 in 600, 18:2—F. C. Ives, 1896. 40 in 400, 18:1—J. Schaefer, 1898. 83.33 in 500—G. Sutton, Chicago, 1906. RUNS IN NON-CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENTS.566 (anchor) in 600–point game, 14:2—J. Schaefer, 1893. 200 in 600–point game, 18:2—F. C. Ives, New York, 1896. 111 in 500–point game, 18:1—J. Schaefer, 1896. 138 in 400–point game, 18:1—J. Schaefer, 1898. 195 in 600–point game, 14:2—M. Vignaux, 1885. 307 in 500–point game, 18:2—W. F. Hoppe, Chicago, 1906. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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