Modern Billiards / A Complete Text-Book of the Game, Containing Plain and Practical Instructions How to Play and Acquire Skill at This Scientific Amusement

THREE-CUSHION CAROMS.

First Tournament. C. E. Mussey’s Room, St. Louis, January 14–31st.—50–point games. Leon Magnus, 4—1; Carter, Gallagher, and Heiser, 3—2; W. C. McCreery, 2—3; Thomas Potts, 0—5. Carter won play-off, with Gallagher second. The best run (6) and the best average (.75, or ¾ of a point) were Gallagher’s.

McCreery vs. Magnus. St. Louis, February 2d.—$200 a side. McC., 50—.94—runs not reported. Magnus scored 31. It is not known of this unknown game that the winner’s average, nearly one point, has ever been equaled in so long a match as 50 points. (See May 30–31, 1900.)

First Tournament in the East. Schaefer & Emerich’s Room, N. Y. City, 25–point games. Gus Newland, 7—2, won first prize, $75 and a gold medal, and Al. Sauer, Herbert Haskell, W. Clark and C. Wilson tied at 6—3. The other contestants, not all of whom finished, were Arthur R. Townsend, Charles Heineman, Joseph Stiner, Ed. Williamson, and Mr. Pollock.

Schaefer vs. Ives. Auditorium Recital Hall, Chicago, April 4th.—$100 a side. Schaefer, 120—average unreported—8; Ives, 106.

Capt. A. C. Anson vs. L. Jevne. Chicago, September.—Each game for $50 a side, Jevne giving odds of 10. First: A., 50; J., 38. Second: A., 50; J., 39.

Schaefer vs. Carter. Chicago, Ill., February 4th.—$200 a side. S., 100; C., 89.

Frank C. Ives’s Last Match. “Ives Room,” N. Y. City, May 24–25th.—Four-handed for announced $250 purse and $2,500 stake. First game: Ives and W. H. Harrison, 60; Schaefer and J. A. Thatcher, 45. Second game: S. and T., 65; I. and H., 55.

While rather an exhibition than a match, nevertheless these games are of interest as the last formal ones in which Ives took part. All but Schaefer were soon dead.

First Tournament in N. Y. City. “Ives Room,” ending July 29th.—Thatcher, 13—1, first; Maloney, 12—3, second; W. H. Myers, 10—5, third.

John Daly vs. Luis Vasquez. Chicago, Ill., December 13th.—$50. D., 50—av., .34; V., 39.

Averaging in Short Games. The Daly-Vasquez contest has been given a place because it typifies generalship on the part of a winner lacking his opponent’s executive ability, and the following are added as representing free play or catch-as-catch-can billiards. Chicago, May 30th: Capron, 30—av., 1.25; Sutton, 17. May 31st: Carter, 30—av., .97; Sutton, 15.

Carter Loses Championship to Jevne. Clarence E. Green’s Academy, Chicago, June 15th (postponed from June 8th because of C.’s unfitness). J., 100—.45—6; C., 66—5.

Winner was challenged by C., who had to declare forfeit by reason of further unfitness. W. H. Catton challenged, but nothing came of it.

This championship was instituted through an emblem presented it by the B. B. C. Co. for a tournament in Chicago. Catton won it and at once resigned it. Clarence Green sought to revive the championship a few months later, Carter won it in tournament, and no match but that he lost for it has ever been played. Its time expired years ago.

Championship of Louisiana. John Miller’s Room, New Orleans, ending in September. Seven entries. Wm. Zaehringer (5—1) made best run, 7; M. Tarleton (4—2) ran 6, as also G. H. Miller, who, with 3—3, tied L. Abrams for third and fourth.

“Red, White, and Blue.” Foley’s Room, Chicago, October and November.—This was an experimental tournament to ascertain how one cue-ball for both players would work. Instead of making a red of the other white, it was colored blue. This handicap of amateurs ended in a tie between Messrs. Anderson and Bunker, and on November 20 the former won the play-off by 27 to 12.

Amateur Championship of Pacific Coast. “The Waldorf,” San Francisco, October.—Probably 4½×9. J. C. Howard, unbeaten, Dr. W. F. Davis, W. I. Barry, J. Berry, and J. J. Roggan (won no game) closed in that order. General averages and best runs: Howard, .48—4; Barry, .42—6; Davis, .38—4; Berry, .36—5.

Fred Eames vs. Jevne. Denver, Col., January 28th.—$500, former getting odds of 10. E., 85; J., 61. Table possibly a 4½×9.

St. Louis Tournament. January.—Clarence Hutchings lost but one game, and that to Wright after having already won the tournament. Wright tied Clayton and Brock for third place, G. E. Hevner being second, and also having the best general average (.44), besides standing off Hutchings, Brock, and Wheeler on high run (5). Best single averages were Hutchings’s .65 and Wright’s .63.

Metropolitan Academy Tournament. N. Y. City.—Ending April 4th in ties between Wm. Gershel and “Williams” for first and second, and W. S. Johnson and A. D. Ferguson for third and fourth. Gershel won by 4 in 35, averaging .52 (averaged .55 against J. V. B. Rapp), and Ferguson by 35 to 25, averaging .40. “Williams” ran 5 in the play-off, but in the tournament proper the highest was 4, by Gershel and others. In the tourney of November, 1903, Ferguson was winner-in-chief, and Gershel last.

“Mussey Challenge Trophy.” Closing March 20th at Mussey’s Room, Chicago, “Harris” (scratch, 50) averaging .57, won final game from “Wadsworth,” who took second prize, as well as that for high run (7) in an amateur field of eight.

In April, May, and June, a larger and higher class, numbering eleven, comprised a new tournament for the “Mussey Challenge Trophy.” “Harris” made high run (12), but Avery won first prize, and “Harris,” “Wadsworth,” Riley and Wheeler tied for next four places. In the first challenge match that followed, June 19th, Avery was defeated by “Wadsworth.” This challenge series is still (February, 1904) playing, Morin, “Wadsworth,” and Riley having severally won the most matches. Had Morin won the match he lost to Riley in January, 1904, the emblem would have been his to keep.

Gallagher vs. Luis Vasquez. Daly’s, N. Y. City, May 27–29th.—Purse game. V. made the highest run (11), but lost by 200 to about 170. This was the Spaniard’s debut in the East.

Jevne vs. Barutel. Same room, August 3–5th.—Purse game, J., 150—.55—4; Barutel, 147—4. This was Jevne’s first formal bow in the East, although years before he had three-cushioned privately here with De Oro.

San Francisco (CafÉ Waldorf) Tournament. December, 1903, to February, 1904. Won by Mitchell (George), with Pellage second, in a field of eleven.

Billiard Club Championship. N. Y. City, tournament of eleven contestants, ending April 19th.—Winner, F. R. White, who lost not a game. E. O. Presby, second, was beaten by White only.

An Amateur Average of 1.03 in 50 Points. Tournament at W. P. Mussey’s Room, Chicago, April and May.—Won by James Shea, who in one game scored his 50 in 49 innings, although his best run was but 7. Tieing Riley for second and third prizes, Henry W. Avery lost the play-off. Charles Morin won fourth prize.

Professional Tourney in Los Angeles, Cal. Begun at W. H. Berry’s Room, May 2d, contestants being Arthur Seymour, George Kenniston, Walter Johnston, Robert Upton, and Joseph W. Carney, who finished in that order. On the 13th, Seymour scored his 40 points in 40 innings, an average of 1 flat. His general average we figure as .628, or not far short of two-thirds of a point to an inning, and the average of the whole tournament was almost half a point. As in Shea’s case, table was a 5×10.

Other Notable Averages. In an amateur handicap tournament at A. M. Clarke’s Room, Chicago, Charles F. Conklin, defeating Kasey by 30 to 12 in the final regular game, September 2d, averaged 1.07. This made a tie for first prize among himself and Hyatt (30 each), John Daly (scratch at 35), Scovil (25), and Kasey (20), the five having severally won seven times and lost thrice; and Daly, in defeating Hyatt in the play-off, was reported in Chicago newspapers as having run 17, 7 and 5, and averaged 1.25. The run especially needs verification.

In November, in a tournament at Hauser’s room, St. Louis, the press of that city credited G. Gundaker with running two 6’s and two 4’s and averaging 1.20 in defeating Coon by 30 to 13. There a 4½×9 table was liable to have been used.

About the same time, it reached here through Duluth, Minn., papers that Wm. F. Hatley, in playing an amateur in that city, averaged 1.03 in 150. Here, too, a 4½×9 table was peculiarly liable. Moreover, the length of the game suggests that it was an exhibition of two or more sessions. Considering the number of points, the average is phenomenal. It is not known to us that Hatley has ever claimed it.

In October, 1905, in Davenport, Iowa, Lloyd Jevne, in playing Louis Magnus, was reported as having scored a game of 50 points in 41 innings, which is an average of 1.22. There was no higher run than 7, which each player made.

Team Tournament. W. P. Mussey’s, Chicago, November 28th to January 10, 1905, playing in pairs.—Messrs. Sayles and Jones, who had led almost from the start, won by defeating Messrs. Wesseling and Short in the final game by 50 to 39.

Down-town Amateur Handicap. Keyser & Garraty’s Room, N. Y. City, beginning February 6th and ending March 31st in the success of W. “Goodday” (20) after tieing T. French (40, scratch) and F. “Shawt” (34) in a tally of 7—2. The highest run (6) was made by both “Shawt” and Roux, and up to the last regular contest the best winning average (.67) was by “Larry Dooley” (34). In his first and last games, however, French averaged .63½ against Stone (30) and 1.03 against “Goodday,” who had won his first seven games straight, lost his eighth to “Dooley,” and now lost his ninth. The 1.03 is the best average to date in a tournament in the East. The general averages of the three leaders were: French, .48; “Shawt,” .42; “Goodday,” .25. In playing off the ties, April 4th, French lost to “Goodday” by 7 and to “Shawt” by 1, and “Shawt” to “Goodday” by 8. Wallace (21) won fourth prize. The other contestants were Freeman (32) and “Professor Turnero” (21).

Team Tourney at Mussey’s, Chicago. Ended week of June 3d, Shea and Howe (45) tieing Morin and Burdick (50), and outscoring them in the play-off by 45 to 44.

Single-handed at Bensinger’s, Chicago. Week ending June 3d, Lawrence won by defeating Huey by 45 to 24. Ball won second prize, and Huey third.

Handicap Heat Tournament at G. F. Slosson’s. N. Y. City, January 15–26th.—Eight were forced out by their one defeat in the first week, and of the remaining eight the ones longest to last were Rinehart (scratch, 40) and J. A. Pallasco (36). The latter averaged .38, and the former scored 33, Pallasco thus winning first prize, a costly fur overcoat.

Bensinger’s Professional Handicap, Chicago. January 15–20th.—Charles Weston (50), third; George Wheeler (45), first; Clem E. Ellison (42), fourth; Frank Maggioli (40), second.

1907.

Amateur Handicap. W. P. Mussey’s Room, Chicago, closing in April.—Ties played off made Stanley first, Austin second, and Lord third. Stanley and Lord, with Fuller, were scratchmen.

James Ryan vs. Benjamin Laurie. Imperial Billiard Room, Boston, nights of April 1st, 3d, and 5th.—Ryan, 150; Laurie, 139. They played again May 21st, 22d, 24th, Ryan winning by 150 to 144.

Amateurs in Los Angeles, Cal. Jas. F. Morley’s Room, June.—Thirteen entries, and 25–point games. J. B. Bayne promised most, but was eventually overhauled by Clark, who beat him for first place. Milsap and Lacey were next best. J. G. Kendrick won prize for high run, which was 9 in a game wherein Chapell beat him by 25 to 22.

Championship of Los Angeles, Cal., Club. July 17th to August 27th.—Nineteen entries, with handicaps from 25 to 12. Only one of the three scratchmen, T. E. Gordon, finished among the first three. Dr. R. B. Griffith (18) was first, Gordon second, and Carter (15) third.

Championship of New England. “The Hub,” Boston, November.—Won by Albert G. Cutler, who “out-safetied” his strongest opponent, James Ryan.

Lambert Three-Cushion Championship of America. St. Louis, November and December, tournament for the Lambert Emblem.—Contestants were Henry P. Cline and John Daly, tied for first and second; John Horgan, third; Lloyd Jevne, fourth; Alfredo De Oro, Thomas Hueston, and Frank P. Day, tied for fifth, sixth, and seventh; and Horace B. Lean and Joseph Capron eighth and last. Thus the two best known as caromers, Cline and Capron, were first and last, for Cline defeated Daly by 50 to 41 in playing off. Runs never reached double figures, but Day, in defeating De Oro with no run above 5, was credited with the remarkable average of 1.32 for his 50 points.

St. Louis, February 6th, 7th, 8th.—First match, three nights, 50 points per night. Henry P. Cline (champion), of Philadelphia, 133; John Daly (challenger), 150. The winner averaged .66, and on neither side was there a run above 6.

St. Louis, May 7th, 8th, 9th.—Second match, same terms. John Daly (champion) vs. John Horgan (challenger). Daly, 150—8—.59; Horgan, 142—6. The money-stake in this series is $250 a side.

A Game of 568 Innings. City of Mexico, November, six nights’ play, 50 points a night, continuous.—Luis Vasquez, 300—7—.51; S. Johnson, 282—5.

Amateur Handicap at G. F. Slosson’s Room. February 3–11th.—Contestants, Messrs. Gremmels (50), French, Blair, Strauss, and Pallasco, the last four at 40. Won by French, who in his final game, defeating Gremmels by 20, averaged .52. One higher average (.67) had been made by Blair when he ran 6 and defeated Pallasco by 40 to 34.

Three-Handed Professional Exhibition. Maurice Daly’s Room, week ending February 22d, 50–point games, playing twice around.—Won by Edward McLaughlin, who lost only his second game with T. J. Gallagher. Morningstar won only his first game with Gallagher. The latter made the highest run and best winning average of the tournament, respectively 6 and .67. McLaughlin’s .55 was high general average, .65 being his best winning one.

There are few unquestionable records. Most of the professional games, whether short or long, have of late years been played in “academies” by “academy” employees. To admit one such to record, on the plea that there was a public admission-fee, as well as more or less of a staking, would be to admit all. Then, again, this is a game that has never had a standard as to length. It is unlikely that since 1878 there has been a better average for 50 points in a match than Wayman C. McCreery’s .94; but there may have been before that year, and without attracting any attention whatever. In a tournament game of 50 points at Mussey’s, Chicago, Avery surpassed it by making .98 during season of 1901–2. The best verified run is 14. Two amateurs made it—Peterson in St. Louis, and Avery years afterward in Chicago, both in Mussey’s rooms. Also in Mussey’s, in 1905, James Shea, another amateur, reached 1.03 in a game of 50, while Charles P. Day, in the St. Louis tournament of November and December, 1907, attained to 1.32 in 50 points.

BEST PERFORMANCES BY AMATEURS

The New York Racquet Club was the first to institute a national championship of amateurs (1887–88–89–90), which it did not attempt to renew. There was no second essay until the Amateur Athletic Union entered the field in 1898–99. Anything in the nature of amateur record, therefore, may be said to begin in 1887 and end in 1890, to resume in another direction in 1898 and continue until now.

AVERAGES AT REGULAR THREE-BALL GAME.

17.33 in 300 (championship)—Orville Oddie, Jr., 1889.

11.03 in 1500, gen. av. (championship), Orville Oddie, Jr., 1887.

RUNS AT REGULAR THREE-BALL GAME.

257 in 300 (non-championship), Arthur R. Townsend, 1890.

195 in 300 (championship)—Orville Oddie, Jr., 1889.

BEST RECORD AVERAGES AT 14:2 BALKLINE.

57.14 in 400 (championship)—C. Demarest, Chicago, 1908.

42.86 in 300 (tie game of championship tournament)—J. F. Poggenburg, New York, 1907.

BEST RECORD RUN AT 14:2.

202 in 400 (championship)—C. Demarest, Chicago, 1908.

BEST RECORD RUNS AT 18:2.

175 in 400 (championship)—L. RÉrolle, Paris, France, 1908.

151 in 400 (championship)—C. Demarest, N. Y. City, 1908.

BEST RECORD AVERAGES AT 18:2.

33.33 in 400 (championship)—Lucien RÉrolle, Paris, France, 1903.

28.57 in 400 (championship)—C. Demarest, N. Y. City, 1908.

BEST GENERAL AVERAGES AT 18:2.

20 in four games (1600 points, championship)—C. Demarest, N. Y. City, 1908.

16.26 in five games (2000 points, championship)—R. Mortier, Paris, 1908.

15.91 in seven games (2800 points, championship)—L. RÉrolle, Paris, 1903.

BEST PUBLIC MATCH RECORDS.

109 run in 1200 (non-championship)—L. RÉrolle, Paris, France, 1904.

12.24 average in 1200 (non-championship)—L. RÉrolle, Paris, 1904.

IRREGULAR CONTESTS

Ives vs. John Roberts. Henley’s Circus, London, Eng., May 29th to June 2, 1893.—$5,000 a side, 1,000 points nightly. I., 6000—run, 2540; R., 3821—run, 249. Roberts’s total has been variously given. The figures here are from Major Broadfoot’s “Billiards.”

This was styled a “compromise match” at the English winning-and-losing game on an English 6×12 six-pocket table.

CENTRAL MUSIC HALL. Chicago, September 18–23.—$5,000 a side. Ives, 6000; Roberts, 5303.

LENOX LYCEUM. N. Y. City, October 2–7th.—$5,000 a side, R., 10,000; I., 8738.

De Oro vs. Roberts. On October 16–21st following, at Madison Square Garden, N. Y. City, these experts played alternately on an English and an American ball-pool table for an announced stake of $1,000 a side and the championship of the world, De Oro winning by 1000 balls to 927. No two players can ever be justified in creating a championship.

Hugo Kerkau vs. Johann Trebar. In 1900 these experts, German and Hungarian, engaged in more than one series of “straight rail” games in the chief cities of their respective countries. The two were known to be far apart in skill. In one series, Kerkau scored 40,000 to Trebar’s 4998, and made runs of 1656, 1743, 2194, and 3843. It invalidates these runs as comparisons with the lesser deeds of earlier men that, although scarcely through fault of Kerkau, they were not achieved under similar conditions. Years before he ran his 3843, Kerkau ran 3092 against Woerz in Berlin. This was under the old rule as to “frozen” balls, but it was probably also on a 4½×9 or smaller table. The 3092 were made in January, 1896. When, not far from that time, Kerkau was here, he showed capacity for but about half that height on a 5×10.

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