Chapter IV: Part II: Plate XIII (2)

Cue-ball ⅝ below, ½ left, object-ball ⅛ left; stroke, ½ in excess of
“medium.” Cue-ball “kisses” directly to ball 2. Object-ball is
struck ⅛ left, driving it to cushion _a_, _b_, resting at _c_.
Carom-ball takes direction _d_, after carom has been effected. The
object-ball must be hit with exactness to get it away from the
cushion to the points _a_, _b_, _c_.

Again, cue-ball ¼ left, ¼ above, object-ball ½ left; stroke, ½ in
excess of “medium.” Cue-ball cushions at _e_, effecting, carom on
ball 2. Object-ball takes direction approximating dotted line.

PLATE LXXIII.

CLOSE DRAW.

_Illustrating a fair stroke where the balls are near a “freeze,”
effecting a “draw” and “English,” the cue-ball performing a concave
curve on its course to cushion._

Cue-ball ⅝ below, ⅝ right, object-ball ¾ left; stroke, “hard.”
Cue-ball describes curve, cushions at _a_, _b_, _c_, effecting
carom on ball 2, which rests at _h_, with cue-ball at _i_.
Object-ball doubles the width of table, cushions at _d_, _e_, _f_,
resting at _g_.

The carom could be made with a massé, but position would be sacrificed. The close draw is played in order to gather the balls.

The stroke is an acute wrist and arm delivery, and should be given with confidence.

PLATE LXXIV.

TWIST AND DRAW STROKES.

_Illustrating excessive twist and draw when the cue-balls rest on the
cushion._

_Diagram 1._—Cue-ball ⅝ below, ⅝ right, object-ball 15/16 left;
stroke, ½ in excess of “medium.” Object-ball cushions at _a_,
returning to _b_. Cue-ball, by excessive draw and twist, caroms on
ball 2.

The object in imparting excessive twist to cue-ball is to avoid cushion in recoil. The object-ball is struck _slightly_ to the left, and the twist overcoming the outward tendency this would naturally give to the cue-ball, brings it back to a straight line.

_Diagram 2._—Cue-ball ⅝ right, ⅛ above, object-ball ½ left; stroke,
“medium.” Object-ball cushions at _c_, resting at _d_. Cue-ball
cushions at _e_, effects carom on ball 2.

In practising this stroke, the object-ball must be set about the distance of ½ ball from the cushion.

If the ball be so set that it be hit too full it will throw the cue-ball toward the corner at _a_; again, if it be struck too fine the cue-ball will be thrown to the left of ball 2.

PLATE LXXV.

THE KISS AND TWIST STROKE.

_Diagram 1._—Cue-ball ½ above, ¼ left, object-ball ⅞ right; stroke, ½
in excess of “medium.” Cue-ball by kiss effects carom on ball 2.
To reach the carom-ball in this stroke it is absolutely necessary
that the object-ball be struck ⅞ right, more or less will bring
the cue-ball short of or beyond the corner at ball 2.

_Diagram 2._—Cue-ball ½ below, ⅝ left, object-ball ⅞ right; stroke,
“ordinary.” Cue-ball by kiss cushions at _a_, _b_, effecting carom
on ball 2.

This latter diagram shows a comparatively difficult position from which to effect a carom. The excessive twist completes the stroke. The proper direction of aim must be first determined—in this diagram it is to point _a_ on end cushion. The player is asked to observe the angle of cue from the cue-ball to the cushion.

PLATE LXXVI.

CLOSE DRAW AND FOLLOW MASSÉ.

_Illustrating two of the most difficult of these two strokes—draw and
massé._

_Diagram 1._—Cue-ball ½ below, ⅝ right, object-ball ⅞ left; stroke, ½
in excess of “medium.” Cue-ball cushions at _a_, effecting carom
on ball 2. Object-ball cushions at _b_, resting at _c_.

This stroke is one-half draw with excessive twist, the latter actually effecting the carom.

_Diagram 2._—Massé follow.—Cue-ball ½ forward, ½ left, object-ball
15/16 right; stroke, ½ in excess of “medium.” Elevation of cue
78¾°.

Cue-ball describes curve, and effects carom on ball 2. As the balls lie in this diagram an ordinary plain massé is impossible, as the player will not be able to reach the cue-ball from either side the table, therefore the follow massé is resorted to. Through force of the massé, the cue-ball curves out as shown, but returns to proper line, governed by the excessive twist and massé.

CONDUCTING TOURNAMENTS.

FINDING THE NUMBER OF GAMES.—The first thing to know is the number of games imposed by differing numbers of entries. There are several ways of working this out. The quickest and simplest is a mental one. If the number of entries is even, say 10, multiply the second highest term (9) by one-half the highest—9 × 5 = 45. If odd, as 7, multiply that figure by one-half the next highest—7 × 3 = 21 games. But, if a pencil is handy, a quick enough way is to multiply the highest term, whether odd or even, by the next highest, and then divide the product by 2, which will show 253 games if there are 23 entries—23 × 22 506, halved. These are regular games. No amount of figuring can forecast ties.

TIE GAMES.—When competition is for a championship, any tie for it must be played off. Ties for other prizes may or may not be, as circumstances dictate.

TIE GAMES SEPARATE.—Save when they involve a championship, tie games are no part of the tournament proper, which ordinarily ends when all the contestants have either played or forfeited an equal number of games. Yet, while tie games for else than the championship will not serve to determine other than special wagers, they are, nevertheless, records in themselves, although without being a part of the tournament.

FORFEITURES.—In a tournament, every game begins with the first one, in the sense of binding every player who has not previously been declared out. It has always been an unwritten law of billiards that a withdrawer, instead of canceling his games already played, forfeits those he has yet to play. The former procedure penalizes the faultless for another’s fault. It is also open to the objection that, in order to deprive one winner of his record for high average or high run, the loser of the game in which either was made may be induced to withdraw. Injustice is possible even without collusion. Within two years, cancellation has deprived one continuing player of his highest average, and another of the highest average of all.

For amateur tournaments, a few Western roomkeepers have a rule of their own, which cancels if the withdrawer has not played more than half his games, and forfeits if he has.

GUARDING AGAINST FORFEITURE OR OTHER FAILURE.—Until a scheduled game is started, the players of the next one in order should be on hand.

THE SANCTITY OF SCHEDULE.—A schedule once made out by due authority should be adhered to, instead of being changed to suit some individual caprice.

OPENING GAME.—Never let it be between the supposed best two players. For some special reason, one such may be utilized, but not two without inviting the almost certain penalty of a loss of public interest as the games draw near their close.

RUSH THE LOSERS.—As far as practicable, play losers first in preference to winners. If they are good losers, they will not object. In no other way can the anti-climax be prevented of having one or more games to play after the main prize has been won, or of requiring the leader to play when there is nothing for him to win.

HANDICAPPING.—This, so often necessary, calls for a nice knowledge of the contestants. Fixed rules are impossible. That one man has a chance to sit long and think while the other plays, and perhaps not always plays with as much ability as effect, makes billiards pre-eminently the temperamental game. There must, therefore, be much guessing in the name of handicapping. Not a few conductors of tournaments shirk their office by happily inveigling their players into handicapping themselves.

One thing is to be cautioned against. As a rule, if the light-weighted, with their imposts, about fairly balance the middleweights, they are apt to prove too heavy for the heavyweights. To illustrate, A can give B 30 in 100, B give C 30, C give D 20, and D give E 20. A in practice can possibly give C the 60 required by theory, but he can little better give D 80 than he can, as theory requires, give E 100 in 100! Again, if there are many entries, those with a light impost possess a decided advantage in having so much more to learn than the others. The oftener they play, the relatively better.

If A can give B 12 in 100, B give C 15, and C give D 23, then A should give C 25 and D 44, and B give D 35. It is all merely a question of multiplication, division, addition and subtraction, without being simple enough to look easy in print.

The process multiplies together the odds A gives B and B gives C, as 12 × 15 = 180, which is to be divided by the number of points (100) constituting game. The quotient, which is nearer 2 points than 1, is to be reckoned as 2, and deducted from the 15 B gives C, leaving 13, which, added to the 12 given B by A, makes 25 to be given by A to C. By a similar process—multiplying together the 15 given by B to C and the 23 given by C to D (15 × 23 = 345), dividing by 100 and subtracting the 3 from the 38 (15 added to 23)—35 are what B should give D. What A is to give D is ascertained by multiplying together the 15 (less 2) and the 23 (13 × 23 = 389), which, divided by 100, shows that 4 are to be deducted from the added 13 and 23, leaving 32, which, added to the 12 A gives B, makes 44 to be given by A to D.

SCORING TOURNAMENTS.—Owing to a faulty system of keeping track of games played, not a few conductors of tournaments are temporarily at a loss to determine with whom some contestants have yet to play. This formulary covers everything:

───────────────┬────────┬────────┬────────┬────────
│ JONES. │ SMITH. │ BROWN. │ GRAY.
───────────────┼────────┼────────┼────────┼────────
│ │ 205 │ 250 │
Jones, 250 │ D. │6–25/30 │11–19/21│
│ │ 42 │ 38 │
───────────────┼────────┼────────┼────────┼────────
│ 220 │ │ 220 │
Smith, 220 │7–10/30 │ D. │9–13/23 │
│ 37 │ │ 41 │
───────────────┼────────┼────────┼────────┼────────
│ 175 │ 170 │ │ 190
Brown, 190 │8–15/20 │ 7–9/23 │ D. │ 5–5/37
│ 29 │ 31 │ │ 41
───────────────┼────────┼────────┼────────┼────────
│ │ │ 170 │
Gray, 180 │ │ │4–22/37 │ D.
│ │ │ 23 │
───────────────┼────────┼────────┼────────┼────────
Games Won │ I │ II │ I │
───────────────┼────────┼────────┼────────┼────────
Games Lost │ X │ │ XX │ X
───────────────┼────────┼────────┼────────┼────────
Total Points │ │ │ │
───────────────┼────────┼────────┼────────┼────────
Total Innings │ │ │ │
───────────────┼────────┼────────┼────────┼────────
General Average│ │ │ │
───────────────┼────────┼────────┼────────┼────────
│ │ │ │
───────────────┴────────┴────────┴────────┴────────
AVERAGE OF TOURNAMENT,——

Figures next to names stand for handicap, if any.

Figures standing alone in squares are for total first, average next,
and highest run last.

Winning and losing averages are both given, and in common fractions,
with the double purpose of showing which player led (in case of
later dispute), and of facilitating the making-up of general and
tournament averages when play is done.

When a game is over, add an I to Games Won and an X to Games Lost.

When tournament is finished add up totals, as well as innings (last
figures of those in middle line of squares), and compute single,
general and tournament averages decimally.

To find out who has yet to play, look for blank spaces exclusive of
those running obliquely and marked D. (for Jones of horizontal
column doubling with Jones of vertical). In the table are four
blanks, meaning two games to play—Gray with Jones and Smith.

To find out how many games have been played, add I’s and X’s
together, and divide by 2.

When I’s and X’s differ in their totals, there has been an error in
tallying games either won or lost.

SCORING FOR THE PRESS.—Care should be taken to begin with the score of him who plays first. His winning then will mean that the innings were unequal, while putting the winner’s score second will indicate equal innings. Disregard of this rule, prevalent of late years, forces whoever would verify the average to count up the innings in each score.

HOW TO FIGURE AVERAGES.

DECIMALS ARE BEST.—Divide total points by total innings. Thus, 300 points in 28 innings show 1020/28 in crude fractions, 10 and 5/7ths in the lowest evenly reduced ones, and 10.71 (71/100ths) decimally. The first system seldom gives an accurate idea at sight. In the second, the fractions cannot always be reduced evenly, as above. Ordinarily, the third is closest, briefest and clearest.

AVOID A JUMBLE.—Some computers mix themselves and others up by using all three methods. Others, as a convenience, express the single average as 1020/28, and the general average not as 8170/175, to be consistent, but as 8.97. This is akin to the barbarism of speaking in two languages at once. There are others who, simply because it is so divisible, convert the 8170/175 into 834/35, so that anybody seeking to prove the average by finding the points and innings will have rare figuring as a preliminary.

DECIMALIZING.—This is simply adding a cipher to the right-hand end of every remainder after the dividend has no unused figure left. Adding a cipher to the 20 in 1020/28 yields 7 and 4 over when divided by 28, and now adding a cipher to the 4 will result altogether in 10.71, with 12 over.

Pay no attention to this remainder unless, if a general average, 10.71 seems to be a tie with some other general average. Such a tie will rarely happen. Should it, add a cipher to the 12, and dividing the 120 by 28 will result in 10.714 (1000ths now, instead of 100ths), with 8 over. If there is still a tie, proceed as before, first making 80 of the 8.

GIVE AND TAKE.—Had the 10.71’s remainder been 14 or more, instead of 12, which is less than one-half the innings, the average would change to 10.72. The arbitrary rule is to ignore the final remainder when it is less than half the innings, but enlarge it and give it to the player when it is half or more.

RECONVERSION.—If for any reason it be necessary to find the number of innings, add ciphers (two will usually be enough in billiards) to the points, and divide by the decimalized average. Thus 1071)30000(28 innings, with 12 over. To find the points on which a general average is based, innings (50) and average (16) being known, multiply the one by the other—16 × 50 = 800.

GENERAL AVERAGE.—A match of continuous points has but one average, whether it be played in one session or half a dozen; but it is different both in a tournament and in a match of several separate games, a majority to win.

In computing the general average, avoid the easy error of adding all a player’s game-averages together, and dividing the product by the number of games. There is only one condition in which this will show the true average, and that is when all the games have innings separately equal in number, howsoever much the points themselves may vary.

Illustration of false and true:

Inn. Points. Game Average.
15 600 40
30 600 20
30 600 20
7 600 85.71
—— ———— ——————
82 82)2400(29.29 4)165.71(41.43

The average found by dividing by the number of games is grossly extravagant.

LOSING AVERAGES.—Properly, the loser’s average can never be higher than the winner’s. To concede that it can is to premiumize its maker’s inefficiency. Setting out to win the opening shot, he had failed, which is the only way, with fewer points, to make the seemingly higher average. It is equally unfair, in a continuous game of several sessions, to concede an average for a fraction of the game. By getting far behind, one player is without limit on any night, while the other is stopped every night by reaching the number of points assigned to every leader.

Except as personal compliments, losing averages are valueless. Their apparent makers do not wholly make them. Much depends upon the other man. The loser reaches a high figure largely because, having aimed to cover a given number of points, he failed to do so. It has often happened that a player with 50 to go has needed as many innings to make them as he had taken to make his other 250. As a rule, losers “let down” near the finish more than winners, and hence their average is dependent less upon themselves than upon those who close the game.

BILLIARD RECORD:
A COMPENDIUM OF THE MORE IMPORTANT PUBLIC CONTESTS, MATCH AND
TOURNAMENT, AT BOTH CAROMS AND POOL.
COMPILED FROM THE MOST AUTHENTIC SOURCES BY THE
BRUNSWICK-BALKE-COLLENDER CO.

FOUR-BALL GAME

[Up to 1863, all play not otherwise described was at unrestricted
caroms, with 2⅜ balls, on a 6 × 12 ft. six-pocket table; from 1863
to 1869, on a 6 × 12 four-pocket, with the various restrictions
mentioned; from 1869 to 1873, chiefly on a 5½ × 11 four-pocket,
under a new system of counting; and from 1873 to 1876, almost
altogether on a 5 × 10 carom table.]

ABBREVIATIONS.—P., 2000—12.20—129; S., 1904—157, indicates winner’s
total, average, and best run, always in that order, together with
loser’s total and high run, without his average, which has never
been a record; W., games won in tournament; R., highest run; Av.,
best winning average; G. A., general (or grand) average; p. b.,
push-shot barred; c. b., crotching barred (carom table); j. b., jaw
barred (pocket table).

1854.

=First Contest in a Public Hall.= May 13th, Malcolm Hall, Syracuse, N. Y.—Caroms with unrestricted hazards (pocketings), stake unknown. Joseph N. White, 500; Geo. Smith, 484.

This was not technically a public contest, admission having been by invitation only. Mixed caroms and hazards were last played professionally on a six-pocket table by two lads in a hotel billiard-room on Third Avenue, N. Y. City, in 1865, for a stake of $50 a side. The winner is living, but has long been out of billiards. Maurice Daly, then sixteen, was loser.

1858.

=First Match with an “Average” without Guessing.= N. Y. City, April 24th, $250 a side.—Totals, winning average and best runs: John Seereiter, 1000—6.94—53; Bernard Crystal, 830—68. This was a billiard-room or private match, and it is given here only because it was the first in which score was kept in figures from beginning to end.

1859.

=First Technically Public Contest.= Fireman’s Hall, Detroit, Mich., April 10th.—$250 a side. Dudley Kavanagh, New York, 1000—8.47—177; Michael Foley, Detroit, 989—87. This match was the first to which an admission fee was charged.

* * * * *

=Michael Phelan= (New York) =vs. John Seereiter= (Detroit). Same hall, April 11th, $5,000 a side, on table taken from Seereiter’s room (used night before by K. and F.), but having a new cloth. P., 2000—12.20—129; S., 1904—157.

Admission was five dollars, but this charge was rather to keep the wrong persons out than to profit from letting the right ones in. Phelan was out-nursed, but he outbetted the Detroiters, and both outgeneraled and generally outbetted their representative.

1860.

=First Professional Tournament.= Phelan & Collender’s Union Square Billiard Rooms (upper floor), N. Y. City, October 26–31st.—Invitation or private tournament on a 6 × 12 carom table for two souvenir cues, one given by Claudius Berger, of France. In the table below, a “Lost” column is specially inserted because of a shortage of games, that between Lynch and Geary (the latter substituting for Christian Bird, of Philadelphia) being neither played nor forfeited. All games were 500 up but the final and deciding one (Kavanagh, 1000—29.41—144; Tieman, 746—156).

W. L. R. Av. G. Av.
Dudley Kavanagh, N. Y. 4 0 144 29.41 20.49
Philip Tieman, Cincinnati 3 1 185 21.74 18.41
James Lynch, N. Y. 1 2 162 18.52 18.37
Joseph N. White, N. Y. 1 3 94 12.20 10.55
Michael Geary, Chicago 0 3 65 9.04

1861.

=First Public Match Between Western Players.= Wood’s Theatre, Cincinnati, November 21st.—Philip Tieman vs. John Deery, both of Cincinnati; $500 a side. T., 1000—12.25—106; D., 683—54.

1862.

=First Public Home-and-home Match.= Cleveland, O., March 6th.—First of two games, each $500 a side. Dudley Kavanagh, N. Y., 1500—13.39—118; Michael Foley, then of Cleveland, 1065—102. Return: Irving Hall, N. Y. City, April 3d, F., 1500—9.43—99; K., 1466—108.

* * * * *

=Push and Massé Barred.= Half-way game, Kremlin Hall, Buffalo, N. Y., November 6th.—Also for $500 a side, but barring both push-shot and massé. K., 1500—10—86; F., 1296—90.

This was the first public match from which the push-shot was excluded. No other has ever barred the massé.

* * * * *

=M. Foley vs. Deery.= Irving Hall, N. Y. City, April 4th.—$250 a side. F., 1000—11.24—66; D., 502—45. Same night, a private match was begun for same amount, but in 100–point games, Deery winning the odd (11 to 10). The two matches lasted from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.

* * * * *

=Wm. Goldthwait vs. Deery.= Alston Hall, Boston, June 25th.—$250 a side. G., 1500—9.87—99; D., 1270—79.

* * * * *

=First Barring of Crotch in Public.= Tucker’s Academy, San Francisco, August 2d.—Championship of California and $100, carom table, c. b.—_i.e._, crotching limited to three successive shots within an imaginary line. Daniel Lynch, 1000—971—104; Joseph W. Little, 852—run not known.

1863.

=Kavanagh vs. Goldthwait.= Irving Hall, N. Y. City, April 23d.—$500 a side. K., 1500—14.42—125; G., 1282—130.

* * * * *

=First Public Tournament, First Formal Professional Championship Anywhere, and First Four-pocket Table.= Irving Hall, N. Y. City, June 1–9th.—First prize, emblematic cue and a $750 Phelan & Collender billiard-table; second, $250. Instead of the usual 6 × 12 six-pocket, a 6 × 12 four-pocket was used for first time in public. The highest run was made by “jawing,” also for first time in public. Tieing in both high run and high winning average, done by Kavanagh and Tieman, has yet to be paralleled in a public tournament. Average of this one (seven games apiece), 12.19. Points and money stake in all succeeding matches, 1500 and $500 a side.

W. R. Av. G. A.
D. Kavanagh, N. Y. 6 203 33.33 15.18
Louis Fox, Rochester 5 141 23.81 14.45
John Deery, N. Y. 4 313 16.13 11.41
Phil. Tieman, Cincinnati 3 203 33.33 14.48
John Seereiter, Detroit 3 114 13.16 10.22
M. Foley, Detroit 3 102 16.67 12.48
Wm. Goldthwait, N. Y. 3 185 17.24 11.46
Victor Estephe, Philadelphia 1 86 8.31 9.19

KAVANAGH VS. SEEREITER. First match, same hall, October 15th—K., 1500—16.85—151; S., 715—57.

KAVANAGH VS. TIEMAN. Same hall, April 7, 1864.—K., 1500—12.29—152; T., 1265—93.

KAVANAGH VS. GOLDTHWAIT. Hippotheatron, N. Y. City, June 9, 1864.—K., 1500—17.44—154; G., 1425—117.

KAVANAGH VS. TIEMAN. Same hall, September 15, 1864.—K., 1500—14.56—147; T., 927—139.

KAVANAGH VS. GOLDTHWAIT. Academy of Music, N. Y. City, January 20, 1865.—K., 1500—15.63—158; G., 1406—113.

KAVANAGH VS. FOX. May 16, 1865.—K., ill, forfeited.

FOX VS. DEERY. Washington Hall, Rochester, N. Y., September 7, 1865.—D., 1500—16.67–166; F., 1465—276.

DEERY VS. PIERRE CARME. January 7, 1866.—C. paid forfeit.

DEERY VS. JOHN MCDEVITT. Cooper Institute, N. Y. City, March 13, 1866.—D., 1500—10.79—119; McD., 1145—95.

DEERY VS. JOSEPH DION, of Montreal. Same hall, May 23, 1866.—Dion, 1500—10.42—92; Deery, 1366—144.

DION VS. McDEVITT. Mechanics’ Hall, Montreal, October 5, 1866.—D., 1500—25.86—258; McD., 1276—308.

DION VS. McDEVITT. Same hall, June 10, 1867.—D., 1500—19.73—616; McD., 816—220. Run of 616 was the first case of “jawing” in a match contest for any championship. It led at once to the abolition of “jawing” in this series.

DION VS. EDMUND H. NELMS, Philadelphia. Same hall, September 15, 1867, “jawing” then and thenceforth barred. N. paid forfeit.

DION VS. McDEVITT. Same hall, December 11, 1867.—McD., 1500—13.16—181; D., 1488—291.

McDEVITT (residence changed from New York to Chicago) vs. MELVIN FOSTER, N. Y. Library Hall, Chicago, April 8, 1868.—McD., 1268—21.49—293; F., 1262—263. In fifty-ninth inning, F. protested against a decision. Confusion followed, and the referee adjudged McD. winner while it was still his turn to play. Declining to submit to arbitration, McDevitt guaranteed the stakeholder against a possible suit-at-law, and was paid the stakes.

McDEVITT VS. J. DION. Same hall, September 16, 1868.—McD., 1500—166.67—1458; D., 407—261.

McDEVITT VS. GOLDTHWAIT. Crosby’s Music Hall, Chicago, December 22, 1868.—Fourteenth contest and seventeenth and last match. McD., 1500—25—238; G., 1483—226.

On Christmas Day, 1868, there being no challenge pending, McDevitt resigned the cue to its donors, Phelan & Collender, as a step toward a new championship, push barred. The old style of game came thus to an end.

* * * * *

=Best Record Average on a Six-pocket Table.= Union Hall, Indianapolis, December 17, 1863.—$250 a side. McDevitt, 1500—17.24—148; Frank Parker, 661—68.

Excepting one at the three-ball game, this was the last public contest at caroms on a six-pocket table.

1864.

=First Public Contest Prohibiting Both Pushing and Jawing.= Irving Hall, N. Y. City, April 8th.—Informal match in aid of Workingwomen’s Protective Union, 6 × 12 four-pocket. Michael Phelan, 1000—8.40—56; Dudley Kavanagh, 965—40.

* * * * *

=First State Championship Tournament—An Unbeaten Amateur.= Allyn Hall, Hartford, beginning August 16th.—Tournament for championship of Connecticut. Games, 300 points up, save in the final one, which, between Gershom B. Hubbell, of Hartford, and Geo. B. Hunt, of Bridgeport, was 500 points. The winner-in-chief was beaten by none but another amateur—Lieut. J. B. Burbank, then stationed at New London Harbor, and now a field-officer in the Fifth U. S. Artillery. Messrs. Burbank, Hunt and Hewins tied for second and third prizes, purses of $50 and $25, which the first two resigned to the professional, who is still such in Hartford. First prize, the champion cue, to which, when the champion’s term was up, was added the billiard-table. Average of tournament (five games apiece, 6 × 12 four-pocket), 5.90. The matches following the tournament were all played in Allyn Hall.

W. R. Av. G. A.
G. B. Hubbell 4 53 7.32 6.36
J. B. Burbank 3 50 6.98 6.34
M. H. Hewins 3 48 7.50 5.91
G. B. Hunt 3 46 7.14 6.05
W. C. Porter 1 55 6. 5.11
H. S. Keating 1 44 5.76 4.55

HUBBELL VS. MICHAEL WOLLAHAN. November 15th.—First match. H., 1000—6.62—78; W., 921—47.

HUBBELL VS. HUNT. February 21, 1865. Hubbell, 1000—7.58—70; Hunt, 649—57.

HUBBELL VS. RALPH BENJAMIN. August 16, 1865.—H., 1000—6.13—58; B., 956—33.

HUBBELL VS. BENJAMIN. March 27, 1866.—Fourth and last match. Hubbell, who then acquired the emblem on time-limit, ran 154 to Benjamin’s 42, averaged 10.87, and won by nearly 400 in 1000.

* * * * *

=First Championship of Pennsylvania.=—October 4–10, 1864, Sansom Street Hall, Philadelphia.—500 points on a 6 × 12 carom, p. and c. barred. Prizes, champion cue for first; silver plate, worth $100, for second. Nelms beaten by Estephe and Montgomery only. Average of tournament (seven games apiece), 8.23. Money stake in matches, $100.

W. R. Av. G. A.
Estephe 7 121 13.51 11.29
Nelms 5 108 13.12 9.55
Bird 4 64 11.60 8.94
Montgomery 4 74 9.26 7.64
Ryall 3 54 9.80 7.98
Plunkett 2 92 9.60 7.96
Palmer 2 57 10.20 7.70
Hewes 1 49 7.22[1] 5.83

Footnote 1:

Losing average.

ESTEPHE VS. RYALL. First match, same hall, December 13th.—E., 1200—10.63—60; R., 966—76.

ESTEPHE VS. MONTGOMERY. Same hall, February 20, 1865.—E., 1200—16—109; M., 525—44.

ESTEPHE VS. NELMS. Third and last match, Academy of Music, Philadelphia, April 13, 1865.—E., 1200—15.38—78; N., 1161—155.

* * * * *

=First Annual Championship of Upper Canada.= November 21–26, 1864, Music Hall, Toronto.—Games, 500 points, 6 × 12 four-pocket. Wm. Jakes beaten by none but Samuel May, who won play-off with D. Miller. Two prizes for place, and one for high run. Tournament unique in the approximate uniformity of its high runs and averages at the style of game. Its own average (six games apiece) was 5.99.

W. R. Av. G. A.
Jakes 5 60 8.20 7.56
May 4 64 7.58 6.01
Miller 4 48 7.81 6.70
Cronn 3 40 7.25 5.42
Brown 3 49 8.62 6.32
Cheseborough 2 40 5.62 5.43
Phillips 0 43 4.90

1865.

=First Public Contest on a 5½ × 11 Table (Four-pocket).= Grover’s Theatre, Washington, D. C., January 23d.—$250 a side. Melvin Foster, 1500—19.23—170; John Deery, 1445—205. Return game, Irving Hall, N. Y. City, February 11th.—F., 1500—16.13—137; D., 1124—122.

* * * * *

=Thomas Foley vs. Chas. A. Frink.= Metropolitan Hall, Chicago, January 29, $250 a side, 6 × 12 four-pocket. Foley, 1000; Frink, 872. Same terms and hall, February 11th.—Foley, 1000—14.71—93; Frink, 537—47.

* * * * *

=Amateurs’ Sixteen-hour Contest for $2,000.= “Arena,” 185 Sixth Avenue, N. Y. City, February 20–21st—Admission by invitation. Wm. N. Wickes gave Wm. McKeever odds of “double discount,” best in 37 100–point games “around the table”—i.e., mixed caroms and pocketings, latter limited to three consecutive times from the one spot (6 × 12 four-pocket). Games won: W., 20; McK., 14; W.’s extra one due to a dispute as to which had won the 13th. Total points: W., 4981; McK., 2129. Winner’s general average, 14.43. No intermission. Referee throughout, Peter D. Braisted, Jr., color-sergeant Seventh Regiment.

* * * * *

=Mace, Bridge and Jaw Barred.= Music Hall, Milwaukee, Wis., March 11th.—$250 a side, 6 × 12 four-pocket, John W. Coon giving S. A. Tustin odds of 200. C., 1000—14.08—112; T., 864—106.

* * * * *

=First Championship of Massachusetts.=—Bumstead Hall, Boston, March 13–18th.—Games, 300 points. Contestants all Boston professionals but Lee W. Langdon, amateur, of Florence, Mass. Four prizes, all for place, went to the first four as tabled. They also made the best four winning averages, but in this order—W., 17.65; D., 12.50; T., 12; L., 7.89. Average of tournament (seven games apiece), 6.72. Ensuing matches were all played in Bumstead Hall.

W. R. G. A.
W. A. Tobin 7 127 11.17
R. E. Wilmarth 6 111 8.18
Ed. Daniels 4 68 7.90
L. W. Langdon 4 45 6.84
L. S. Brooks 2 108 5.53
F. E. Smith 2 53 5.62
F. A. Harding 2 47 4.88
John Peck 1 64 5.68

TOBIN VS. WILMARTH. First match, June 21st.—W., 1500—11.36—110; T., 1439—134.

WILMARTH VS. DANIELS. October 18th.—D., 1500—9.74—80; W., 1020—58.

DANIELS VS. LANGDON. February 21, 1866.—D., 1500—8.61—129; L., 1252—50.

DANIELS VS. WILMARTH. June 21, 1866.—D., 1500—11.64—151; W., 911—115.

DANIELS VS. TOBIN. October 17, 1866.—T., 1500–10.14; D., 1292.

TOBIN VS. JOHN H. FLACK. June 28, 1867.—T., 1500—9.15—122; F., 1470—119.

TOBIN VS. DANIELS. October 31, 1867.—D., 1500—28.30—255; T., 628—101.

Series ended with seventh match. After that run of 255 and that average of 28.30 on a 6 × 12 four-pocket, no one challenged the title of the restored champion; and for that reason, also, there was no new championship until, in 1869, there was a remodeled game.

* * * * *

=First Championship of Ohio.= Mozart Hall, Cincinnati, May 22–30, 1865. Games, 300 points. Two prizes, gold-mounted cue and silver goblet. Tiers for latter tied again, and presented it to Tony Honing, who had marked the games. The winning averages of the five leaders, in this order, were: 10.71, 12.50, 8.67, 15.79, and 8.57; but actually fourth and fifth were Broga’s 10 and Turners 9.68. Average of tournament (seven games apiece), 7.25. All matches were for $250 a side.

W. R. G. A.
H. Choate 5 111 7.78
F. Ackerman 4 76 8.60
W. Rivers 4 76 7.30
G. Griffey 4 92 7.43
J. Frawley 4 50 7.13
J. Broga 3 99 7.04
B. Beatty 2 62 5.74
S. Turner 2 77 5.93

CHOATE VS. FRAWLEY. Same hall, September 28.—F., 1000—9.01—90; C., 874—74.

FRAWLEY VS. CHAS. DAVIS. Academy of Music, Cleveland, January 24, 1866. F., 1000—11.36—291; Davis, 998–135.

FRAWLEY VS. CHOATE. May 31st.—C. forfeited.

FRAWLEY VS. ACKERMAN. Brainard’s Hall, Cleveland, September 25, 1867.—Fourth and last match, j. b. and game arbitrarily lengthened. F., 1500—16.32—410; A., 1239—110.

* * * * *

=McDevitt vs. Goldthwait.= Mozart Hall, Cincinnati, May 31, 1865.—$1,000 a side.—McD., 1500—22.73—267; G., 10.86—16.71—96.

* * * * *

=First Championship of Illinois.= Smith & Nixon’s Hall, Chicago, June 14—21st.—First prize, gold-mounted cue; second, silver tea-service. Lowell Mason, ill, withdrew without playing; Charles A. Frink, taking his place, withdrew after playing and losing a game; and a Chicago amateur, billed as “Davis,” filled out the Mason-Frink gap. Those who reached double figures in their best winning averages were: F., 13.64; R., 11.54; and Le B. and “Davis,” 10.34 each. The one victory credited to M. W. Donahue was a forfeit from Chas. Masters. Average of tournament, 6.55. Seven 300–point games apiece.

W. R. G. A.
T. Foley 7 101 8.57
J. Ferguson 6 50 6.98
A. Le Brun 5 76 7.35
H. Rhines 3 85 6.62
Cy. Coan 3 42 6.23
“Davis” 2 76 5.84
C. Masters 1 55 5.66
M. Donahue 1 51 4.90

Money-stake in all matches, $250 a side.

FOLEY VS. RHINES. Bryan Hall, Chicago, October 12th.—F., 1500—12.50—84; R., 1061—47.

FOLEY VS. LE BRUN. Latter declared forfeit.

FOLEY VS. JOSEPH VERMEULEN. Chicago, June 27, 1866.—F., 1500—15.46—178; V., 1002—126.

FOLEY VS. RHINES. Crosby’s Music Hall, Chicago, October 15, 1866.—Fourth and last match of series. F., 1500—12.10—159; R., 1225—157.

Challenges ceasing, emblem eventually became the unbeaten Foley’s own.

* * * * *

=First Championship of All Canada.= Mechanics’ Hall, Montreal, July 12–19, 1865.—Tournament for gold-mounted cue for first, and a $75 silver cup for second. Five 500–point games apiece. Average of tournament, 7.07.

W. R. G. A.
C. Dion 5 138 12.33
W. Jakes 4 70 7.32
S. May 3 130 8.37
A. Guillett 2 62 6.51
J. Rooney 1 44 5.15
H. McVittie 0 70 4.90

The only high winning averages passing 8.47 (Jakes’s) were Dion’s 20 and May’s 12.50. This championship was simply nominal, as Joseph Dion was clearly the Canadian premier, with his brother Cyrille easily second. It was never played for again.

* * * * *

=Jos. Dion vs. Melvin Foster.= Mechanics’ Hall, Montreal, July 19th.—$1,000 a side in gold (U. S. currency still at heavy discount) D., 1500—21.74—151; F., 1108—147.

* * * * *

=Champion of Canada vs. Champion of Massachusetts.= Mechanics’ Hall, Montreal, July 20th.—First contest of a home-and-home match, $500 in gold each game. C. Dion, 1500—12.71—109; Robt. E. Wilmarth, 1375—90. In return game, set for Bumstead Hall, Boston, October 19, W. forfeited.

* * * * *

=Championship of Maine.= First tournament, Meonian Hall, Augusta, September 4–9th. Games, 300 points. R. T. Williams, E. Godfrey, and C. E. Smith were the prize-winners.

* * * * *

=Championship of Upper Canada.= Second annual tournament, Dallas Block, Toronto. Games, 300 points, p. b. Messrs. May, Miller and Brown tied, and the play-off gave Brown the championship and May the second prize. Their best winning average and their general average in the regular games were: Brown, 7.14 and 5.94; May, 9.38 and 6.92; Miller, 6.82 and 5.65. May won prize for high run, 79. The other contestants were Messrs. Cheseborough and Phillips, the latter winning no game, and the former beating only Phillips.

* * * * *

=Thomas Foley vs. John W. Coon.= Bryan Hall, Chicago, September 28.—$500 a side, Foley giving odds of 400. F., 1500—12.50—91; C., 1463—151.

* * * * *

=C. Dion vs. Ed. Daniels.=—Bumstead Hall, Boston, October 19.—$250 a side. Dion, 1500—16.30—157; Daniels, 728—59.

* * * * *

=Dudley Kavanagh vs. Pierre Carme.= Irving Hall, N. Y. City, November 4.—Second game of match of three, every one for $1,000 a side, half forfeit. (See Three-ball Caroms, October 5, 1865, for first.) Push-shot barred, 5½ × 11 four-pocket table, 2–5/16 balls. K., 1500—25—132; C., 1339—178. Third game, pushing and jawing allowed on 6 × 12 four-pocket, set for December 4th, was forfeited by Carme.

* * * * *

=First Championship of Maryland.= Baltimore, December 11–13th. 6 × 12 carom, c. b. Five players. Winner, Glessner, whose best average was about 8. No matches.

=First Championship of Virginia.= Norfolk, December 19–23d. Six participants. W. Baldwin, beaten by S. D. Brough only, was winner, his 40 being the highest run of all, and his 4.61 the best general average.

W. BALDWIN VS. EDWARD BRYAN. Norfolk, Va., May 10, 1866.—Only match. Bryan, 800—9.52—46; Baldwin, 429—49. By agreement, a 5½ × 11 four-pocket instead of a 6 × 12, as in tournament.

1866.

=Pennsylvania Restores Push-Shot.= Concert Hall, Philadelphia, January 31 to February 4, 1866.—Second championship of State, 6 × 12 carom, c. b., push allowed. Contestants: E. J. Plunkett, R. T. Ryall, Jas. Palmer, J. B. Bruce, and H. W. Hewes. All games 500 up but deciding one, which, between Ryall and Plunkett, was 1000 up; and in that the winner, Plunkett, ran 251, highest of tournament. Ryall, in playing Hewes, had made the next highest, 172. Palmer won third prize.

PLUNKETT VS. RYALL. Same hall, March 29th.—First match. R., 1500—18.07—123; P., 629—50.

RYALL VS. ESTEPHE. Same hall, May 14th.—R., 1500—17.44—160; E., 1349—75.

RYALL VS. PLUNKETT. Same hall, June 29th.—P., 1500—18.52—115; R., 823—117.

PLUNKETT VS. ESTEPHE. Sansom Street Hall, Philadelphia, August 28th.—P., 1500—30—223; E., 1360—282.

With this match the series was discontinued. Restoring the push had caused a division of sentiment.

* * * * *

=First Championship of Georgia.= Atlanta, February 12–21st.—300 points, eight contestants. A. W. Crawford beat all; John P. Chapman, second prize, $50 and gold watch; John Lloyd, third, $25 and a set of jewelry. Their best runs and averages were: Crawford, 54 and 13.64; Chapman, 68 and 14.29; Lloyd, 96 and 12.50.

* * * * *

=Memphis, Tenn., Tournament.= February 14–24th.—500 points, six players. Melvin Foster, N. Y., won first ($500) after a tie with F. A. Myers, of Memphis ($300), while Wm. Brown was third ($200). The best winning average and highest run, Foster’s 50 and 282, resulted from his “jawing” the balls against Harry Choate.

* * * * *

=First Public Contest in United States Between Foreign Players.= Cooper Institute, N. Y. City, May 24th.—Purse game for a testimonial benefit, 2–5/16 balls on a 5½ × 11 carom, p. b. J. Dion, of Montreal, 750—39.47—297 (by crotching); P. Carme, from France, 491—105.

* * * * *

=First Championship of Indiana.= Hamilton Hall, Fort Wayne, June 6–11th. Games, 300 up. Morris beat McCarthy, but lost in playing off. Best four winning averages: Morris, 12; McCarthy, 10.34; Capron, 9.33. Average of tournament, 6.19. All players tied but one, the only case of the kind among so many as seven at the four-ball game. No matches, McCarthy passing unchallenged. Six games apiece, tournament averaging 6.19. This was the first case of a championship tie.

W. R. G. A.
Tim McCarthy 5 73 8.19
Geo. Morris 5 67 6.84
J. O’Connell 3 43 5.28
Louis Capron 2 65 6.
W. T. McFarland 2 65 5.70
A. McCracken 2 154 6.35
C. Anderson 2 40 5.50

* * * * *

=Goldthwait vs. Deery.= Cooper Institute, N. Y. City, June 15.—$500 a side. G., 1500—15.79—218; Deery, 1245—202.

* * * * *

=First Championship of Missouri.= Verandah Hall, St. Louis, June 14–20th.—Six 300–point games apiece. Winner beaten by Terrell only, and beat Pearce in play-off. Best three winning averages—H., 60; B., 13.64; Wade, 8.57. Average of tournament, 6.87.

W. R. G. A.
A. H. Harrison 5 127 10.09
P. J. Pearce 5 58 6.86
H. Wade 4 83 6.12
Wm. Terrell 4 43 6.57
John Bluim 2 88 8.80
M. M. Miller 1 71 5.65
H. Wider 0 70 5.17

HARRISON VS. PEARCE. Same hall, October 4th.—Only match. P., 1500—10.71—136; H., 1462—98.

* * * * *

=T. Foley vs. Jos. Vermeulen.= Chicago, June 27th.—First of two games, each $250 a side. F., 1500—15.47—178; V., 1002—126. Academy of Music, Chicago, July 26th, return game, p. b. F., 1000—7.63—52; V., 898—63.

* * * * *

=Third Annual Championship of Upper Canada.= Rossin House, Toronto, p. b. D. C. Cheseborough beat Samuel May by 300 to 202, and J. Manard by 300 to 183. No others.

* * * * *

=Championship of the Champions.= Hippotheatron, N. Y. City, beginning September 15th. Tournament of State and provincial champions—Canada, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Massachusetts, Illinois, Connecticut, Missouri, and Ohio. First prize, gold-mounted cue. Plunkett beat McCarthy in playing off for second and third—a billiard-table and an emblematic silver service. Frawley’s 141 won gold watch and chain for highest run, Foley being near with 134. Average of tournament (seven games apiece), 9.83. It would have been higher, did not the subjoined table show 27 games instead of 28. The missing one was between Harrison and Frawley, and was annulled next morning (the only such instance on record as to a public tournament) by a vote of 7 to 1 of the eight contestants.

W. L. R. Av. G. A.
C. Dion 6 1 127 25. 12.
E. J. Plunkett 5 2 117 16.13 11.09
T. McCarthy 5 2 99 14.29 10.03
E. Daniels 3 4 80 15.15 9.37
T. Foley 3 4 134 16.67 10.
G. B. Hubbell 3 4 98 9.80 8.51
A. H. Harrison 1 5 132 11.11 9.79
J. Frawley 1 5 141 8.20 8.31

* * * * *

=Goldthwait vs. Daniels.= Bumstead Hall, Boston, October 26th.—$250 a side, winner conceding 500 points. G., 1500—20—218; D., 1499—195.

No match of so close a finish had ever before been played, the nearest approach having been the Frawley-Davis contest of 1000 to 998.

* * * * *

=McDevitt vs. Goldthwait.= October 30 in Bumstead Hall, Boston, and November 30 in Irving Hall, N. Y. City.—Home-and-home match for $500 a side each game. Goldthwait lost in his own city by 926 to 1500, and won in McDevitt’s by 1500 to 1137. McDevitt surpassed match record for a 6 × 12 four-pocket (his own 308) by running 409 in Boston.

1867.

=Third Championship of Pennsylvania.= Philadelphia, February 14–22d.—6 × 12 carom, c. b., push retained. All games 500 points but the last, in which, 1000 up, Nelms vs. Estephe, the highest run and best winning average (38.46) were made. Other players with winning averages above 15: Estephe, 33.33; Jas. Palmer, 17.86; Wm. Rockhill, 16.73; Ryall, 16.13. Nelms-Estephe game was played in National Hall. Average of tournament, 10.63. Seven games apiece.

W. R. G. A.
Nelms 7 470 19.32
Estephe 6 148 20.60
Ryall 5 120 12.34
Rockhill 4 96 9.52
Palmer 3 98 10.15
Hewes 2 71 9.13
Bruce 1 80 6.27
Hoyt 0 66 6.02

NELMS VS. RYALL. National Hall, Philadelphia, May 27.—Only match. N., 1500—33.33—543; R., 1140—277.

* * * * *

=Second Championship of Illinois.= Crosby’s Music Hall, Chicago, June 17–26th.—500 points, j. b. Prizes: Gold-mounted cue for first (won by Vermeulen in playing-off with Rhines), gold watch for second and amethyst ring for third. Best four winning averages were the four leaders’: R., 20.83; V., 14.29; Honohan, 12.20; Davis, 13.16. Average of tournament, 8.93. Seven games apiece.

W. R. G. A.
Vermeulen 6 196 10.59
Rhines 6 278 13.08
Davis 5 139 10.24
Honohan 4 92 9.64
Le Brun 4 85 8.48
Furlong 2 92 7.19
Forhan 1 42 5.63
Cusick 0 63 5.16

All matches were in Crosby’s Music Hall, Chicago, and the money-stake, except in last, was $200 a side.

VERMEULEN VS. RHINES. September 9.—R., 1500—18.29—300; V., 1162—236.

RHINES VS. HONOHAN. December 4th.—R., 1500—14.66—162; H., 1275—211.

RHINES VS. VERMEULEN. March 4, 1868.—V., 1500—13.65—201; R., 1415—161.

VERMEULEN VS. HONOHAN. May 25, 1868.—V., 1500—12.61—187; H., 1376—75.

VERMEULEN VS. RHINES. September 2, 1868.—R., 1500—11.16—211; V., 1377—128.

RHINES VS. VERMEULEN. December 21, 1868.—V., 1500—10.42; R., 1472.

VERMEULEN VS. HONOHAN. March 25, 1869.—J. and p. b., and points reduced. V., 1200—13.33—111; H., 910—68.

VERMEULEN VS. FRANK PARKER. July 5, 1869.—Another change, counting three for every carom instead of in twos or threes. P., 1200—19.67—117; V., 523—57.

PARKER VS. SNYDER. November 20, 1869.—P., 1200—15.38—129; S., 827—63.

PARKER VS. SNYDER. March 23, 1870.—Tenth and last match, stake increased to $250 a side. P., 1200—16.90—105; S., 978—93.

* * * * *

=Championship of Pacific Coast.= Platt’s Hall, San Francisco, August 17, 1867.—$500 a side, 5½ × 11 carom, c. b. Albert W. Jamison, 1500—50—212; Edward Morris, 740—236.

* * * * *

=First J. M. Brunswick & Co.’s Table in Tournament.= Cincinnati, O., October, 21–31st.—5½ × 11 four-pocket, play unrestricted. All games 300 points but that determining tie between Foster and Coon, which was 1000. Davis won third prize. The first was the table on which games were played. Average of tournament, nine games apiece, 12.93.

W. R. Av. G. A.
M. Foster 8 194 100. 25.37
J. W. Coon 8 162 37.50 16.25
C. Davis 7 124 23.08 14.
P. Snyder 4 288 50. 13.29
J. Vermeulen 4 98 23.08 11.61
F. Ackerman 4 141 27.27 13.47
H. Choate 4 81 11.11 9.
F. Parker 4 138 42.86 14.05
W. C. Rivers 2 116 15.79 11.11
F. E. Smith 0 76 7.31

One-half of the contestants became champions, State, national, or both; but the best mere billiard-player of the ten (Foster) never could attain to that eminence.

* * * * *

=C. Dion vs. Daniels.= Bumstead Hall, Boston, Mass., December 18th.—$250 a side, p. and j. barred, 6 × 12. Dion, 1000—11.71—101; Daniels, 770—94.

* * * * *

=Fourth Annual Championship of Upper Canada.= Toronto, December.—500 up, p. b., but jawing allowed. Wm. Jakes, with G. A. of 8.43, won all his games; Samuel May, G. A. 7.42, won all but one; Turner, G. A. 6.33, was third; Egener, G. A. 4.67, fourth; and Davis, G. A. 3.27, fifth and last. Average of tournament, 5.94.

1868.

=McDevitt vs. Goldthwait.= Cooper Institute, N. Y. City, January 8.—$250 a side, no restrictions. McD., 1500—166.67—1483; G., 113—48. The 1483 were made nominally in the “jaw,” but in effect it was a carom-table “crotch.”

* * * * *

=Championship of Nevada.= Opera House, Virginia City, January 20th.—$250 a side in gold, unrestricted; 5½ × 11 carom. W. Wright, 1500—71.43—768; Valentine J. Orndorff, 279—59. The 768 were crotched.

* * * * *

=Hewins vs. L. W. Simonds.= Music Hall, New Haven, Conn., March 4th.—$500 a side, j. b. on 5½ × 11, the Danbury expert giving the Hartfordite 500. H., 1500—8.13 (1000)—64; S., 1015—68.

* * * * *

=Carme vs. Vermeulen.= Crosby’s Music Hall, Chicago, July 22d.—$250 a side, 5½ × 11 carom, c. and p. barred, and V. receiving 500. C., 1500—34.88—382; V., 1135 (with odds)—73.

* * * * *

=Third Championship of Ohio.= Mozart Hall, Cincinnati, October 21–26th.—5½ × 11 four-pocket, c. and p. b., 300–point games. Fred. Ackerman won play-off and second prize, $150, and Tony Honing third, $100. Harry Choate, winning all his games, received first prize—gold-mounted cue and $100. Ackerman’s 33.33 was best average, his 14.88 the best general average, and Asa Brainard’s 143 the best run. The other six were Samuel Turner, J. W. Cronn, J. Quill, Joseph Casper, Jos. Cherry, and J. Grunkemeyer. Average of tournament, 10.37.

CHOATE VS. ACKERMAN. City Hall, Springfield, O., January 12, 1869.—First match. A., 1000—20.41—99; C., 563—65.

ACKERMAN VS. HONING. Mozart Hall, Cincinnati, September 11, 1869.—Second and last match. A., 1000—16.67—130; H., 894—187.

* * * * *

=First Match in America Between French Experts.= In November, A. P. Rudolphe and Pierre Carme were matched to play two games in Chicago, four-ball, p. and c. barred, and three-ball, each for $1,000 a side. Carme was adjudged to have forfeited in both. Soon afterward, they played two similar games, Rudolphe winning both, without equaling the record in either.

* * * * *

=T. Foley vs. Frawley.= Garrett’s Hall, Cleveland, December 2, 1868.—First of three games, every one for $500 a side, 5½ × 11, j. b. and push allowed in first, but both barred in second. Foley, 1500—16.30—120; Frawley, 975—189.

Second game, Crosby’s Music Hall, Chicago, December 30th.—Foley, 1000—10.63—78; Frawley, 645—81.

Third game, three-ball caroms, Frawley forfeited; and a new match, same as game of December 2, but for $1,000 a side, was played in same hall as second, February 24, 1869. Foley, 1500—22.39—248; Frawley, 1202—188.

1869.

[In this and all later years until close of the four-ball series,
table was a 5½ × 11 four-pocket, when not differently indicated, the
game p. and j. b., and the count in ones (for misses), threes and
sixes.]

=Frawley vs. Rhines.= Garrett’s Hall, Cleveland, January 22d.—$250 a side. F., 1000—14.02—153; R., 1496—298.

* * * * *

=J. Dion vs. Foster.= Mechanics’ Hall, Montreal, January 28th.—First of home-and-home-and-odd (see Three-ball Caroms, 1869), $1,000 a side every game. D., 1200—36.36—208; F., 1116—355.

=First Chalking of Lines.= On every corner cushion rail, about eight inches apart, the terminals of an imaginary line were drawn. This line had no reference to jawing or crotching, already barred by the articles of agreement, and yet its purpose was to prevent what, without describing it, a Montreal paper had spoken of as “Dion’s patent shot.” No one could be found who knew its nature. Suspecting it to be a “kiss-back” from one ball dead against the end-rail, one of the staff of the “N. Y. Times” suggested the line, and the referee, Gershom B. Hubbell, marked it with the concurrence of the players.

=First Public Game Played Under Protest.= Dion could not have fully understood the purpose of the line. Because of it, he played the latter half of the game under protest, Michael Phelan to decide. As he won, the protest was needless. Had he lost, it would have been useless. There has been only one other case of playing on after protesting, instead of having the point decided then and there; and in that other case the protester won because of a wrong decision due to delay, and that, if given on the spot, would not have been wrong, singular to say.

=Dion vs. Foster.= Mechanics’ Hall, Montreal, April 6th.—Third and last match of series, same terms as one above. D., 1200—28.57—124; F., 1118—102.

* * * * *

=First Championship of Wisconsin.= Opera House Hall, Fond du Lac, February 9–12th. Counting in twos, threes, and fives. Adam Kleser, then of Milwaukee, first; L. Olcott second; Harris Liverman, third. The others were S. A. Tustin, W. W. Seavor, and C. Bly. Stake in matches, $200.

KLESER VS. SEAVOR. Madison, Wis., May 19th. Counting now in threes and sixes. K., 1200—9.92—102; S., 728—48.

KLESER VS. LIVERMAN. Music Hall, Milwaukee, December 6, 1870. L., 1200—av., 11.54; K., 776.

LIVERMAN VS. KLESER. Eau Claire, June 29, 1871. L., 1200—av., 15; K., 1164.

* * * * *

=First Formal Amateur Championship.= That of Long Island, at Assembly Rooms, Brooklyn, April 19–28th. Games, 300 points, old counting, unrestricted. Contestants, Messrs. Dodge, Rogers, Wharton (prize-winners in that order), Hardy, Karff, Sproul, and Vanderwerker.

* * * * *

=Second or Diamond Cue Championship of America.= Irving Hall, N. Y. City, April 26 to May 10, 1869. This was a tournament of innovations. It was the first with an entrance-fee from contestants. Instead of in twos, threes, and fives, caroms were counted in threes and sixes. Instead of two short games per session, there was one long one (1200 points). For the first time in national championship contests, a 5½ × 11 (four-pocket) table was used, and the push-shot prohibited. Foster alone beat the winner-in-chief. Average of tournament, six games apiece, 17.35.

W. R. Av. G. A.
John Deery, $1,000 5 358 24. 18.66
A. P. Rudolphe, $625 4 170 25. 18.48
Melvin Foster, $475 4 189 23.53 18.41
Peter Snyder, $275 4 207 25. 18.29
Henry Rhines, $125 2 171 16. 16.52
W. Goldthwait 1 129 21.53 16.76
Ed. Daniels 1 219 25. 14.57

The closeness of the single and general averages is still without parallel in a tournament of leading experts. Playing off, Rudolphe beat both Foster and Snyder, and Foster, in defeating Snyder by 1200 to 872, ran 492 and averaged 38.67—records in themselves without being records of the tournament. Could Foster’s extra two games have been added to his tournament six, he would have credited himself with the tournament’s best run, its best single average, and its best general average (20.13).

All matches were for the Diamond Cue and a money-stake of $500 a side.

DEERY VS. FOSTER. Hippotheatron, N. Y. City, September 14, 1869. D., 1500—20—174; Foster, 1229—154.

DEERY VS. C. DION. Mechanics’ Pavilion, San Francisco, January 8, 1870. Deery, 1500—15.31—177; Dion, 1489—156.

DEERY VS. RUDOLPHE. Same hall, March 5, 1870. R., 1500—18.52—279; Deery, 1327—235.

RUDOLPHE VS. C. DION. Hippotheatron, N. Y. City, May 31st. R., 1500—27.27—153; D., 1485—177. Instead of one referee and two umpires, this contest had three joint referees, and an erroneous decision as to count, thoughtlessly given by one without consulting another, the third being absent temporarily, gave Rudolphe the match, $1,000 in stakes, and about $1,750 in clear door-money, the largest ever realized from one night’s play.

RUDOLPHE VS. J. DION. Apollo Hall, N. Y. City, October 7, 1870. R., 1500—28.30—192; D., 1192—180.

RUDOLPHE VS. PARKER. Kremlin Hall, Buffalo, N. Y., January, 11, 1871. P., 1500—18.29—144; R., 1235—162.

PARKER VS. C. DION. Crosby’s Opera House, Chicago, April 26, 1871. D., 1500—19.48—183; P., 1164—168.

C. DION VS. DANIELS. Latter declared forfeit.

C. DION VS. FOSTER. Hippotheatron, N. Y. City, June 19, 1871. D., 1500—24.59—186; F., 616—96.

C. DION VS. DEERY. Irving Hall, N. Y. City, November 29, 1872. Dion, 1500—16.67—321; Deery, 1201—81.

C. DION VS. DALY. Irving Hall, N. Y. City, January 2, 1873. Daly missed victory through his failure to see, until too late for rectification under the rules, that 15 points of his had not been marked up. When the score-strings showed 1490 for Daly and 1486 for Dion, the contest was annulled by an agreement to begin again, in Tammany Hall, January 9th. Dion then, 1500—25.42—156; Daly, 1147—159.

C. DION VS. DALY. Tammany Hall, N. Y. City, May 16, 1873. Daly, 1500—26.79—195; Dion, 1261—147.

DALY VS. GARNIER. Same hall, October 2, 1873. G., 1500—31.25—171; D., 1224—249.