Chapter VI: Part II: Plate XIII (4)

=Four First-place Ties Out of Seven Players.= Championship of Chicago, January 7th to February 4th.—300–point games. Henry Rhines ($150), Frank Parker ($100), Albert Hoa ($50), and M. Honahan ($25) had to play off, result being as given above. Peter Snyder, Ben Saylor, and Chas. P. Miller were the remaining contestants.

RHINES VS. PARKER. Same city, April 11th.—Championship and $200. Parker, 500—4.95—65; R., 449—36.

* * * * *

=First First-class Tourney in New Orleans.= January 10–19th, c. b., for $1,000 in prizes. Ties resulted in the precedence here given. Sexton topped Slosson’s San Francisco general average.

W. R. Av. G. A.
Sexton 4 297 30. 22.37
Slosson 2 173 23.08 16.80
Rudolphe 2 134 24. 15.07
M. Daly 1 136 20. 15.07
C. Dion 1 145 19.35 13.91

Average of tournament, 17.25.

* * * * *

=Sexton vs. C. Dion.= St. Charles Theatre, New Orleans, February 5th.—$2,000 a side, c. b., Sexton giving odds of 200. S., 1000—27.78—228; Dion, 765 (with odds)—94.

* * * * *

=Indiana Championship.= Washington Hall, March 18–23d.—Probably a 4½ × 9 table, c. b. P. A. Byers, gold badge and a Brunswick-Balke billiard-table; J. Randolph Heiser, $100; Henry Bussey, $60; and Jacob Garratt, $40. The best run (116) was made by Bussey, and the best single average (30) by Heiser. The other competitors were Geo. Morris, J. R. Seaman, A. Hawkins, and C. E. Carney.

Challenged by Bussey and receiving forfeit on May 23d, Byers resigned the championship emblem to the State Association.

* * * * *

=St. Louis Handicap.= Chas. E. Mussey’s Room, March 21–28th.—600 points up, c. b., for money-prizes aggregating $400. G. F. Slosson, C. Dion and J. Schaefer were at “scratch,” T. J. Gallagher received 10 per cent., and Wayman C. McCreery 20 per cent. Schaefer beat Dion, Slosson beat Schaefer, McCreery beat Slosson, and Gallagher beat McCreery. In beating Dion in the play-off, Schaefer ran 429, eclipsing Sexton’s match-run of 417. (This led to the match next below.) Average of tournament proper, 14.79 (four games apiece).

W. R. Av. G. A.
Schaefer ($200) 3 327 66.67 27.97
C. Dion ($125) 3 194 13.04 12.27
Slosson ($75) 2 288 37.50 14.25
Gallagher 1 182 19.35 12.73
McCreery 1 88 17.78 12.38

* * * * *

=Schaefer Forfeits to Sexton.= Match of three games, 1000 points each in New York, Chicago and St. Louis, for $2,000 a side, highest aggregate score to decide. Schaefer side incurred forfeit through failure to make the final deposit, July 3d.

* * * * *

=First 1000 Points in a Night.= Three-ball. Turner’s Hall, Chicago, November 20th.—$500 a side. Slosson, 1000—25.64—293; Schaefer, 739—217.

1879.

=Second Championship of the World.= Cooper Institute, N. Y. City, January 23d to February 10th.—Tournament for the J. M. Brunswick & Balke Co.’s emblem and $2,100 in cash, 600–point games. Slosson had the highest run by 19 per cent., and the best general average by 25 per cent.; but it was against him that Daly made the best run of his life, and his defeat of Slosson placed the latter in a position from which he could extricate himself only by vanquishing Schaefer twice. Instead, Schaefer beat him at once (600 to 571 in seven innings), after it had seemed almost certain that Slosson would win in five or six innings, and by about 600 to 200. There was only one play-off, Sexton beating Daly. The seven games apiece averaged 16.10, which, while lower than the figures of earlier tournaments, was yet higher than the general averages of all the contestants in this one but Slosson, Schaefer, and Daly. Only half the single averages in the appended table, viz., those of Schaefer, Daly, Gallagher, and Rudolphe, are winning ones. This proved to be the last tournament at the regular three-ball game to command the presence of first-class experts in America.

W. R. Av. G. A.
Schaefer ($1,000) 7 376 85.71 28.19
Slosson ($600) 5 464 81.57 37.60
Sexton ($300) 4 214 45. 14.86
Daly ($200) 4 370 30. 18.76
Garnier 3 220 36.75 14.67
Gallagher 3 187 20. 13.89
Rudolphe 1 159 15. 10.52
Heiser 1 158 12.26 8.44

There was but one match for this championship, together with a money-stake of $1,000 a side. It occurred in McCormack’s Hall, Chicago, May 15th. Schaefer, 1000—333.33—690; Slosson, 44—21.

* * * * *

=Last First-class Professional Tournament.= It was also the first tournament in France. Cercle Internationale, Paris, May 5–10th.—Games 600 up, on a J. M. Brunswick & Balke Co.’s 5 × 10 carom, for a championship emblem and other prizes. Triple tie not played off.

──────────┬───────┬───────┬───────┬───────╥───────
│ V. │ P. │ D. │ G. ║ Gen.
│ │ │ │ ║average
──────────┼───────┼───────┼───────┼───────╫───────
│ │ 600 │ 600 │ 600 ║
M. Vignaux│ │ 23.08 │ 46.15 │ 25 ║ 24.05
│ │ 183 │ 308 │ 184 ║
──────────┼───────┼───────┼───────┼───────╫───────
│ 308 │ │ 600 │ 288 ║
L. Piot │ │ │ 18.18 │ ║ 13.90
│ 60 │ │ 93 │ 62 ║
──────────┼───────┼───────┼───────┼───────╫───────
│ 270 │ 555 │ │ 600 ║
M. Daly │ │ │ │ 27.27 ║ 19.78
│ 73 │ 182 │ │ 155 ║
──────────┼───────┼───────┼───────┼───────╫───────
│ 413 │ 600 │ 392 │ ║
A. Garnier│ │ 22.22 │ │ ║ 22.46
│ 115 │ 184 │ 71 │ ║
──────────┴───────┴───────┴───────┴───────╨───────

* * * * *

=Last First-class Professional Match in America.= Madison Square Garden, N. Y. City, October 23–25th.—1000 points nightly, $2,000 a side. Schaefer, 3000—41.62—427; Slosson, 2604—365.

1880.

=Last First-class Match Anywhere.= Salle Cremorne, Paris, April 10–14th.—$500 a side. Vignaux, 4000—80—1531; Slosson, 3118—1103.

* * * * *

=Championship of Pennsylvania.= Philadelphia, beginning December 4th.—Games, 300 up. Ed. McLaughlin, E. H. Nelms, V. Estephe and Wm. M. Dodds prize-winners.

* * * * *

=B.-B.-C. Co.’s First Tournament on Pacific Coast.= San Francisco, Cal., about 1880–81.—To write from memory, it was won by W. J. Lowry, one of whose strongest competitors was an Eastern amateur, who was persuaded into participating while on a visit to that city.

* * * * *

=Spotting at Fifty.= C. E. Mussey’s Room, St. Louis, March 20–27th, five days’ play, Wayman C. McCreery giving the odds, for $100 a side, of spotting at 50 to W. H. Catton’s 60. McC., 3000; C., 2771.

This method of repressing straight-rail nursing had been tested in a six-handed handicap tournament at Mussey’s in the prior February, the winner being Louis Reed, who spotted at 50, Catton (35) taking second prize, and Leon Magnus (50) the third.

1883.

=St. Louis Handicap.= Mussey’s, February 3d to March 10th.—Seven entries, of whom Gallagher (650) and Catton (500) tied on 5—1 each, without playing off. Highest run and best winning average were Gallagher’s 332 and 46.44.

* * * * *

=Championship of Pacific Coast and $500.= Mechanics’ Pavilion, San Francisco, September 25–30th.—Ben Saylor, 2500—10.91—191; J. F. B. McCreery, 1783—112.

* * * * *

=Ed. McLaughlin vs. Randolph Heiser.= Assembly Buildings, Philadelphia, December 12th.—First of match of three games (see Balkline and Champion’s Game for the others) for $250 a side each. McL., 1000—71.43—805 (finish); H., 134—run, 119.

1884.

=Maggioli vs. Edward Dawson.= Theatre, Mobile, Ala., July 8th.—$500 a side, 4½ × 9. M., 1000—13.51—170; D., 789—148.

* * * * *

=Maggioli vs. Harry Cole.= Casino Hall, San Antonio, Tex., October 24–26th.—$500 a side, 4½ × 9. M., 3000—71.43—833; C., 2383—854. They played in Galveston on January 4th, 1885, and Cole won the $500 by 1000 to 254, averaging 66.67, and running 507.

* * * * *

=First of 1500 Points a Night.= Central Music Hall, Chicago, December 19–20th.—$1,000 a side. W. H. Catton, 3000—31.58—933; Edward McLaughlin, 2307—942. These are the largest runs in this country in a stake game on a 5 × 10 table.

1885.

=Ben Saylor vs. Lon Morris.= San Francisco, April 22d.—$125 a side, Morris discounting. S., 1000—27.77—101; Morris had 470 left—best runs, 554 and 289.

* * * * *

=Eugene Carter vs. Harvey McKenna.= Frasheim Hall, Cleveland, O., May 12–13th.—$1,000 a side, 5 × 10. C., 3000—26.79—289; McK., 2288—417.

* * * * *

=Championship of Dakota and $200.= Mitchell, December 27th. L. E. Stern defeated Max Shauer.

1886.

=W. D. Emery vs. Lansing W. Perkins.= Hershey’s Music Hall, Chicago, February 18th.—$500 a side. E., 800—7.16—87; P., 775—75.

* * * * *

=Amateur Handicap Annuals.= Maurice Daly’s Assembly Rooms, Brooklyn, N. Y., March 20th.—Commencement of annual tournaments for jeweled prizes. Eight contestants. Orville Oddie, Jr., won the one-carat diamond stud, having incidentally made highest run (75) and single winning average (12). In tournament of November 8th to 24th, he was awarded another diamond stud, winning 6—1, and again making highest run (130) and single average (18.18).

1887.

=Amateur Match for $3,000.= N. Y. Racquet Club, April 15–20th.—300 points a night. Dr. G. L. Knapp, 1500—4.15—76; Alexander Morten, 1383—52.

* * * * *

=500 or No Count.= Grand Rapids, Mich., May 21st.—Game of 1000 points, $50 a side. McKenna, 1000; Wm. Burleigh, 143. Numerically, this is the largest odds ever known to have been given to one of Burleigh’s speed.

* * * * *

=First Amateur Championship of America.= May 23–28th.—N.Y. Racquet Club tournament for a silver tankard valued at $500. Five games apiece, 300 points up. Messrs. Soulé and Flannagan represented Philadelphia.

W. R. Av. G. A.
Orville Oddie, Jr. 5 183 15.79 11.03
Alex. Morten 4 58 6.25 4.59
Dr. H. D. Jennings 3 98 5.66 4.26
J. E. Soulé 3 57 6.38 4.43
C. T. Jones 1 58 5.08 3.78
L. A. Flannagan 0 39 ————

One general average having been withheld, it is not possible to figure out the average of tournament.

* * * * *

=McKenna vs. Fred Eames.= Bumstead Hall, Boston, December 20–21st.—Game for a purse, McKenna to make 5000 before Eames could score 500 altogether on either night. McK., 5000—416.67—2572 and 2121; E., 45—18.

1888.

=Second Amateur Championship of America.= N. Y. Racquet Club, May 14–19th.—First competition for the Townsend Cup, valued at $1,000, and to be won, consecutively or otherwise, in three annual tournaments. Three games apiece, 300 points. Average of tournament, 4.90.

W. R. Av. G. A.
Orville Oddie, Jr. 3 109 8.33 7.69
C. Bainbridge 2 82 5.45 4.70
H. D. Jennings 1 81 3.47 4.67
Alex. Morten 0 47 3.32

1889.

=Brooklyn, N. Y., Amateur Annual.= Daly’s Assembly Rooms, February 4–14th.—Handicap tournament for diamonds, 5 × 10. Arthur R. Townsend (scratch, 375), winning 3—1, won first prize and also made highest single average (15), highest general average (7.40), and highest run (116). Townsend was tied by Wm. Barnard (375), but defeated him, in playing off for first and second, by 375 to 185.

* * * * *

=Third Tourney for Amateur Championship of America.= Second and last for Townsend Cup. N. Y. Racquet Club, May 13–18th. Average of tournament (four games apiece), 6.01.

W. R. Av. G. A.
Orville Oddie, Jr. 4 195 17.32 8.56
A. R. Townsend 3 138 11.11 7.57
R. J. Maginniss 2 94 11.53 5.68
H. D. Jennings 1 101 11.53 5.31
Andrew Miller 0 42 4.07

May 12, 1900, a third annual competition having been found impracticable, the club committee awarded the Townsend Cup to Oddie.

* * * * *

=Joseph Capron vs. John Donahue.= Montreal, Can., September 18th.—$250 a side. Capron won by 500 to about 340, but loser made best run (66).

* * * * *

=Schaefer vs. McKenna.= November.—Match for $2,500 a side, even up. Death of Schaefer’s wife caused his side to pay $500 for postponement to January, and death of McKenna meanwhile ended match.

1890.

=Brooklyn, N. Y., Annual Amateur Handicap.= Daly’s Assembly Rooms, March 10–22d.—Average of tournament (five games apiece), 5.10.

W. R. Av. G. A.
A. R. Townsend (500) 4 257 17.24 9.83
Dr. H. D. Jennings (300) 3 91 8.57 4.73
Frank A. Keeney (300) 3 135 5.77 5.49
Herbert S. Haskell (500) 2 171 9.43 6.65
Wm. H. Barnard (350) 1 56 3.50 3.
George Moulton (275) 1 39 3.44 2.90

* * * * *

=J. Schaefer vs. J. F. B. McCleery.= San Francisco, May 29th, 30th, 31st.—$200 a side, 3000 points, Schaefer giving odds of discount, 4½ × 9, c. b. S., 3000 (winning score)—average, 751 in actual score (3004)—run, 3000; McC., 15—run, 13.

* * * * *

=F. C. Ives vs. McCleery.= Same city, same table, a day or two later, Ives conceding 1000 for a stake of $250 a side. Ives, 3000—176.46—982; McC., 1748—717.

Nothing could more fitly close the chronicle of regular three-ball caroms than those McCleery matches. For other than amateurs or rising professionals, the game had lacked approval ever since the spring of 1879. Several of the contests after that were designed chiefly to surpass the “run” and “average” records of one or two professionals earlier in the wonder-working field; and so lamentably did the unrestricted game decline that first-class players, avoiding one another to the neglect of championships, welcomed matches with fourth or fifth-rate ones on 4½ × 9 tables.

* * * * *

=Kerkau vs. McLaughlin.= Daly’s Room, N. Y. City, purse games. August 16–21st.—McLaughlin, 6000—run, 1290; K., 4749, total. Sept. 6–11th.—Kerkau, 6000—run, 1355; McL., 4520—run, 1349. Averages in both were light for the high runs.

1905.

=J. Ferd. Poggenburg vs. Wm. H. Duhy.= Rooms of the Cherokee Club, N. Y. City, February 26th.—Contest for the Victor Dowling Championship Cup at “straight-rail,” 4½ × 9 table. P., 150—9.44—run not stated; D., 146—run, 60 (highest of game). At the Lexington Avenue Opera House, N. Y. City, April 30th, for same emblem: Ed. McLaughlin, 300—21.43—158; Wm. Duhy, 153—50. Table, 4½ × 9.

BEST PERFORMANCES,
OMITTING TABLES LARGER OR SMALLER THAN THE STANDARD 5 × 10 FOR THIS
GAME, AS OFFICIALLY DECREED IN 1873.

AVERAGES IN CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES.

333.33 in 1000—J. Schaefer, 1879.

28.57 in 600—Wm. Sexton, 1878.

RUNS IN CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES.

690 in 1000—J. Schaefer, 1879.

247 in 600—Wm. Sexton, 1877.

AVERAGES IN CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENTS.

85.71 in 600 points—J. Schaefer, 1879.

25.00 in 300—J. Dion, 1874 (championship of America).

37.60 (gen. av. in 3947 points)—G. F. Slosson, 1879.

RUNS IN CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENTS.

464 in 600—G. F. Slosson, 1879.

159 in 300—M. Vignaux, 1874 (championship of America).

AVERAGES IN NON-CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES.

416.67 in 5000—H. McKenna, 1887 (nominally a match, but actually a
purse game. Schaefer averaged 751 in 1890, running 3000, but the
table was a 4½ × 9).

80.00 in 4000—M. Vignaux, Paris, 1880.

48.39 in 3000—W. H. Catton, 1884.

24.32 in 1800—W. Sexton, 1877.

71.57 in 1000—Ed. McLaughlin, 1883.

RUNS IN NON-CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES.

1355 in 6000—H. Kerkau, purse game, 1887.

2572 in 5000—H. McKenna, 1887 (see paragraph above).

1531 in 4000—M. Vignaux, Paris, 1880.

942 in 3000—Ed. McLaughlin, 1884.

417 in 1800—Wm. Sexton, 1877.

805 in 1000—Ed. McLaughlin, 1883.

212 in 600—M. Daly, 1874.

AVERAGES IN NON-CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENTS.

66.67 in 600—J. Schaefer, 1878.

60.00 in 300—Wm. Sexton, 1876.

RUNS IN NON-CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENTS.

287 in 300—Wm. Sexton, 1876.

327 in 600—J. Schaefer, 1878. (S. ran 429 in tie-game, but it was
outside of tournament.)

CHAMPIONS GAME.

All play was on a 5 × 10 carom, with 2⅜ balls, and also with a
14 × 28–in. line, except in last two public matches.

ABBREVIATIONS.—Player, 600—18.75—165; Player, 585—151—signifies
winner’s total, average, and high run, followed by loser’s total and
high run.

1879.

=First Tournament at Restricted Three-ball Caroms.= In the Champion’s Game, as originally played in public on the dates given below, an oblique line was drawn near every corner. Its purpose was to make it harder to swing the balls (“turn the corner”) in the progressive nursing process known as “straight rail.” On the short rail, this line ended 14 inches from the nearest corner, and on the long rail 28 inches. Within any one of the four balks so formed, only two successive shots could be wholly made; but, for it to count, the second shot had to send at least one ball out.

Tammany Hall, N. Y. City, November 11–24th.—Challenge emblem and $2,000. Games 300 points, except in playing off ties. Sexton by 500 to 478, and Daly by 500 to 496, were winners of ties. Average of tournament (seven games apiece), 10.58.

W. R. Av. G. A.
Sexton ($1,000) 6 112 27.27 13.77
Slosson ($500) 6 107 25.00 14.02
Schaefer ($250) 5 122 23.08 13.65
Daly ($150) 3 123 18.75 11.36
Garnier ($100) 3 147 16.67 10.19
Carter 2 103 11.11 9.54
Rudolphe 1 81 15.79 8.70
Heiser 0 113 7.31

Money-stake in championship matches, $500 a side. All were played in Tammany Hall. After his second victory over Schaefer, Slosson was never again challenged.

SEXTON VS. SCHAEFER. January 10, 1880. Schaefer, 600—18.75—165; Sexton, 585—151.

SCHAEFER VS. SEXTON. April 22, 1880. Schaefer, 600—14.63—141; Sexton, 523—75.

SCHAEFER VS. SLOSSON. June 19, 1880. Slosson, 600—30—236; Schaefer, 470—114.

SLOSSON VS. SCHAEFER. October 4, 1880. Slosson, 600—33.33—138; Schaefer, 438—312.

1880.

=Carter vs. Gallagher.= Union Square Rooms, N. Y. City, March 22d.—$500 a side. C., 600—10.17—140; G., 423—54.

* * * * *

=Heiser vs. Carter.= Same hall, March 26th.—$500 a side. H., 600—10.53—93; C., 566—149.

* * * * *

=Vignaux vs. Slosson.= Grand Hotel, Paris, December 20–24th.—$1,000 a side. V., 3000—29.70—214; S., 2961—273.

1881.

=Schaefer vs. Slosson.= Academy of Music, N. Y. City, April 11–15th.—$2,000. Schaefer, 4000—32.52—342; Slosson, 2780—252.

1882.

=Longest Run Abroad.= Grand Hotel, Paris, January 30th to February 3d.—$1,000 a side. Slosson, 3000—37.97—398; Vignaux, 2553—394.

As the first victory of an American abroad in a public match, this was commemorated by a dinner to Slosson at Delmonico’s, N. Y. City, on February 23d, by a professional testimonial to him afterwards at the Columbian Room, not then his, and later by a purse of $700, contributed in part by Charles A. Dana, Frank Queen, and other journalistic patrons of billiards. [The winner maintains that this game was played on 18 × 38 lines.—ED.]

* * * * *

=New Orleans Tournament.= Millers Room, March 27th to April 13th.—Games started at 400, but found too long, and reduced to 300 after first night. Maggioli, 5—0; Abrams and Coste, each 3—2, Coste winning play-off; Oberlander and Zaehringer, each 2—3, former winning play-off; and Bartley, 0—5.

1884.

=Longest Run in America.= Madison Square Hall, N. Y. City, February 14th.—$250 a side, last game of match (see Three-ball Caroms and Balkline for others). Edward McLaughlin, 600—15.79—206; J. R. Heiser, 552—351.

* * * * *

=Handicap Tournament of Chicago Amateurs.= Collender Billiard Hall, beginning March 17th.—Messrs. Ed. Rein, Sawyer and Davis played Champion’s Game against Frank Rice and four others. Rein won 6—1, and Rice and Davis 5—2 each, Rice also winning play-off. Sawyer won fourth prize.

* * * * *

=Line Increased from 14 × 28 to 18 × 38.= Central Music Hall, Chicago, May 31st.—Second game of match of two (see Balkline Game for the other), $500 a side each. Slosson, 800—28.54—236; Schaefer, 657—98. The 18 × 38 line was then first played in public in America, but had been practiced in 1882–83, and on January 20, 1883, Slosson challenged Schaefer to play it for $500 a side.

1885.

=Line Increased from 18 × 38 to 20 × 40.= Same hall and stake as foregoing about Feb. 2, Chicago. Schaefer, 800—16.67—78; Slosson, 589—97.

Making runs of 100 unlikely or impossible in public defeated the purpose of the game, which was to restrict nursing without prohibiting it, and at this stage this line system was abandoned.

BEST PERFORMANCES IN PUBLIC MATCHES.

AVERAGES AT 14 × 28.

33.33 in 600 (championship)—G. F. Slosson, 1880.

37.97 in 3000, Paris, France—G. F. Slosson, 1882.

32.52 in 4000—J. Schaefer, 1881.

RUNS AT 14 × 28.

312 (championship)—J. Schaefer, 1880.

351 (best in America)—J. R. Heiser, 1884.

398 (best anywhere)—G. F. Slosson, Paris, France, 1882.

AVERAGES AT 18 × 38.

28.54 in 800—G. F. Slosson, 1884.

RUN AT 18 × 38.

236—G. F. Slosson, 1884.

AVERAGE AT 20 × 40.

16.67—J. Schaefer, 1885.

RUN AT 20 × 40.

97—G. F. Slosson, 1885.

BALKLINE GAME.

All play, unless otherwise stated, was with 2⅜ 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.

1883.

=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.

W. R. Av. G. A.
Schaefer ($1,000) 6 220 40.00 23.23
Vignaux ($800) 5 246 31.58 22.07
Daly ($500) 4 90 17.14 13.50
Sexton ($300) 3 170 16.58 10.88
Morris ($200) 2 101 15. 10.84
J. Dion 1 101 15.71 10.36
Wallace 0 134 7.79

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 match until Slosson and Schaefer’s in 1890, which was the first case of first-class carom championship, either national or universal, without a tournament.

* * * * *

=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.

1884.

=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 Behrens, and finally, December 30, 1885, defeated Behrens by 500 to 366.

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.

1885.

=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.

Hand. Run. Av. G. A.
Lon Morris ($750) 500 97 18.52 18.52
J. F. B. McCleery ($250). 300 77 7.89 9.11
Ben Saylor 350 87 10.03

Morris’s averaging 18.52 against both opponents necessarily made his general average 18.52 also.

* * * * *

=Line Increased from 8:2 to 12.2.= Central Music Hall, Chicago, January 26th.—$500 a side. Schaefer, 800—14.55—109; Slosson, 719—98.

* * * * *

=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.

W. R. Av. G. A.
Slosson ($1,464.78) 4 148 22.73 18.18
Schaefer ($1,064.78) 3 97 18.52 15.08
Sexton ($864.78) 2 53 10. 7.97
Daly ($714.78) 1 51 8.95 7.99
J. Dion ($464.78) 0 52 7.24

* * * * *

=A 14:2 Tournament of Four Rounds.= VIGNAUX, SCHAEFER AND SLOSSON.—Central Music Hall, Chicago, twelve nights between November 16th and December 26th, both inclusive, for $2,950, given by Chicago roomkeepers, and $1,000 by the B. B. C. Co., with the net receipts added. No championship was involved. Independent games of 600 points, every player playing every other twice, constituted the first two rounds, or tournament proper, and 800–point games, every man playing every other twice, constituted the remaining rounds, which were to determine the triple tie of November 16–21st, duplicated December 21–23d.

W. R. Av. G. A.
Slosson 2 89 19.36 18.85
Vignaux 2 195 75. 25.64
Schaefer 2 152 23.08 19.47

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.

1886.

[All play now 14:2 on a 5 × 10, unless otherwise stated.]

=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.

1888.

=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.

* * * * *

=First 14:2 Tournament in France.= Played on a B. B. C. Co.’s 5 × 10 table at Vignaux’s Academy, Paris, March 19–28th.—Contestants at various handicaps, Messrs. Vignaux (3—1), Piot, Fournil, and Leuiller (2—2 apiece), and Gay (1—3).

* * * * *

=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).

1889.

=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.)

1890.

=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.

As professionals of mark have never publicly repeated this experiment of line against line, averaging this tournament in its entirety would be worthless for comparison. Average of the four 8:2 players, 13.17; of the two 14:2, 17.63.

W. R. Av. G. A.
Slosson ($1,600) 5 136 26.32 17.36
Schaefer ($1,200) 4 168 26.32 17.93
Daly ($400) 2 118 20.83 13.52
Catton ($400) 2 95 15.13 11.31
Ives ($400) 2 105 25. 17.80
Heiser 0 141 10.90

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.

W. R. Av. G. A.
Schaefer (500) 5 200 38.46 25.00
Ives (275) 4 97 25.00 13.12
Slosson (500) 3 178 25. 20.18
Catton (250) 2 74 9.26 8.33
Heiser (250) 1 52 6.25 5.67
Daly (300) 0 62 6.96

* * * * *

=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.

W. R. Av. G. A.
Carter 7 116 30.77 15.55
Ives 6 116 44.44 19.38
Catton 4 83 21.05 10.55
McLaughlin 3 109 14.29 9.34
Maggioli 3 76 9.09 8.18
Hatley 3 60 12.12 9.30
Jos. Capron 2 54 10.33 7.26
L. Shaw 0 54 6.15

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.

W. R. Av. G. A.
McLaughlin 5 64 9.09 6.23
Dodds 4 31 4.84 4.25
Burris 3 45 6.84 4.95
Boschert 2 25 5.17 3.83
Walker 1 29 4.23 3.94
J. Cline 0 31 3.71

Stake in matches, $300. Challenged by Dodds, McLaughlin won in Philadelphia, May 4th, by 400 to 181.

* * * * *

=Twelve and a Half Line on 4½ × 9.= B’nai B’rith Hall, San Francisco, April 23d.—J. F. B. McCleery and B. Saylor began a tournament at 12½.2 for championship of the Pacific Coast. Result of first game is all that ever reached the Atlantic. S., 400—12.12—73; McC., 221—41. W. A. Spinks was the other entry.

* * * * *

=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).

1892.

[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.

1893.

=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.

April, 1894, Montreal, C. played M. Thomas for championship and $500. C., 500; T., 415.

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.

1895.

=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. R. Av. G. A.
Ellison 7 74 10. 7.81
Rice 6 59 9. 5.80
Kellogg 4 34 6.50 4.75
Nolan 3 39 5. 3.60
Goodwin 3 46 6. 4.
Adams 3 36 6.50 4.40
Rein 1 23 4. 3.20
Brown 0 44 4. 3.

The emblem ultimately became the property of Clem E. Ellison. There was but one match-contest for it, and in that, against Mr. Milburn at the rooms of the Chicago A. C., E. won on an average of 6.

* * * * *

=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.

1896.

=Shortstops in Chicago.= Recital Hall, Jan. 18–27; game, 400 points, 14:2; prizes, $1,000.

W. R. Av. G. A.
T. J. Gallagher 5 104 28.57 19.80
J. F. Maggioli 3 91 14.29 10.60
Ed. McLaughlin 2 114 21.05 13.53
W. F. Hatley 3 93 12.50 11.
Geo. Sutton 1 86 13.79 9.75
Jos. Capron 1 54 13. 8.51

=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.

W. R. Av. G. A.
A. R. Townsend(325) 4 57 8.80 5.87
J. Byron Stark (270) 9 53 10.38 5.56
Ed. W. Gardner(250) 6 34 5.70 4.34
F. A. Keeney(240) 6 39 5.72 4.68
Dr. A. B. Miller(240) 4 44 6.13 4.32
Dr. A. L. Ranney(240) 1 42 4.25 3.59
F. Poggenburg(210) 6 36 5.13 4.

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 300, G. first, I. second. Best single, best general, and highest run: G., 12—9.60—53; I., 19.58 (losing)—16.58—103; S., 17.56 (losing)—12.70—111.

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.

1897.

=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.

W. R. Av. G. A.
Sutton 3 88 22.22 12.
Spinks 3 138 36.36 11.90
Gallagher 3 100 27. 17.16
McLaughlin 2 78 15.39 11.78
Maggioli 2 99 13.33 10.14
Catton 2 97 22.22 13.41

* * * * *

=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.

W. R. Av. G. A.
Spinks 5 167 18.18 15.50
Catton 5 158 23.50 16.75
Sutton 4 169 30.77 21.10
McLaughlin 3 99 17.39 13.33
Gallagher 2 95 21. 15.50
Maggioli 1 107 28. 13.
Matthews 1 118 15. 9.80

* * * * *

=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 $500 in entrance fees and to the net receipts. Average of tournament, four 500–point games apiece, 8.89.

W. R. Av. G. A.
G. F. Slosson ($1466.50) 4 97 12.20 9.39
J. Schaefer ($879.90) 3 85 15.45 9.25
F. C. Ives ($586.60) 2 140 31.25 14.95
M. Daly 1 73 8.20 7.18
Geo. Sutton 0 53 6.09

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.

1898.

=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.

W. R. Av. G. A.
Schaefer ($787.50) 3 138 40. 18.85
Ives ($787.50) 3 136 28.71 24.28
Sutton ($450) 2 73 17.65 13.85
Catton ($112.50) 1 56 9.38 6.75
Spinks ($112.50) 1 48 10.82 8.23

* * * * *

=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 Athletic Union Handicap.= Knickerbocker A. C., N. Y. City, May.—14:2. Order at close: Mial (250), Stark (300), Miller (250), J. A. Hendrick (270), Clement Bainbridge (260), and L. A. Servatius (250). Best single, general, and run: 9.09—6.37—64, by Stark.

* * * * *

=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.

W. R. Av. G. A.
Stark 6 47 10.34 7.74
Taylor 4 71 7.56 5.42
Smith 4 64 6.97 5.50
Poggenburg 3 48 7.60 5.42
Miller 2 33 5. 4.13
G. E. Hevner 1 29 5.79 4.67
J. A. Hendrick 1 32 4.63 3.92

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).

1899.

=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.

W. R. Av. G. A.
Mullen 3 73 10.26 8.30
Foss 2 133 12.25 8.27
McCreery 1 139 13.33 9.16

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.

* * * * *

=Straight Rail vs. 8:2 Balkline Revived.= Amateur handicap, Foley’s Room, Chicago, March.—Al Taylor and Griffith played the line for 250 against the unlimited three-ball game of Gray (250), Cochrane, Harris, and the younger Foley (all at 180), McKay and Atwater (both 140), Rawson (130), and Wilder (120). Taylor, winning by 9—0, had highest general average (5.86), second-best run (74), and second-best single average (7.81), the highest run and single by a “railer” being the 126 and 13.85 of Foley, who got second place on 7—2. Atwater (6—3) third, and the veteran McKay (5—4) fourth.

* * * * *

=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.