Part 2 — 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 209was 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.

210

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 211and 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. 212protested 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.

213

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

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.

214

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

215TOBIN 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.

216First 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.

217Champion 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, 25 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.

218First 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.

219First Public Contest in United States Between Foreign Players. Cooper Institute, N. Y. City, May 24th.—Purse game for a testimonial benefit, 25 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.

220Championship 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 221winning 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.

222PARKER 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.”

223Championship 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.

224Third 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. 225Adam 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.

226DEERY 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.

October 6, Garnier resigned Diamond Cue to its surviving donor, H. W. Collender, instead of to C. Dion, who on September 30 had challenged winner of then pending Daly-Garnier match. Dion thereupon again became champion.

C. DION VS. RUDOLPHE. Same hall, April 7, 1876. Fourteenth match and thirteenth and last completed contest. Dion, 1500—40.54—228; Rudolphe, 392—108.

Time-limit, two years and a half, made the emblem Dion’s. Daly holds it as a souvenir of his having held it as champion.

227Second Championship of Massachusetts. Olympic Theatre, Boston, May 10–18, 1869.—500–point games. R. E. Wilmarth, champion cue and $250; A. B. Williams, second (billiard-table); John H. Flack, third (gold watch and chain). Other contestants were W. A. Tobin, John F. Murphy, L. S. Brooks, Samuel Colby, and R. Davis. Stake in matches, $200.

WILMARTH VS. BROOKS. Bumstead Hall, Boston, December 10th. W., 1200—10—87; B., 955—99.

WILMARTH VS. MURPHY. Same hall, January 24, 1870. W., 1200—16.67—93; M., 846—69.

WILMARTH VS. B. FRANK DENNISON. Same hall, March 31, 1870. D., 1200—16—208; W., 787—60.

DENNISON VS. TOBIN. Opera House, Springfield, Mass., June 30, 1870. D., 1200—13.33—132; T., 1014—105.

Chicago’s First Amateur Championship. T. Foley’s Room, June 7–26, 1869.—500–point games. Clem Ellison won second in play-off, and fourth went to Humphreys. Average of tournament, nine games apiece, 8.02. G. A. of five leaders were: S., 12.06; E., 9.59; W., 9.34; H., 9.66; John W. Blaisdell, the actor, 8.26.

W. R. Av.

Spear 9 87 10.23

Ellison 7 108 13.89

Watkins 7 85 12.82

Humphreys 6 111 11.11

Blaisdell 5 87 11.36

Kinzie 5 72 10.09

Stevens 3 63 7.41

O’Brien 2 51 7.14

Wilson 1 66 7.35

Pickley 0 51

Second Championship of Maine. Portland, August 2–7th. 500 points, 5½ × 11 four-pocket, unrestricted, and counted in old way. Henry F. Shiel, unbeaten, won champion cue and $200; C. E. Smith, of Augusta, billiard-table; and Smith, of Portland, gold watch. Others, J. M. Bonney and George Swazey.

SHIEL VS. T. HERBERT WHITE. Portland, August 7, 1871. Former won by 1000 to 867.

SHIEL VS. C. E. SMITH. Lancaster Hall, Portland, June 28, 1871. Shiel, 1200—17.91—150; Smith, 818—115.

Average of 1000. Breed’s Hall, Norwich, Conn., August 4th.—First of home-and-home, each for $200 a side, $50 forfeit, Melvin Foster to discount Geo. T. Stone on 5½ × 11 carom, c. and p. both allowed, and counting in the old way. Foster “crotched” out his whole 1000 in his first inning. Stone, who made but 19, forfeited in return one, set for Aborn Hall, New London, August 11th.

228Third Championship of Ohio. Mozart Hall, Cincinnati, November 29th to December 1st.—500–point games, 5½ × 11 carom. Williamson won play-off. Average of tournament, three games apiece, 11.77. Match stake, $100 a side, in games of 1000 points.

W. R. Av. G. A.

Williamson 2 108 13.51 12.02

Grunkemeyer 2 63 13.89 11.44

Casper 1 81 18.52 13.29

Cherry 1 57 13.51 10.47

Champions by turn were Williamson, Casper, Choate, Honing, and Choate again. Honing made the best run of the match series, 192 against Choate, May 17, 1871, in Cincinnati, and Choate the best winning average, 32.26 against Honing, same date.

Choate vs. Jacob Garratt. Respectively as champions of Ohio and Indiana, they played a match of $200 a side in Indianapolis July 3, 1871 (C., 1200—22.22—126; G., 989—78); and in Hopkins’s Hall, Cincinnati, July 18th following, they contended for the joint championship of the two States, regardless of disability by reason of non-residence (G., 1200—21.05—123; C., 1162—105). Both games, counted in threes, were on a 5 × 10, probably with push, but minus crotch; and on August 2, 1871, at the Opera House, Springfield, O., Choate’s home, they played a purse game on a 5½ × 11 carom, c. and p. barred (C., 1200—7.69—187; G., 1170—141).

Parker vs. Snyder. December 4, 1869, Crosby’s Music Hall, Chicago, $250 a side. P., 1200—15.58—207; S., 1088—84.

Second Championship of Indiana. If there was a tournament, record of it is altogether lacking. December 4, 1869, in Indianapolis, Alex. McCracken, then champion, contended with John W. Gregg for the championship and $200 on 5½ × 11 carom. G., 1200—19.05—126; McC., 1111—126.

GARRATT VS. McCRACKEN. Record is lacking as to how Gregg relinquished and Garratt acquired the championship. Washington Hall, Indianapolis, April 4, 1870, Champion Jacob Garratt, 1200—22.22—93; McC., 1129—144.

GARRATT VS. GREGG. Same hall, January 9, 1871.—Garratt, 1200—15—90; Gregg, 976—63.

GARRATT VS. CHOATE. For joint championship of Indiana 229and Ohio, July 18, 1871, see year 1869 under “Third Championship of Ohio.”

GARRATT VS. PARKER A. BYERS. Indianapolis, October 26, 1871.—For Indiana championship. G., 1200—24—105; B., 1187—135.

Byers was afterward proclaimed champion, and for some time Indiana had rival Billiard Associations and two championships.

GARST VS. GARRATT. Indianapolis, September 15, 1872.—New Billiard Association, with Peter Garst as standard-bearer. Table, 5½ × 11 carom. Garst won by 1500 to 1252.

BYERS VS. GARRATT. Lafayette, home of Byers, May 22, 1873.—$100 a side, 5 × 10 carom, “under the rules of the Indiana Billiard Association.” G., 1500—41.67—114; B., 1194—120.

This closed the often puzzling four-ball record of professionals in Indiana.

First Case of Two Styles of Game in One Night. Bumstead Hall, Boston, December 13, 1869.—First of two games, each $100 a side (see Three-ball Caroms, December 13, 1869, for second), 5½ × 11 carom, c. and p. b. Melvin Foster, 750—44.12—426; E. Daniels, 645—147.

1870.

Deery vs. C. Dion. Platt’s Hall, San Francisco, February 3d.—$1,000 a side. Deery, 1500—18.42—231; Dion, 1044—120.

Parker vs. Adam Kleser. Music Hall, Milwaukee, February 9th.—$100 a side. P., 1200—42.86—277; K., 321—run, 42.

(See “Best Record Performances.”)

Rudolphe vs. Deery. Mercantile Library Hall, San Francisco, March 17th.—$1,500 a side. R., 1500—32.61—312; D., 970—174.

This contest was unique in having three judges in addition to a referee.

Parker vs. Coon. Crosby’s Music Hall, Chicago, April 11th.—$250 a side. P., 1500—19.48—189; C., 1205—133.

Second Championship of Maine. First match was in Congress Hall, Portland, May 13th.—$100 a side, on a 5½ × 11 four-pocket, 230surely counting in threes, and supposedly j. and p. b. Champion, Henry Shiel, 1200—12.37—78; C. E. Smith, 1152—90.

Second Amateur Championship of Long Island. Assembly Rooms, Brooklyn, May 23d to June 2d.—Five games apiece. Rogers, won 5; Kirkby, 4; Craft and Upham, each 2; Roberts and Campbell, each 1. Of the matches, Kirkby beat Rogers, December 16, 1870, by 500 to 393; Earle, January 11, 1871, by 500 to 338; Aaron Vandewerker, January 26, 1871, by 500 to 375 (table changed from 5½ × 11 four-pocket to a carom of same size); and Vandewerker again, May 22, 1871, by 500 to 296. On October 17, 1871, it was Rogers, 500—20—99; Kirkby, 307—63, and on January 17, 1872, it was Rogers, 500—17.86—99; Rapelye, 375—108. Rogers’s 20 was high average, and the best carom-table run, next to the 108 and the two 99’s, was Kirkby’s 87 against Vandewerker.

Experts’ Game, Also Known as “Red, White and Blue.” Hippotheatron, N. Y. City, June 1st.—500 points, $250 purse. J. Dion, 300—5.36—25; M. Foster, 260—28.

This was the first game designed to suppress nursing. Instead of two reds, one red and a blue were used with two whites. The game had special rules, but its chief feature consisted in prohibiting the striker from playing on the nearer ball first when both were within a certain distance of each other. While 500 points had not been found too long in practising for the match, they proved too many in public competition, and when 100 points had been scored it was decided to shorten the game by two-fifths.

Rudolphe vs. C. Dion. Hippotheatron, N. Y. City, June 17, 1870.—$500 a side. D., 1500—27.27—193; R., 1090—246.

New Championship of California. Platt’s Hall, San Francisco, June 18th.—Match for silver cue and $400, 5½ × 11 carom, c. and p. b., and counted in threes. Joseph W. Little, averaging 16, won by 1200 to John F. B. McCleery’s 669. Congress Hall, same city, November 18th: McCleery, 1200—19.67—93; L., 836—93. See 1872 for another new series.

231G. F. Slosson’s First Public Match. Opera House, Springfield, Mass., October 13th.—B. Frank Dennison giving odds of 300 in points and $200 to $100 in money. D., 1000—76.92—355; S., 684—138. This was counted in the old way, and was probably on a 5 × 10 carom-table.

C. Dion vs. Dennison. M. H. Hewins’s Room, Hartford, Conn., November 3d.—Purse game, carom-table, c. and p. b., counting in threes, and Dion giving odds of 250. Dion, 1000—52.63—171; Dennison, 577 (with odds)—57. A similar contest, $200 a side, was begun at once, odds now being 250. Dion, 1000—125—330; Dennison, 478 (with odds)—run not known.

J. Dion vs. Deery. San Francisco, November 26th.—$1,000 a side. Dion, 1500—22.38—315; Deery, 896—115.

C. Dion vs. Rudolphe. Academy of Music, N. Y. City, December 28th.—$1,000 a side, Rudolphe giving odds of 5 per cent. D., 2000—20 (in 1900)—141; R., 989—315.

1871.

First Public Handicap Tournament. Allyn Hall, Hartford, February 23d to March 1st.—Five games apiece, Clark E. Wilson winning 4, and prize cue and $250. Melvin Foster, M. H. Hewins and Geo. T. Stone 3 apiece, B. F. Dennison 2, and Wm. Bowen 0. In playing off the ties, Hewins beat Stone and won third ($50), and Foster beat both. In round numbers, the general averages were: F., 18; S., 13; W., 12; Dennison, 11; Hewins, 10. Bowen forfeited two games.

First Known Use of 5 × 10 in Four-ball Game. Academy of Music, Lafayette, Ind., March 2d.—$400. Parker A. Byers, 1200—24—96; Wm. F. Kenny, 817—108. The 5 × 10 is to be suspected of having been utilized in this way once or twice before, but this is the first sure case.

Slosson and Daly’s First Tournament. Rochester, N. Y., March 28th to April 1st.—1000–point games, counted in threes, p. and c. barred, but on a 5½ × 11 carom. Daly won play-off, and Slosson the $25 extra for highest run. Six games apiece.

232

W. R. Av.

G. F. Slosson, $200 6 342 52.63

M. Daly, $70 4 240 71.43

Eugene Kimball, $30 4 186 37.04

Wm. Jakes 3 207 26.32

Jeff. Ferguson 2 234 41.67

Frank Fitch 1 240

Frank Twitchell 1 28.57

Rudolphe vs. J. Dion. Platt’s Hall, San Francisco, April 1st.—Second of three games, every one for $1,000 a side. R., 1500—20.27—228; D., 1288—207. For third, see Three-ball Caroms. The first, English winning-and-losing, caroms and pocketings, with 2⅛ balls on an English 6 × 12 six-pocket table, was played in same hall, March 15th. Dion, 1000—4.24—29; R., 956—40.

Plunkett vs. Nelms. Assembly Buildings, Philadelphia, May 23d.—$250 a side, counted in the old way on a 5½ × 11 carom. P., 1500—28.85—132; N., 1183—138.

Championship of Canada. Also on 5½ × 11 carom, Montreal, July 18–27th.—Frank Dion first (gold-mounted cue and $100), John Hickey second ($60), and Thos. Russell third ($40). Jas. G. Bennett, Alphonse Derome, Chas. Egener, Thos. Knox, and Jas. Phelan were the others. Match record is incomplete. January 19, 1872: J. G. Bennett, 1500—18.07—75; A. Derome, 1259—105; and March 20, 1872, Wm. Jakes defeated Bennett by 1500 to 1183. Each match was for $100 a side, and both were played in Montreal.

G. F. Slosson vs. Eugene Carter. Toledo, O., July 26th.—$500 a side. S., 1500—av. about 27; C., 1032.

A Wrong Decision Makes a Second Game. Apollo Hall, Newark, N. J., August 14th.—C. A. Frink vs. Ebenezer Francis, $250 a side, carom table. As Francis made apparently the winning shot, spectators closed in, causing his cue to touch a ball. Frink claimed foul, the referee so ruled, and Frink, with a run of 82, changed score to 1500 to 1497 in his favor, with an average of 28.25. Francis protested against payment of stakes, and another game was played in same hall August 21st. Francis, 1500—24.19—154; Frink, 1378—141.

Maurice Daly’s First Public Match. Athenæum, Brooklyn, September 15th.—$50 a side, usual way of going, but on a carom table (5½ × 11). D., 1500—93.75—357; A. W. Jamison, 414—105.

233Garnier vs. Daly. Metropolitan Hall, Chicago, October 2d.—First of home-and-home, $1,000 each game, usual terms. G., 1500—26.79—201; D., 1365—159.

Return, Irving Hall, N. Y. City, October 27th.—D., 1500—25—327; G., 1230—132.

This tie was virtually disposed of in Titusville, Pa., December 6th. First of two games (see Three-ball Caroms for second), severally for $250 and $200 a side. D., 1500—34.69—291; G. scored 698.

Byron Gillett vs. G. F. Slosson. Stancliff Hall, November 1st.—$250 a side, carom table G., 1500—50—267; S., 1263—240.

1872.

Amateur Championship of Long Island. Assembly Rooms, Brooklyn, March 11–12th.—Carom table of usual size, cue to become personal property of tournament winner. Two games each.

W. R. Av. G. A.

S. Rapelye 2 64 16.31 14.08

F. Rogers 1 99 17.24 15.08

A. Vanderwerker 0 9.10

Championship of Pacific Coast. Platt’s Hall, San Francisco, March 21st.—Silver cue and $200 a side, 5 × 10 carom. J. F. B. McCleery, 1500—28.85—207; W. W. Wright, 900—117. Same hall, May 7th, A. Kraker, 1500—38.46—147; McC., 754—150. Same hall, October 25th, Kraker, 1500—83.33—348; McC., 930—234.

Championship of Massachusetts. Bumstead Hall, Boston, December 9–12th.—Entrance fee $50, 600–point games, carom table, 5 × 10. First prize, cue and $300; second, billiard-table; third, $150. Nothing to indicate general averages or disposition of ties. Five games apiece.

W. R. Av.

Ed. Kendall 4 219 66.67

John Peck 3 213 35.29

R. E. Wilmarth 3 201 40.

B. F. Dennison 3 276 46.15

C. E. Wilson 2 195 42.86

T. R. Bullock 0 123

KENDALL VS. JOHN HICKEY. Same hall, February 11, 1873, stake $100 a side and championship. K., 1500—31.58—186; H., 1225—168.

234KENDALL VS. WILSON. Same hall, March 11, 1873. W., 1500—33.44—273, K., 1410—150.

WILSON VS. DENNISON. Same hall, April 2, 1873. D., 1500—46.88—330; W., 741—159.

DENNISON VS. BULLOCK. Same hall, April 28, 1873. D., 1500—40.54—120; B., 784—207.

DENNISON VS. KENDALL. Same hall, October 24, 1873. K., 1500—52.41—273; D., 1485—285.

1873.

[This year and thenceforward, except when otherwise stated, 5 × 10 carom, c. and p. barred, counting in threes.]

Dennison vs. J. G. Bennett. Bumstead Hall, Boston, April 14th.—$200 a side. D., 1500—83.33—300; B., 579—240.

Slosson vs. John Bessunger. Kingsbury Hall, Chicago, September 9th.—$250 a side. S., 2000—142.86—534; B., 216—run, 108. On the prior April 19th they had played a similar match in Chicago. S., 2000—44.44—279; B., 1969—213.

Dennison vs. Goldthwait. Bumstead Hall, Boston, September 18th.—$100 a side. D., 1500—65.22—417; G., 819—216.

1874.

Louisiana Double Championship. Crescent Hall, New Orleans, April 6–30th.—Tournament at both four-ball and three-ball games. (For second, see Three-ball Caroms.) First prize, championship locket and $100; second, $50. Six games apiece. Average of tournament, about 13¼. Individual G. A.: H., 14.40; H. M., 20.61; C., 10.11; J. M., 14.31; J. F. M., 15.25; A., 10.31; Q., 10.65.

W. R. Av.

Albert Hoa 5 77 21.36

H. Miller 4 92 30.

A. Coste 3 91 14.29

J. Miller 3 86 10.71

J. F. Maggioli 3 93 23.08

L. Abrams 2 96 21.43

Chas. Quaid 1 128 18.75

HOA VS. H. MILLER. Same hall, June 1st.—Match, stake $50. M., 500—20.83—155; H., 180—36.

H. MILLER VS. MAGGIOLI. Varieties Theatre, New Orleans, March 4, 1876. Miller, 500—33.33—91; Maggioli, 360—77.

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1876.

Slosson vs. Sexton. Foley’s Room, Chicago, September 17th.—Purse game, 5½ × 11 four-pocket table, counting in the old way. Slosson, 2000—33.33—356; Sexton, 1730—257. [The night before they had played the three-ball game on the same table. Slosson, 600—8.22—137; Sexton’s total, 278.]

Those games were not matches, and are not records. Not being matches, they furnished no line at all as to Old Billiards vs. New. This is the final four-ball chronicle as to professed experts of standing. The revival of contests on pocketless tables, tested as early as 1860, and abandoned outside of Philadelphia as too repressive of “safety,” or generalship, had brought the game into disesteem for spectacular uses. So small a table as a 5 × 10 for that way of going was almost a burlesque of competitive billiards in the hands even of approximate masters; and yet it remained for four-ball caroms to be played, although by an inferior class of experts in the remoter West, on a 4½ × 9 carom!

BEST RECORD PERFORMANCES AT FOUR-BALL CAROMS IN MATCHES FOR A GENERAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

BEST AVERAGES ON 6 × 12 FOUR-POCKET TABLE.

166.67 in 1500, jawing barred, pushing allowed—J. McDevitt, 1868 (see series under 1863).

25.86 in 1500, push and jaw allowed—J. Dion, 1866 (see series under 1863).

BEST RUNS ON 6 × 12 FOUR-POCKET TABLE.

1458, jaw barred, push allowed—J. McDevitt, 1868.

616, due to jawing—J. Dion, 1867. (See series under 1863 for both.)

BEST AVERAGES ON 5½ × 11 FOUR-POCKET TABLE.

40.54 in 1500, push and jaw barred—C. Dion, 1876.

31.25 in 1500, push and jaw barred—A. Garnier, 1873. (See series under 1869 for both.)

RUNS ON 5½ × 11 FOUR-POCKET TABLE.

321 by C. Dion, 1872; 279 by A. P. Rudolphe, 1870; and 249 by Maurice Daly, 1873—all push and jaw barred. (See series under 1869.)

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PUBLIC CONTESTS NOT FOR GENERAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

BEST AVERAGES ON 6 × 12 SIX-POCKET TABLE.

12.20 in 2000—Michael Phelan, 1859.

17.24 in 1500—John McDevitt, 1863.

10.00 in 1500, push and massé barred—Dudley Kavanagh, 1862.

BEST RUNS ON 6 × 12 SIX-POCKET TABLE.

177 by Dudley Kavanagh, 157 by John Seereiter, and 129 by Michael Phelan, all in 1859.

90, push and massé barred—Michael Foley, 1862.

BEST AVERAGES ON 6 × 12 FOUR-POCKET TABLE.

8.40 in 1000, push and jaw barred—Michael Phelan, 1864.

166.67 (by jawing and pushing)—John McDevitt, 1868.

BEST RUNS ON 6 × 12 FOUR-POCKET.

56, push and jaw barred—Michael Phelan, 1864.

1483, by jawing and pushing—John McDevitt, 1868.

BEST AVERAGES ON A 5½ × 11 FOUR-POCKET.

42.86 in 1200, push and jaw barred—Frank Parker, 1870.

BEST RUNS ON A 5½ × 11 FOUR-POCKET.

492, push and jaw barred—Melvin Foster, 1869.

327, push and jaw barred—Maurice Daly, 1871.

315, push and jaw barred—J. Dion and A. P. Rudolphe, 1870.

BEST AVERAGES ON A CAROM TABLE.

15.38 in 1200, push and crotch barred, size 6 × 12—Victor Estephe, 1865.

25.00 in 1500, push barred, crotching allowed, but none done, size 5½ × 11, 25 16 balls—Dudley Kavanagh, 1865.

39.47 in 750, push barred, but average due to crotching, 5½ × 11, 25 16 balls—J. Dion, 1866.

33.33 in 1500, crotch barred, push allowed, 6 × 12—E. H. Nelms, 1867.

1000 in 1000, push and crotch allowed, 5½ × 11—Melvin Foster, 1869.

32.26 in 1000, push allowed, crotch barred, 5½ × 11 table, $500 a side—W. W. Wright, Virginia City, N. T., December 11, 1868. Loser, C. A. W. Jamison, who was given odds of discount, averaged 51.23 in his total of 1537.

93.75 in 1500, 5½ × 11, crotch barred—M. Daly, 1871.

BEST RUNS ON CAROM TABLE

543, crotching barred, push allowed, 6 × 12—E. H. Nelms, 1867.

297, by crotching on a 5½ × 11—J. Dion, 1866.

1000 (whole game), by pushing and crotching, 5½ × 11—Melvin Foster, 1869.

BEST AVERAGE IN TOURNAMENT.

100 in 300, 5½ × 11 four-pocket, no restrictions—M. Foster, 1867.

Note.—No account has been taken here of either tournament games or matches on any table smaller than a 5½ × 11, which was the first-class professionals’ limit.

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