^»' SOUVENIR AMATEUR. BILLJAR A GV .Ma Class _ _ GV iS5 Book_ .-^AAi. ^n^ "V- s" :lub house of the Knickerbocker athletic clue madison avenue and forty-fifth st. new york city AMATEUR BILLIARD CHAMPIONSHIP OF AMERICA (CLASS A) SOUVENIR OF THE FIRST TOURNAMENT GIVEN UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE ^MATEUR ATH- LETIC UNION OF THE UNITED STATES HELD IN THE KNICKERBOCKER ATHLETIC CLUB OF NEW YORK FEBRUARY I^TH, 1 899 '^• GrVS'?5- A"» -v^ Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from The Library of Congress http://www.archive.org/details/amateurbilliardcOOamat "^ I HISTORICAL SKETCH OF AMATEUR BILLIARDS HISTORY of amateur billiards must of necessity be merely a sketch to bring it within the scope of a few pages of this Souvenir. The writer would therefore first apologize for any omissions or inaccuracies of statement that may be detected by the reader; be- cause much that is given here is purely from personal recollection of facts that cannot now be easily verified. The first game of billiards that the writer ever played was upon a table six feet wide and twelve feet long, with six pockets, four balls, and a fast cushion. This was the customary outfit up to 1865; although soon after that date the size of the table was reduced to five and one- half by eleven feet and later to five by ten feet (the size used to-day in matches). The pockets were however retained for some time. Carom tables were introduced later. The carom shots were counted in those days, as well as the balls pocketed, according to the color of the balls. A carom on the two red balls counted three; one on a red and white ball counted two; a red ball in pocket counted three; and a white in pocket two. The usual game for amateurs was 34 points, and any one who could "run the game out " was a very skillful player. When these facts are remembered, it would be surprising now to most amateurs to ex- amine even the champion pro- CRADUAL fessional records of that date DEVELOPMENT . OF BILLIARDS 1" comparison with those of the amateur to-day. Even after the pockets were barred, four balls were still used and the "push-shot" and crotching of the balls were allowed in all championship matches. A comparison of averages made by profes- sionals under such conditions with those made to-day under vastly more difficult conditions is, however, liable to be misleading. The reader has no basis for the belief that such men as Phelan, Seereiter, Kavanagh, Crystal, Deery, Tieman and Golthwait would be to-day inferior players. Such is by no means the fact. The system of the game was vastly different then from that now in vogue. Until Vignaux first visited America, every skillful player made the cue-ball do most of the travelling; whereas the game of to-day is the one taught us by that famous French expert, in which the "dead- draw" holds the second ball and cue ball in close proximity, and the object ball is driven to return to them. About 1865, my first recollections of great amateur players were formed. I can vividly recall the wonderful skill r tir \/i Tz TT BILLIARD Of Wm. McKay, Herman ^.^^teur experts Aldrich, Mortimer Hum- of years ago phreys (later a profession- al), Walter Appleton, Fred Brittan, Wm. Cross, Chas. F. Spear, S. Rapalye, L. P. Norton, W. N. Weeks, John C. Eno and W. C. McCreery. Most of these amateur experts are still living and have great billiard skill to-day. Additions were made later to this small list of prominent amateur experts. I distinctly re- member when Wilson P. Foss, Orville Oddie, Walter Stanton, Arthur R. Townsend, Alex- ander Morten, G. Lee Knapp, George D. Clift, R. J. Maguinness, Andrew Miller, John Mc- Arthur, Jos. P. Knapp and Frank Dugro of New York; J. E. Soule, George E. Hevner and G. A. Flanagan of Philadelphia; H. D. Jennings of Brooklyn; John A. Hendrick of New Haven; C. E. Ellison and Frank Rice of Chicago; Arthur Coste of New Orleans (subsequently a profes- sional); F. Kraker of San Francisco; Frank Day of St. Louis, and many others who are prominent experts to-day first began to show skill at the "straight-rail" game before a balk-line was ever dreamed of. <;:;a9»-3 5;;^»--»c»-^--mKW0G X3 m M M<8) n ■WN*-8»^ 5 In 1895, Maurice Daly organized a series of annual " Inter-City and Inter-Club Tournaments " for amateurs, at the 14-inch balk-line game (handicap) — 5x10 table — standard regulations. This is the score of the first tourney, which was played in Brooklyn: NAME OF PLAYER POINTS PLAYED HIGH RUN SINGLE AVERAGE GRAND AVERAGE RESULT J. B. Stark A. B. Miller. . . . A. R. ToWNSEND. F. A. Keeney. . . . A. L. Ranney . . . F. Oakes 300 250 263 250 250 53 39 50 41 37 46 7.16 6. 10 6.80 6.17 5.01 4.60 5.08 4.38 5.21 4-74 3.83 3-75 Tie between Keeney, Stark and Oakes. After play-off Stark won, Keeney second, Oakes third. In 1896, the entries to the second of this series and the scores made were as follows (under similar conditions to the tourney of 1 895) : NAME OF PLAYER points played HIGH RUN single AVERAGE GRAND AVERAGE result J. B. Stark 270 53 10.23 5.56 Won by Stark A. R. ToWNSEND. 325 57 8.80 5.87 3 ties for Edw. Gardner . . 250 34 5.70 4-34 second, third Ferd.Poggenburg 200 36 5-'3 4.00 and A. L. Ranney . . . 210 39 4.25 3-59 between Frank A. Keeney. 240 42 5.72 4.68 Gardner Keeney A. B. Miller.. . . 240 44 6.13 4.32 Poggen- burg. '4 ^ 5 In 1897 and 1898, similar tourneys were again organized and held under the auspices of Maurice Daly. That of 1897 was won by Wm. Barnard of Brooklyn. That of 1898 ended in a triple tie and was won by J. B. Stark, with F. A. Keeney second, and Ferd. Poggenburg third. Stark's grand average was 5.93, Keeney's 5.89, and Poggenburg's 4.70. In November, 1897, the "Amateur Athletic Union of the United States " wisely decided to place amateur billiards under its control ; thus control of giving billiards a national amateur billiards body to regulate its rules amate^ur athletic and tournaments, as well union as to determine the stand- ing, character, and qualifications of those ama- teurs who are ambitious to participate in open tournaments. This control over amateur billiardists does not apply to any contests within any club when confined to its members. // is only exercised over those amateurs who play in open competition for pri:{es. The first billiard tournament given under the A. A. U. sanction was held in "Ives' Academy" of New York City, in February, 1898. It was >5 won by Florian Tobias, with Samuel Esterbrook second, and William Arnold third. In May, 1898, the A. A. U. "National Handi- cap " tourney was held in the theatre of the Knickerbocker Athletic Club of New York. It was eventually won by Dr. L. L. Mial, with J. Byron Stark second, and Dr. A. B. Miller third. These three gentlemen tied for first place at the end of the scheduled games ; and two subsequent "play-off" contests (of three games each) were required to determine the winner. The following is the score of the tourney: NAME OF PLAYER POINTS PLAYED HIGH RUN SINGLE AVERAGE GRAND AVERAGE RESULT J. B. Stark J. A. Hendrick. . C. Bainbridge. . . A. B. Miller L. L. Mial L. A. Servatius . 300 270 260 250 250 250 64 32 21 53 50 32 9iIO 4-93 2-93 5.87 6.25 3.08 6.37 3-52 2.63 4.67 4.98 2.61 2d prize 3d prize ist prize In November, 1898, the second A. A. U. handi- cap tourney for amateurs was held in "Ives' Academy " of New York City, under the man- agement of Wm. H. Myers. The contestants were three scratch men at 300 points, viz., J. B. Stark, Ferd. Poggenburg and L. L. Mial; also 16 Wm. Gershel at 240 points; Florian Tobias at 215 points; and Wm. Arnold, Walter Douglas and L. A. Servatius at 200 points. Florian Tobias proved the winner; Wm. Arnold was second, and J. B. Stark was third. The Billiard Committee of the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States decided after the close of the "National Handi- cap Tournament" (played in the classes in Knickerbocker Athletic Club, May, billiards 1898) to divide the amateur bil- liard experts of America into classes "A" and "B," and to play each class separately without handicaps for National Championship honors. This subdivision of amateurs seemed imperative at that time, because three players in America had attained such acknowledged proficiency in bil- liards as to practically make a class by themselves ; while other very skillful amateurs throughout the various states had aspirations to reach the same proficiency, but had not, at that date, demon- strated that they could confidently hope to equal the "Class A" men in "scratch" contests. The five gentlemen who now comprise "Class A" in amateur billiards are Wayman C. McCreery of St. Louis; Martin Mullen of Cleve- land; C. E, Ellison of Chicago; Wilson P. Foss 17 of Haverstraw, N. Y, ; and J. Byron Stark of Wilkes-Barre, Pa. They are known by all bil- liardists throughout the country for their remark- able billiard skill, and are close up in speed to the so-called "shortstop" professionals at 14 or 18- inch balk-line game. At certain styles of billiards (such as cushion-caroms or the three-cushion game) McCreery, Mullen, and Foss have frequent- ly held down the three great professionals of America to an even contest. On December 5th, 1898, the first A. A. U. "National Championship Tourney (Class B) " was played in the theatre of the Knick- erbocker Athletic AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP CONTESTS (A. A. U.) Club. The following is the score: NAME OF PLAYER WON LOST GRAND AVERAGE HIGH SINGLE AVERAGE HIGH RUN J. Byron Stark, New York 6 7-74 10.34 47 Alex. Taylor, Chicago, 111. 4 2 5.42 7.56 71 J. DeMun Smith, St. Louis 4 2 5.50 6.97 64 Ferd. Poggenburg, N. Y. . 3 3 5.42 7.60 48 A. B. Miller, New York. . 2 4 4.13 5.00 35 Geo. E. Hevner, Phila. , Pa. I 5 4.67 5-79 29 J. A. Hendrick, New Haven I 5 3.92 4.63 32 PLAYER O. Ball PLAYER 0. Ball z RUN TOTAL RUN TOTAL z RUN TOTAL z z z RUN TOTAL I 41 I V. 41 2 42 2 42 3 43 3 43 4 44 4 44 5 45 5 45 6 46 6 46 7 47 7 47 8 48 8 48 9 49 9 49 lO 50 10 5° IZ 51 II 51 i 12 52 12 52 13 53 13 53 H 54 14 54 IS 55 15 55 i6 S6 16 56 17 S7 17 57 i8 58 18 58 19 59 19 59 20 60 20 60 21 61 21 61 22 63 22 62 23 63 23 63 24 64 24 64 25 6s 25 65 26 66 26 66 27 67 27 67 28 68 28 68 29 69 29 69 30 70 30 70 31 71 31 71 32 72 32 72 33 73 33 73 34 74 34 74 35 75 35 75 36 76 36 76 37 77 37 77 38 78 38 78 39 79 39 79 40 80 40 80 o \ 5 This tournament put Mr. J. B. Stark in "Class A" as an amateur billiardist; his grand average being practically a tie with that of C. E. Ellison, made in Chicago in 1895. In this tournament, Mr. Stark also made tor the second time the record single average for any amateur in an open contest of 300 points at the 14-inch balk-line game, viz., 10^. He pre- viously made the same average in the A. A. U. tournament, given in "Ives' Academy" in No- vember, 1898; and he also gained in that tournament the honor of making the highest record-run ever made by an amateur in an open contest at the 14-inch balk-line game, viz., ninety-seven. Up to November, 1898, the record-run of seventy-five (made by A. B. Miller of New^ York against Mr. Threshie of Boston) had not been beaten. The following data relating to some of the past performances (in tourneys or matches) of a few leading amateur bil- liardists may, however, past performances r • I 4^ + *u OF AMATEUR prove of mterest to the b.^liard experts reader. The runs and single-averages were not always made in the same year. >9 > *■ 6 3 »« '3. E ft E 1^ « ° 3 H •Se ■o c ■a >, 6 E- c c a 1/1 S H ^ -"'a "r 3 g i lil u <-• e~ n S s H h h Oi 2 ^ 3 u i>!^() e ^ J3 s ai i 11 D" •a 3 3 3 3 c a m ?s§ E e rt rt 3 1 ■a •si ■a rt 3 |2i Pi a a •a ■S 1 ^ (ii h S h S S rt S S S fe z u c c C c c c c ^ ? & ^ ^ & ^ w ■" p ir\ o 00 o o o r^ o o o o X z 5 0\ c ri c c c r Oi ■" <; c D c Q ?^ Z o VO r^ lY-N o irs M o ,^ Tl- M P, s On •^ u^ On ^ rrs rr\ o On 00 w ^ "^ rr\ ri -" — — — -" ai O 6 >> > >N '0 z J >-" wT ^ C % c" ^ ^ c~ ~ ^ tu < .t_l O >, rt >, o o >> ° ^ 2 5f u > o >- o o >- cu o o bd O •X. 00 y. ca :^ CQ /= •^ CO U CO a u >- <: >■ w Q u. O u S < z 1 w U u z u z o 5 a O u u 5 Q Z u T >■ u z u w >■ z z < a; c a. < z o z z z u § 1 z £ c- U oi > <•■ <■ J Q -A s ^> < o u,' < a H aid - ri >^ ^ i. i >, C rt c: i i 1 pS •- c ''^ >> s 1 1 f 1 1 ^ 1 ^ % % 1 ^ <1 c 3 im H iS 1 1 ^ i T3 n : u u h : L) . U rt « °> w ° M c -u ■M >1 M (J ^ u> £- £■ " c « '>»;'= c .t; ho 1 !H 6 gli S ^- 2 oi U s "i 1 ? = <§- g .£ .5 a .5 4J > iK ■u?: ,. kS S S S k! S S M •a ' •a f/ ■" T! i-li OU c c g S S 5 ^ £ (S (S lU Pi ;v; |vj (a; bj la; cs; pi « z u r- c c c c c c c i ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ 5: tu ~ P o r- 00 M 1^ r^ n X Z u c Tf \o c Cs C C 0\ C ri On "^ C C C t- O 3 < ^ ri — ^ ^ ^ ^ - - ^ ^ ^ S oi oi c c c c c C C C D D D D D D D D >• >»>.>^>,>»>%>.>^>>>>>^>.>. 1 BJ X ^ (U - O O -^ : : >■ d =■ 2 > ^ ^ ^ : >" ^ ^ z u IS -■ z' U '0 z >- c/1 ^T3 C ^ -, - c ^ = -S ^- ^ ^ ""_ - ^ ^ la < ■5 1 >, >. ■= 0" >, S si > i >- ^ ^2 s >- UJ > -^ > ■ OS z t/ ic: -J >■ Q z — m tu u -) -J a s P of < s 0: H £ g w lit: 2 w < ^ !^ S Z Q < >. SO" CQ OS "^ O BJ S < u z < H (/: z o: >■ CO OS w J - CQ £ 2 II § § ^ c5 z < ^ ^ — ,< < u u. 3: < — ,tS -J o: ^ 0: < 1 Among the amateur experts of New York who have won and held the title of "Champion at Billiards " in the prominent clubs of New York and Brooklyn, may be mentioned some — ON — - u^ — — = -B -^ ■- "B < < •5 ^ ""(• . -^ c E e (J oL a- £ D D U 6 s s so M &0 60 bO -^ 00 00 00 c/5 00 "^ .S^ .SP .^ .SP .^ c 2 2 «3 '5 'c3 ■ii- ^ tn 0^ tn tn < < tu tu u, < ^ :2 < u O names whose best performances have already been given. The preceding table gives further but somewhat incomplete information to the reader from this standpoint. ir\ \n TT NO !>. 00 ON o _ 4r\ ^ C^ 00 o On 0\ On On oo 00 00 00 On On ON On On ON On 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1 On 00 00 OO 00 00 00 < < ■a! 0) "S "u OJ (U >- > >- > > >- >- >- >- z Z Z Z Z z z z z z u u — . ^ c _„ E G— S^„__ _ _ _ ^ rs ~- g c3 >i «^ « w "^ 'w ■« to 6C -Q bO tiO .;= .s ca ■— .^ .SP .SP "^ .S^ t^ ii -^ ii -b -t c 2 U U u V: C/5 t(0 -^ C/5 c/) ttj OS trt 3 C - < t u. ^ < 1- u. 5= U to. ^ < g o < X ai d i s ^ I u: < od O £ 23 Doubtless many other open tournaments be- tween prominent amateurs have been played in the past that are worthy of mention here; as well as tourneys for club championships, and private matches of great local interest. But the compiler finds it impossible to verify many of the records, and therefore omits them. In the future it is hoped that the ambitious amateur in billiards will naturally desire to become recog- nized as a tournament-player. He will then aspire to reach sufficient skill to gain ad- mission as a contestant for National Champion- ship honors in some "Class B" annual tourney. After that he will possibly hope and struggle to pass yet higher up the ladder of billiard fame into "Class A," where he can finally contest with the leading amateur experts of America for that coveted title — "Amateur Billiard Champion of the United States (Class A)." A. L. RANNEY, M.D. 24 ¥HE, Wavmam c ST. i-OVlS, MO, MAJ^riN MVLUErN HAVE"J?STRAVV. N.V. Ift AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD SUCCESS WAYMAN C. McCREERY MR. WAYMAN CROW McCREERYofSt. Louis has been recognized for many years as the foremost amateur billiard expert of Missouri and west of the Mississippi River. He was born in St. Louis, Mo., on June 14th, 185 1 ; is 5 feet 11 inches in height, and weighs 205 lbs. For years he has been actively engaged in real estate in his native city, and is the Secretary and Treasurer of the Security Building. As a musician he is perhaps even more famous than as a billiardist. For twenty- three years he has had charge of the choir of Christ Church Cathedral, and has been prominent as a tenor soloist. He composed the opera "L'Afrique," which was produced with great success in New York City some years ago. In 1897, President Cleveland appointed Mr. McCreery as Collector of Internal Revenue of the First District of Missouri. Mr. McCreery's charming manner and attract- ive appearance have endeared him to all who know him. In social life many honors have been bestowed upon him. He is a member and Chairman of the Entertainment Committee of the St. Louis Club, prominent in the Country Club, Secretary of the Noonday Club, a genial spirit of the University Club, and President of the St. Louis Cricket Club. He is a leader in all of the prominent social events of St. Louis. He married in 1875, and has three daughters and one son. 3' As a billiardist, Mr. McCreery won the Amateur Championship of Missouri in 1868. He defended the challenge emblem three times successfully afterward and it then became his property. He defeated Alonzo Morris (professional) at a game of 100 points of 3-cushions, in 53 innings. He ran a game of 15 points of 3-cushions against Eugene Carter (professional) in two innings; and, against Frank Day, ran a game of 10 points of 3-cushions out in one inning from the lead. His largest runs (in actual contests) are as fol- lows: Straight-rail, ^^6', cushion-caroms, 54; bank-shots, 12; three-cushion shots, 14; 14-inch balk-line game, 132. In practice his runs have been much larger at some of these games, but have never been recorded by him. An amusing incident of Mr. McCreery's bil- liard experience has lately been published. It happened that McCreery had engaged to play a game with Frank Maggioli (a professional whose skill is well known throughout America). McCreery had agreed to make the attempt to concede this expert professional the heavy odds of 50 points in 300. Friends of McCreery, believing him invincible in anything he under- took, had wagered heavy amounts on his ability to win. Maggioli had his run of good fortune early in the contest, and when the game stood 238 for Maggioli to 28 for McCreery, the friends of the latter left in disgust. 32 The following day McCreery was met with chaff on all sides when entering the club, and one of his friends remarked: "Why, Mac, you are good enough to win with amateurs but not with professionals." To this McCreery responded: "Well, 1 beat my man ! What did you want me to do — whitewash him ?" This proved to be the fact. McCreery made 272 while Maggioli was struggling to get the needed twelve points. The remarkable skill of Mr. McCreery at the three-cushion game has given him a world-wide reputation. For many years he has been con- sidered as the equal of any player in America, professional or amateur, at this special type of billiards, which requires the highest possible grade of technique and certainty of execution. There is hardly a professional player of prominence to-day in this country who has not at some time been forced to acknowledge defeat at Mr. Mc- Creery's hands, at this game. A prominent billiard critic, in speaking of Mr. McCreery's strength as a match player, lately made the following remark: "The wonderful precision with which McCreery executes one difficult shot after another when the balls are running badly for him in critical stages of the game has often called forth my admiration. No difficulties seem to him insurmountable at times. I have often seen him execute ten or fifteen con- secutive shots that demanded skill equal to that 3? of any professional player before he succeeded in getting the balls under control for a large run. I regard this as one of the strongest factors in McCreery's success as a match player." In closing, it may be said that Mr. McCreery is an expert in masse and draw shots ; a remark- able round-the-table player; a superb technician in all the intricacies of balk-line play ; and a great general when the game seems in peril. 34 WAYMAN C. McCREERY MARTIN MULLEN MR. MARTIN MULLEN of Cleveland, Ohio, has for many years been acknowledged to be the leading amateur billiard expert of Ohio, and he is thought by good judges of the game to be fully the equal (in skill and technique) of any amateur billiardist in America. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on August 22d, 1852; and is 5 feet 10 inches in height. He weighs 175 pounds. He is unmarried. Like most successful business men, Mr. Mullen has won his way to wealth and social position by indefatigable industry and enterprise. He is a member of the Cuddy-Mullen Coal Company of Cleveland, Ohio, one of the largest mining and shipping firms of coal in America. He is a member of most of the social organizations in the city of his birth, and also of the Engineers' Club of New York City. He numbers among his host of friends and enthusiastic admirers most of the prominent coal and railroad men of various sections of this country. As he travels extensively in connection with his business throughout the Western and Middle States of the Union, Mr. Mullen is widely known by the billiard enthusiasts in almost every city. Whenever a leisure hour presents itself, some prominent amateur or professional is apt to fall a victim to his skill with the cue. A few years ago, when Jacob Schaefer and Frank C. Ives were giving exhibitions in theWest, each in succession tried to defeat Mr. Mullen on 39 even terms at cushion-caroms, but to their great surprise and that of many others, the amateur proved to be the winner of four games out of five from Ives, and three straight games from Schaefer. Probably there is no one in America who sur- passes Mr. Mullen in skill at that type of game. Those readers who are familiar with the difficulties of cushion-caroms will appreciate how formidable an antagonist Mr. Mullen is liable to be at this style of game when the statement is made that he once made the phe- nomenal run of sixty-seven without a direct carom. His accuracy in round-the-table play (like that of the other two contestants in "Class A") constitutes an important factor in all contests in which he participates. Never before in the history of amateur billiards have three contest- ants been brought together who possess so high a grade of technique at nursing combined with such remarkable accuracy in the execution of difficult cushion-caroms. For this reason great zest will be undoubtedly added to these approaching contests by the skill which will be shown by all three contestants when extremely difficult shots present themselves either by acci- dent or design. In the 14-inch balk-line game Mr. Mullen shows at times great strength in the "balk-line nurse." His knowledge of force and delicacy of touch enable him often to make large runs with little apparent effort. 40 The writer recalls a game at 14-inch balk-line billiards, in 1896, in which he saw Mr. Mullen make a run of 140, and an average of 25 in 500 points, on a 5x10 table. He also remembers a series of practice games which Mr. Mullen played with Ferd. Poggenburg of New York, in the fall of 1898; the grand average made by Mullen in 1600 points was over 15. A few of Mr. Mullen's largest runs at differ- ent styles of game will be given later. While they were mostly made in practice, and therefore do not constitute records, they are quite excep- tional. Personally, Mr. Mullen is a gentleman of imposing figure, and of quiet, dignified reserve. His style of play is particularly attractive. His "dead-ball stroke" is at times remarkably per- fect; and in skill at nursing he is certainly the equal of any amateur in America. No one who knows Mr. Mullen ever ques- tioned his courage or his nerve under the most trying conditions. His friends believe him to be the greatest billiard amateur in America, and many of them have often expressed the desire to see him verify their estimate in actual contests with the only amateurs who can be considered as his rivals — McCreery and Foss. Mr. Mullen's greatest billiard performances comprise an unfinished run at the "straight-rail" game of ^6^, against Mr. McCleery (the profes- sional) in San Francisco, Cal. ; an average of 10 in 300 points at the cushion-carom game, against Frank C. Ives; a run of 247 at the 14-inch balk- line game, against Edward Helm of Cleveland, in 1898; and an average of 35 in 400 points at the 14-inch balk-line game, against Mr. Cohen of Cleveland, within the past six months. He has run 67 at the cushion-carom game; and at 12-inch balk-line he lately ran a game out with an unfinished run of 231. 42 MARTIN MULLEN WILSON P. FOSS MR. WILSON P. FOSS of Haverstraw, N. Y., has for the past ten years been acknowl- edged as the best amateur billiard expert of the East. He was born in Fairfield, Me., on April 9th, 1856; is 5 feet II inches in height, and weighs 185 lbs. For many years he has been the President of the Clinton Dynamite Company. For the past five years he has been the President and largest individual stockholder in the Rockland Lake Trap- Rock Company, which under his management has grown to be the largest plant of its kind in America. His beautiful home is located in Haverstraw, N. Y. He married in 1882, and has four daugh- ters and one son. As a boy, Mr. Foss showed not only an ab- sorbing interest in billiards, but a wonderful aptitude for the game. Before he was twenty years of age he was the best player in Maine, and in friendly contests had beaten most of the star- players who had visited his state. He then engaged in the manufacture of hats in South Norwalk, Conn., and for a period of four years ceased even to practice billiards ; as the tables were not kept in the best of condition and the associations of the game were not of the best character. Not seeing a promising future in the hat business, he went to Haverstraw in 1881 and undertook the manufacture of nitro-glycerine and 47 dynamite, for use on the West Shore Railroad, which was at that time in process of construction. Upon the completion of this railroad Mr. Foss represented the largest powder company of America for six months in Old Mexico, where he established many resident agencies. Returning from there, he established in Platts- burg (in connection with the Hon. Smith M. Weed) the Clinton Powder Company, conduct- ing a prosperous business there for three years. His leisure hours, which were few, were de- voted to occasional practice (chiefly in New York City) with the best amateur experts, and often with the leading professional players. On February 28th, 1886, Mr. Foss experienced a test of his nerve and endurance that probably exceeded any other event of his life. An explosion of dynamite in his works at Plattsburg, N. Y., converted the entire building in which he stood into minute particles of wood, and deposited himself with the boiler, machinery, etc., on the ice of the Saranac River. Mr. Foss was badly injured and stripped of all his clothing but his shoes; but he managed to walk far enough to order a telephone message (to allay the fears of his family) before he became unconscious. Over two hundred splinters were subsequently removed from his body, and some portions of his head were badly lacerated. The ability, wonderful courage and indefati- gable industry of Mr. Foss made his subsequent 48 rise to importance in the business-world rapid, and his success phenomenal. He controls enterprises of various kinds to-day that are of such magnitude as to be a severe tax upon his strength and energies ; and billiards is now but a source of mental relaxation and personal enjoyment. After the explosion Mr. Foss removed his dynamite works to Haverstraw, N. Y., where he now resides. The writer well remembers in 1892 when (with only two points personally to go) he watched Mr. Foss, as his adversary, defeat him with a run at cushion caroms of 56. He recalls friendly con- tests in which Foss gave heavy odds to Arthur R. Townsend at "straight-rail" game, about 1892 ; another in which he made runs at straight- rail of about 400, in a contest with Jos. P. Knapp ; several exciting contests at three-cush- ions with Alfred De Oro (the champion of pool) in which Foss made the audience wild over his brilliant execution; and an average of 25 made by Foss in a game of 300 points, 14-inch balk- line, against the late Randolph Heiser, in 1893. Since the 18-inch balk-line game (one shot in balk) has become the test of skill with the lead- ing professionals, Foss has practiced it almost exclusively, and chiefly with George F. Slosson. Within the past year Foss has run 102, 1 18, and 123 at this extremely diificult game (on a 5 x 10 table). 49 At the 14-inch balk-line game Foss has run over 100 many times; but he has played the 18- inch balk-line game more, and thinks 168 to be his best run at the former. Personally Mr. Foss is a man of magnificent physique with hair tinged with gray. Power- fully built and with abstemious habits, perfect muscular development, a cool head and great courage, he may justly be regarded by any one as a dangerous opponent. His execution of hard shots is remarkable, and his position play accurate and at times daring. The strict sense of honor, of perfect fairness, of right and justice to all, which has made his business career brilliant and successful, must gain for him at all times the respect and esteem of his billiard antagonist, as it has of his rivals in commercial life. 5© WILSON P. FOSS 2 dj J V J Vk 5 ^ CL 22 si l""^ FIR9T PRIZE- 5£CON0 PKI-ZE- THlpl> PRI2& >llOH OFAMD AVERAH Kl/N »i^ ♦ THE PRIZES The prizes offered to the contestants in this tournament surpass in beauty any previously given in an amateur billiard contest. The first prize consists of a very large and beautiful silver cup of original design, mounted upon an ebony pedestal, with the figure of a billiard player (in relief) on the front and a laurel wreath surrounding the "Cherry Diamond" on the back. This prize-emblem is donated by the Brunswick-Balke Collender Company. The second prize is a superb cut-crystal and silver punch-bowl. The top and base are of special design of repouss6 work in silver, with the names of each contestant beautifully etched upon it, as well as the event itself, the date of the tourney, and the club-house in which it was held. The bowl is cut in a pattern that gives it extreme brilliancy. The third prize is a cut-crystal loving cup with three silver handles (staghorn-pattern) and an ebony pedestal. The top is ornamented with crossed-cues, billiard balls, a laurel wreath and the "Cherry Diamond." A diamond medal (designed by Alfred Bren- nan, Esq.) is also offered to the contestant that makes the highest grand average of the tourney. All the prizes but the first are donated by the Knickerbocker Athletic Club. 63 Illustrations of the first, second, and third prizes are given; but a drawing of the medal could not be prepared in time to admit of its reproduction here. The medal is composed of gold, with certain parts beautifully enamelled. It is two and one- half inches in diameter. In the center of its face appear the Roman "fasces" (a bundle of sticks wound ornamentally with a ribband). This was, in the past, the insignia of power carried before all Roman consuls and prominent officials. On either side of the ' ' fasces, " is a shield surmounted by a scroll of white enamel bearing the letters K. A. C. and A. A. U. (in gold) on the left and right sides respectively. The left shield holds the " Cherry-Diamond-emblem " of the K. A. C. ; while the right shield holds a palm leaf (the symbol of victory). A row of diamonds sur- rounds the inner circle of the medal. The outer circle consists of a wreath in greenish gold of oak-leaves and acorns (symbolic of hospitality), with the figures 1899 rising from the wreath in burnished gold. On the reverse side, are one red and two white billiard balls in enamel and the appropriate inscription. 64 f (< i t-y, -- .f o" ^ r^ :^^jf^8j ^^f'^y^ L. ' >'^ wv •i ^. k ' 1 \i 3iLL M* .*\W. OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES OFFICERS OF AMATEUR ATHLETIC UNION OF THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENT BARTOW S. WEEKS METROPOLITAN ASSOCIATION VICE-PRESIDENTS E. E. BABB NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATION WM. HALE THOMPSON JULIUS F. HARDER CENTRAL ASSOCIATION NORTH AMERICAN GYMNASTIC UNION DANIEL G. TAYLOR WESTERN ASSOCIATION SECRETARY AND TREASURER JAMES E. SULLIVAN METROPOLITAN ASSOCIATION 69 BILLIARD COMMITTEE AMATEUR ATHLETIC UNION OF THE UNITED STATES P. L. ARNOLD, K. A. C. CHAIRMAN F. M. HAUSLING, N. Y. A. C. JOHN T. NORTON, K. A. C. JAS. D. BOYD, N. J. A. C. A. L. RANNEY, N. Y. A. C. SECRETARY REFEREE EDWARD Mclaughlin ILLUSTRATOR MR. FREDERIC COLBURN CLARKE 70 KNICKERBOCKER ATHLETIC CLUB OFFICERS FOR 1899 PRESIDENT JAMES E. SULLIVAN VICE-PRESIDENT JOSEPH HAMBLEN SEARS GOVERNORS JOHN D. ADAMS J. HERBERT BALLANTINE ROBERT D. BALLANTINE W. N. COLER, Jr. GEORGE W. SCHURMAN JOSEPH HAMBLEN SEARS SECRETARY-TREASURER JOHN D. ADAMS CAPTAIN JAMES J. FRAWLEY HOUSE COMMITTEE P. L. ARNOLD G. S. WHITSON WENDELL C. PHILLIPS W. J. PATTERSON CHANDOS FULTON 7> 1 5 1900 '"J*^T-' '^^ . ■mbSLSLS"^ 029 708 302