Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-04-21
w. d. WALLACE.
THE BILLIARD CHAMPIONS.

In the great billiard match Is not without H.
terest Just now:
Michael Phelan. Of Now York, IL the well
known billiard table manufsc turer, who, some
three years since, first introduced his valuable
improvements in cushions and the manufae-
ture generally, which has already placed his |
products almost beyond the reach of eompeti- |
tion, and opened the rOsd for the most lucra- |
tive pecuniary remuneration. Mr.. Phelan is a |
native Of ireland, from where he omigrated |
when he was about : years Of age; he Is now |
in his 42d year; being married to an American |
woman. and having nearly always resided in |
New York, where his children and grand |
children the has three Of the frst and two Of
the latter were born, he is supposed by most |
people to be native of that city; but the facts
are AS above stated
When youth, for a short time young Phelan
was engaged in a billiard room; but desiring to
learn a trade. he was apprenticed to q manu-
facIdring jeweler, ut which he steadily labored
until he attained his majority. Long before he
was out Of his time. his passion for billiards was
almost uncomfortable; his spare time and money
weTc devoted to It's pursuit, and as soon ~ the
opportunity presented itself he embraced the
occupation, and started the business OF keep
ing billiard room. lie rapidly rose to great
eminence ne billiard player; but choose to
discard the old style, or hazard game, and
was among the first to produce and perfect the
four ball oarrOIn game, which has proved not
only the most elegant. instructive, and anus
ing; but also the game requiring the greatest
scientific. intellectual, and executive abilities
on the part of the manipulstOr.
In 1854, being attacked with the then raging
California fever, Mr.. Phelan left for San Fran
cisco, where, soon after his arrival he played
his first public match game. His sOppOnent was
Monsieur Damon. of Paris France. The match
was best in three games Of 100 points each
the French carOm game, selected by the French
msn, and the most tedious imaginable: only
eaTOms count. and then but one point-Phelan
allowing the Frenchman twenty points in each
game AT the time. Phelan was the victor IL
would be deemed almost fabulous to mention
The immense sum of money that was staked on
this match. About this time. feeling the great
lmpcTfectlOn In the construction of billiard
tables. he determined to devote his energies TO
their perfection, and he at once returned To
New York to consummats his intentions In
the summer of 1887, Mr.. Phelan was challenged
tn play a match game by Mr.. Ralph Benjamin
n rival manufacturer, and first class player
The game sCleeted by Benjamin was the three
ball. French, l6 points up the best in II
Phelan allowing Benjamin three points in each
gsme-fOr 81 600 aside. The match was played
in Philadelphia on the evening Of December
80, 1891. Phelan won nine games out of eleven,
and tOok the purse.
Having obtained considerable reputation as
billiard player, nearly year since match
made between Seereiter and Barney Chris
tai. Of New York, a second-class player. The
game was the Z" four ball American carrOm"
one thousand points up, for $500 aside 1t was
finally arranged to have homeland homo
mate n, and in both OF these Seereiter was sue
eessful. Flushed with his success Hans deter
mIped to accept the challenge Of the champion
Phelan; and. without avOwing his intentions
he returned TO Detroit and menced regu-
lar course of training, which has been cOntin-
ueI to the present day. Finally, having arrived
ut what was considered n proper position, he
commenced his efforts to raise money for the
mStch, and il was at this period the rumors
above mentioned first appeared in the newspa-
perS.
John Seereiter, better known as Dutch Hans.
was born in "a village of the province of AIsaee,
lower department Uf the Rhine, about 30 miles
from StrasbuTyh, Oh the river Rhine, France.
He arrived. in company with his father, mother
and members Of the family, in the United States
in May. 1880. and located in Buffalo. N Y lie
made Lis advent in n billiard establishment Oi
Mr.. BrOwAing, in that city, where he was EN-
plOyed. and played his first game in the yeal
1a:ig. From that time until the autumn o
lN4i, during the season of navigation, he wa,
employed in a subordinate ca apacity on board
the lake steamers. and in the winter ut the
billiard room. In the fall of the last men
toned year he commenced the billiard bust
Ness permanently and since has followed none
other. In the fall of 1919 he csme TO Detroit
AMI entered the establishment of Mr.. Whipple
in whose employ he now remains. Thus il vii
be observed that he has bad an experience o
fifteen years, while Phelan has had twenty-fy,
years. In person Seereiter is not Of very pre-
possessing appesTance-he II rather frml,
built, feet 81 inches in height, and weigh
li0 pounds.
The anxiety to see Mr.. Phelan, and to wit
neEs his skill, at Detroit, was 40 great that
yielding to the repeated solicitations Of hi
friends, on Saturday last heissued number Q
invitations. and ut 3 o clock the hall was file
with the sLifs Of the city. Nearly all the fir.
families were represented by both male an
female members; the Mayor and several Othe
members Of the municipal government; sewers
Of the clergy. and others. Although rathe
Hbashed at the brilliant array of the fair sel
Mr. PLelan played a brilliant game with Mr.
Tiemsn. Of Cincinnati, the whole giving gres
satisfaction.