Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1859-03-26


eth how, &c. &C."
Extraordinary Billiard Playing.
Since Morphy has beaten the best
player in the old world, and laid out in
despair all the others at blindfold chess
playing, one Of our Milwaukee billiard
players has been practicing in private,
the unheard Of feat Of playing billiards
blindfolded, and SO successful has he be-
come that on Saturday night he played
Il match game on four tables, at the
Newhall House, with eight of our bsst
players, against odds, the wager being
free seat in our fashionable church.
If he lost he was to furnish seats for his
adversaries, and if he won they were
to do the same by him-one seat against
eight. At o'clock, large crowd had
assembled and the table were prepared.
Mr.. Angle was led into the room blind
folded, and after shaking hands with
his opponents, drinking glass of n.
0. poney brandy, picked out his cue,
chalkcd it carefully, and commenced.
On the first table from the clay OFF, he
made four "nine Shots" and as he went
to make the fifth one, was taken with
cramp in his stomach, and missed. -
He went to the next table, and although
the black ball was creased, made the
handsome run of seventy-three, then
shot his ball into the left hand side
pocket on the corner, placed his finger
to his nose, wheeled gracefully on one
heel, and began at the third table.
Here he was less fortunate, and scor-
ed but twenty points, owing to the re-
turn of the "cramp." Frequent bursts
Of applause, greeted his skill, and after
taking julip all round, he went to the
fourth, and made run of eighty-uine,
with but three balls on the table. He
then returned to the first table, and al
though he had made some beautiful
plays before, fairly outdid himself, and
run the game out, making the last shot
with an umbrella merely to show his
skill. At the second table he was
equally fortunate, and closed the game
there, making even "thirteen Shots -
from backward and left-handed shots
at that. At the third table he made n
run Of twenty-four from carroms, and
then, having but three to go, undertook
the feat ofjunping the white and light
red, and pocketing the dark. Standing
on char he bowed gracefully to the
crowd present, chalked his cue, and
showing his great memory, walked five
times around the table, mounted the
chair, turned his back to the bic, and
shot between his legs, clearing the first
two balls, pocketing the dark red, and
shooting his own into the bread basket
of one Of our corpulent property hold
ers, (accidently Of course) and from
there striking an eye-glass Young dan
dy was using, breaking it to pieces,
and injuring the persons face.
AT this stage Of the match tbs other
parties gave up, and felt satisfied that
Mr.. Angle was the best player in the
world. To prove this he heightened
the bandage over his eyes, and ap-
preaching the fourth table, prepared for
his final exhibition Of skill. He chalk
ed up, sat down in two chairs, and adj
iusted his belt. He then arose, and
from spot balls ran the game within two
points Of out; SO brilliant were his shsts,
that sparks absolutely flew from the
balls. On bis last shot, owing to hav.
ing chalked his cue with piece Of an
apple, which had been placed in the
cup by mistake, he missed the first ball,
Jumped the second, kissed on the third.
cushioned, and on the back run abso
lutely made thirteen, and sat down
amid deafening cheers. Each Of the
persons present contributed FIVE cents
to get ten-cent drink, and the glasses
being placed on the first table, he
walked to it, and picked out his owr
sstod" from at least two hundred others
He was then taken up on a chair made
Of cues, and was carried to the bar
where each Of the guests shook hands
with him, one man giving him FIVE hoa
dred dollars to have the first shake =
Mr.. Angle is without doubt the great
est blindfold player in the world, ant
! will leave for the East in a few days
i His likeness will be seen in the New
I York Leggi'a Of Feb. ao,-NAoauke
Neaes.