Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-02-25

tereSt lust now
Michael Phelan. of Now York, IL the well
known billiard table manufacturer, who some
three years since, first introduced his valuable
Improvements in cushions and the manufac-
ture generally, which has already placed his
products almost beyond the reach of com peti-
tiOn, and opened the road for the most lucra-
tive peeuniary remuneration Mr.. Phelan is n
nsuVe OF Ireland, from where he migrated
when he was about years of age; he IL 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 latterl were born, he is supposed by most
people to be native of that city; but the facts
are AS above stated.
When n youth. for a short time Young Phelan
was engaged in a billiard ROOM but desiring to
learn trade. he was apprenticed to q manu-
factdTing Jeweler, ut which he steadily Iabo;e,I
until ne attained his majority. Long before he
wac out Of his time his passion for billiards was
almost uneontroiable; his spare time and money
were devoted to It's pursuit. and as soon ~ tho
opportunity presented itself he embraced the
occupation, and started the business OF keep
ing billiard room. lie rapidly rose to great
emineHce ne billiard player; but choose TO
discard the old style, or hazard game, and
was among The first to produce and perfect the
foGr ball oarroin game, which has proved not
only the HOst elegant. instructive. aud anus
ing; but also the game requiring the greatest
sclcntlhe. intellectual, and executive abilities
on the part of the manipulstOr
In 1884, being attacked with the then raging
Callfornia fever, Mr. Phelan left for san Fran
CISCO, where, soon after bis arrival, he PLAYED
his first public match game His opponent was
Monsieur Damon. of Paris, France The match
was best IN three games Of 100 points each
the treneh carOm game, selected by the French
1nan, and the most tedious Imaginable. only
eaToms count. and then but one point-Phelan
allowing the Frenchman twenty point. in each
game al the time. Phelan was the victor Ii
would be deemed almost fabulous to mention
the immense sum of money that was staked on
inns match About this time, feeling the great
lmpeTfectOn 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 GUNNER of 1857, Mr.. Phelan was challenged
to play a match game by Mr. Ralph benjamin..
a rival manufacturer, and first class PLAYER.
he game scleeted by Ben jamin was the three
ball French, 10 points up the best in II
Phelan allowing Benjamin three points in each
game-for 81 GOO aside. The match was pIayed
IN Philadelphia on the evening of December
80, 1877. Phelan won nine games out of eleven
and took the purse.
Having obtained considerable reputation a,
billiard player, nearly year since q match
was made between Seereiter and Barney Chris
tai, Ot New Ork, 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 a home and homo
match, and in both Of these Seereiter was sue
eesSful- Flushed with his success Hans deter
mIned to accept the challenge Of the champion
Pheian, and, without avOwing his intentions
he returned TO Detroit and menced a regu-
lar course of training, which has been eontin-
ued To the present day. Finally, having arrived
NJ what Wa considered n proper position hs
commenced his efforts to raise money for the
match, and II was at this period the rumOrs
above mentioned first appeared in the newspa-
pers-
John Seereiter, better known as Dutch Hans
was born IN village OF the province of Alsaee
lower department Of the Rhine about 30 miles
from Slrasburyh, Oh the river Rhine. France
lie 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 a billiard establishment of
Mr.. BrowHIng, IN that city. where he was EN-
plOyed. and played his first game in the year
IafS From that time until the autumn of
IS4i, during the season of navigation, he was
employed IN a subordinate capacity on board
the lake steamers, and in the winter at the
billiard room. In the fall Of the last men
toned year he commenced the billiard busi
ness permanently, and since has followed none
other In the fall Of 1919 he csme 10 Detroit,
ami entered the establishment of Mr. WhippIe,
IN whose employ he now remains Thus il will
be observed that he has bad an experience Of
fifteen years, while Phclan has had Twenty-Five
years. In person Seereiter is not Of yery pre-
possessing appearance-he IL rather firmly
built, feet 81 inches in height, and weighs
liO pounds.
The anxiety to see Mr.. Phelan and to wit
ness his skill, 1T Detroit, was ~ great that
yielding to the repeated solicitations Of his
friends, on Saturday last heissued a number of
invitations. and ut o clock the hall was filled
with the eLffs Of the city. Nearly all the first
families were represented by both male and
female members; the Mayor and several other
members Of the municipal government; several
OF the oicrSy. and others Although rather
Hbashed at the brilliant array of the fair sex.
Mr. PLelan played a brilliant game with Mr.
Iieman. Of Cincinnati, the whole giving great
satisfaction.