The New York herald., 1870-02-24
The Championship Billiard Match Be-
tween Roberts and Cook.
How 1t Was Played and Won-Sketches Of
the Players-The Challenge-Th Spec
tators, Including the Prince Of
Wales--The Game and Victory.


OF eight last night aud two this morning. Not only,
however were all SORTS OF sports fully represented
hy those who are constantly associated with them
but the large audience in 81. James, Han comprised
the cream OF West End society up to the Prince OF
Wales himself. This fact IL alone suf1cien: to show
how powerful the attractions OF this delightful
game and TO how large and varied constituency
Il appeals. And when one rccollects that the con-
sest was watched for no less than nye hours and q
half with the most unweared patience and up 10 q
time when folks think OF retiring to rest 1t will
be seen how important the event appeared to large
section Of the public. As to billiards, 1t is certain
that no contest OF the kind has been regarded with
much anxiety by the lovers OF the game since the
memorable match played between Roberts aud
Starke. the American at Savile House, In 1855.
JOHN ROBERTS, sR.
This player who up this time, hag held the title
Of champion of England undisputed, Is admitted on
ali hands TO be one OF the most magnificent players
who ever handled a cue In this country. The chief
features Of his style were, first, his briancy all
round. and second. his reliability; and IN Dotn re.
spects he, many years ago, won the esteem and the
confidence OF the public. There were not on record
such breaks he could make, such magnificent
strokes as he could show when ne chose or when
they were necessary; and tue freaks" IN which he
Indulged when matched with persons with whom
he could do what he pleased were often marvellous
10 degree 1t may be doubted however, whether
his extreme confidence and sleadmess had not as
much with his great reputation as his magni1
cent skill. The training through which he went,
IN the course of a long professional career, was
''up to every move the board'' and prepared for
every emergency. Many Tune. when giving long
ODDS to players OF no mean skill, who were able 10
press him closely his cooncss combined with his
brilliant handling OF the cue, has snatched tie game
IRON tho fire. ON the other hand his large expert
ence OF life, and particularly that dubious Kind Of
life that crculales round the billiard table, prepared
him for dealing IN the most effective way with every
man whom he chanced 10 meet Roberts, who Is q
naive OF Liverpool and Is now in his forty-sevenh
year the game al very early period; In fact
ne was knocking the balls ABOUT when most boys
have not been emancipaed from Irocks. He was III
due course apprentced TO the trade oil carpenter,
to which, however, he was never attached, ana
which he soon abandoned for the career OF a pro-
fessional billiard player As he grew IN years his
steadlness ana skill increased In proportion and be-
fore ne nad reached The age oil Jy-five he was
acknowledged 70 be one or the nnest wedera OF the
cue IN these ISLANDS. one after another since that
time the greatest exponents OF the game have ac-
knowledged his pr0wess. and, without enuneratlng
his Chief performances. It may suffice TO say
Pratt, and in later years Alfred Bowies, Charles
Hughes John Herst Joseph Bennett, John Roberts,
IT. ana COOK nave a iaen oeote @ dae Ia gae1
pon when Roberts first became known TO fame,
Tesoutely declined 10 meet hum, and accordingly tue
young man stepped into his shoes. Ii ought to be
mentioned that before that OF last night there never
was q contest for the English BLIZZARD championship,
ths title beng simply held BY the person VINO was
for the. time being acknowledged t0 be the best
player.
This gentleman, VINO has not yet completed his
twenty-zecond year, sprang into fame with rapidty
snat startled all VINO take any interest in the game
1t IL Just about three years SINCE people VINO go
about the saloons began TO talk Of the boy down
Bayswater way" who was wonder at the spot
BtrOke, and who had, indeed worn away the ciOtn
and the mating round the Top end or the table by
unceaslng and unwearled practice OF that move. II
must be understood that the champion Is NOT only
magnificent IAN round" player, put tnat he had
from his youth up made such study OF the
spot stroke that it IN great measure @ wss the
cause Of his being able To give 200, 800 or
400 1000 to the best players OF his day IL was
evident from the first tnat COOK mad made up his
mind achieve lame aud fortune by this particular
kind OF billiard tactics, and 1t was not long before
he astonished those who imagined Roberts could
not be surpassed IN this his Iavorlte walk IN the
game. The young man had. however, to experience
In the first place number OF reverses-he Was
beaten by Button the billiard tutor to the Prince
or Wales and then he fell before the prowess OF
Roberts, Jr. With his decisive defeat of the latter
at their next meeting his career OF luck commenced,
ana that time II has been almost uninterrupted
HH proficiency Ia The spot slroke increasing Win
time ana practice, and his coolness and confidence
up the longest '.preaks' record. The highest
score that Roberts had ever made ION the pals''
length one could not hep thinking the time would
come when having tne red bali Oh the spot, he
would keep driving 1t iuto the top DocAeGs, In an
eternal see-saw. Within the last four months he
has made succession 351 359 367, 3So ana 394 the
largest number OF spots beng ll9
THE CHALLENGE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
At length The young mans proficiency with the
cue was SUCH that he bold enough TO come for
ward and challenge the champion To yield up To nin
the title and honors OF the position ne bad SO long
held. 1t was some time before Roberts replied, for
he was then IN embarrassed circumstances, ana was
playing for his bread che Provinces; but ut length
hc came up to London. accepted and lodged de-
post with the stakeholder. Messrs Burroughs Il
Watts, the table makers, had IN the meantime offered
challenge cup the value OF fl10 to he played for
but as Messrs. Cox ienan and IhurstOn Co.,
Also table makers desired TO take part in the pre-
seniatlon, 1t was arranged that the cup should be
oil the value OF Gi50 each Drm contributing
meeting OF professional players was then held at
which was agreed that for the future the pockets
OF the ponshp table should be but three inches
wide at the fall instead OF as previously varying be-
tween three ana quarter ana three and three
quarter inches and that the spot should be placed
at twelve and half instead ol thirteen inches from
the top cushion. Tls was done or course, TO make
tne spot stroke as difficult possible, and 1t was
Al once ielt by all who know anything OF the
game thar the day OF long breaks VAS doomed.
championship matches, the chief being tnat tue vase
before becoming the actual property OF the winner
must he held by MIN for i've consecutive years. that
any one who challenges for II must deposit fl00 and
give TWO months notice to the holder and that each
holder is to he presented with gold Maltese cross
SPECULATION ON THE CONTEST
The "form" shown by Cook immediately before
and after the arrangement OF The match was 80 OK.
ceilent and the belief that Roberts was now In the
sere and yellow leafn 50 strong that odds OF five to
and three to were ut first freely laid on the
young one" who, 1t may here be mentioned, is one
OF the most honorable connected with the game,
and would as soon sell himself to the devil as TO u
specuator-a statement that, unfortunately, cannot
DO made about John Roberts The old man began now
TO pull himself together gave up drnking-a fail-
ing which has been his bane throughout life, and
Wnrcn MS bou inneTItB IN an aXgr0puteu l0rm-tOOk
long and healthy exercise ana practised increasingly
The odds accordingly began 10 lessen gradually until
they reached I'VE to four on Cook, but the latter
winning on Thursday three private matches LII Drill
liant style, they were again increased TO nine TO lour
Oh nlin.
THE spEcTArogs-THE FRINGE OF WALES.
The ST. James Hail, which had been selected for
the match, presented, when fitted up 30 ~ to allow
everybody good view OF the play, the appearance
Cf vast auadranguar amphtneatre, rows of plat.
forms descending from the galleries 10 Within
ieet of tue table. ACCOMMODATION had been pro-
sided Tor LOCO pers0DsproDaby the largest number
who had ever met TO witness o contest Of TINS
nature-and 3very seat was occupied long time
before the hour announced for commencing.
The price or admission was one sovereign,
1our dollars, but the rush Tor tickels as
lne day approached was 80 great that specu-
i'.lors went into the market ana. buying
up quantities. managed to dApose Of them at Two,
Lhree aud sometimes even five sovcrelgns. The APP
pearance OF The hall when all Tue rows OF seats were
1ccupieu, anu when every mau lighting his cigar
cou'riDutea TO tue cloud Of smoke that speedily ed
Lne Wnoie place, recalled "reminiscences OF the
AaJs Mnen roiung matches ann COCK ngnts
went on undistprucl by the police The company,