, 1879-01-26
SPORTING.
BILLIARDS.
THE CHICAGO PLAYERS AHEAD
o,r 7,rr1 Currktppfdfflf-

Chicago PLAYERS would LIKE une po94'4oA - W.
nrcsrnt billiard tournament, anu altnongn 1he
Tournament is but three days Old, inc preolc11on
has hecu fulfilled. Slosson and scnaeier are IN
the sa,nc rank with Sexton. :no 1ce oett'ns ua-
+c-nj,; are at loss TO know no" 10 pIace 1aeH
money on these three The brilliant cisplaF OF
1,st n;gbt has given such rise to slossons
stock IS it never had before, While schac1cfs
c,,nrara1;yely easy disposition OF Garn1er on
Monday pieht makes it question as 10 no"
s.hecfcr will stand with Sexton and slosson.
Tne no is q remarkable one, at any rate, anu
C,,,caeo has tie best chance, since she mas TWO
out of the three. Two resolute, earnest young
men. who arc playing for reputation and fame,
es well as for the prize money and the beautiful
emblem that is placed temptingly at the left Of
Tie referees chair
To 20 hack to
MONDAY EVENING,
the audience was splendid encouragement to
tie game. 1t is something new IN the history
OF billiard tournaments to see congregation
oi from 1000 to 5000 people, gentlemen and
1alcs-such an assembly as hare seen IN the
same hall at q lecture or concert-eagerly inter-
ested in contest Of the cues. The rough ele-
ment usually prominent on such occasions was
not visible. The audience was thoroughly flue
and intelligent, and no wonder that alr. Ben
ginger. WHO had just got in from Chicago 10
look after affairs generally, A1r. Newhall, tie
courteous manager, and other members OF the
Brunswick & Bake Company, were beside them
se!y.s with delight at the scene Neither they
ror ANYBODY else had witnessed the like in This
civ Why, up in Ta.nmany hall it used to DC
considered great catd that half-a-dozcn LADIES'
t.1u;>icd the platform behind the press-ro".
Bat here was not only large platform, capable
to seat 100 OF 500 persons: filled with ladies AMI
1.:tir escorts, but they Tere seated IN all parts
Of the house where the chairs were reserved.
MICHAEL. GEAnT,
VINO will be Immediately recognized IN Chicago
i; call him "Mikc,'' made the opening speech,
1,ccause the gentleman who lad been engaged to
1acke it did not appear, and the hour was wear
i,raway. ..NiEe:' IVES instructed to announce
til. opening Of the tournament as simply as
1oss;b:e, Du: had 70 idea OF following his in
etruct;oas. he was filed with righteous indig-
1..,ion, .nd hr saw his chance to cast bio" at
lis erc,aies So lie launched forth into speech
Which made Mr.. Beusiugcr jump from his seat,
lI.:=tcn to A1icl,ael's position, and tug at his
<x:lt-tails But Mr. Gcary declared he was alone
,4soorsi?le fer vha. he had said, and what he
Intended 10 say, in regard to the Withdrawal Of
a,1rtair p!aver from the tournament at the
eleventh moment. and the reasons foc that
withdrawal. lie intiEated that Sexton was mt
tie Que chiefly at fault. and charged tie action
y,,on a business rival whom lc would leave tue
r-:=5-.nistakiug that agency for detective
L,ireau-to ferret cut AIicAael's speech, while
Gvey,ly deprecated by the managers OF the tour
1,s;aent and undoubtedly in lad taste, had the
eject to create considerable commotion, and
aroused much unfayorabfe comment
REGARDING sExToS's WITHDRAWAL,
which was disappointment to many. yet not
an act that could by any means break the public
interest in the tournament No one knows,
moreover, what part tits speech may have
n1ayed in shaping the course Of events for the
next day.
The next day, early in the morning, Sexton
called II the Office OF the Brunswick & Bake
Company, presented his letter Withdrawing the
withdrawal, and earnestly besougEt that he
might be rcadmittcd. There vas no question
Tia; tie felt keenly the position IN which he had
p]sced h;Instlf before the public, aud realized
that he must make amends in some way Or for
fell the favor and esteem with which he had
been regarded. The matter WIS carefully con-
eide-cd, a1,:. the opinions Of outside gentlemen
hcs. qualified to give opinions were obtained.
Finally it was decided that: with the unani-
nous consent Of the contestants, the Delaney
champion should be permitted to Ec-entcr. Tie
consent was given, and William Sexton was re-
stored to hi. original position IS Il contestant
That is the exact state OF that case. The
eivers ef the tournament had been ill-used, but
they generously overlooked the offeuse aud
mad their tournament as broad and interest
ing as they had planned to have it. The circle of
experts was nor complete, and the public
showed its appreciation OF the action of all
parties hy loudly cheering when the announce
1ect Was made that Sexton and Slosson would
play On "Wednesday night, and by the enthusi-
asn and interest displayed last evening when
liz; great game took pla2c-
Before speaking OF that game it is worthy of
nCtire that
GARNER mas FALLEN wAr BELOW THE ExrEc-
IAT1OSs OF HIS FRIENDS.
IL the opening game with Schacfer he was e1-
ceclicc,y ncrsoas, and did not play like the
*a:.!e GARNER who had made SO fine practice
runs in Ills own hall few days before. lie was
cyi1cul.y afraid Of his opponent, having many
times previously expressed his belief that
Sc!:acfer would surprise the public But when
ti-rricr came 10 play with Gallagher, and was
defeated second time, his position as1o1ered,
and the opinion began to prevail that
lie had lost his hold on the game.
There is chance, of course, for him
to recover somewhat, but the odds and the
Trio cre against him. At the same time Daily, by
his fine eane OF Tuesday, raised himself won
derful1 in the general estimation. His runs
were not only large, but his play was accurate
:,:4d thorough, showing thst he had gained upon
lis former STANDARD. 1t must be taken into &C.
COUNT that he WAS confident Of beating Heiscr,
s:ri hence Was free from ncrrousness-that elc-
r.ruL that cutters SO largely into the professional
contests with the cue Possibly be will weaken
when he is brought lace to facc with the favor
ties.
Last nights game was trying one for the
contestants who watched the wonderful 'snurs-
ing'' Of Slosson. Tie .sboy,:' as he is called,
E:d been compelled BY Dion's Illness to practice
:elonr for the most part 1t was his first oppor-
7u,;ity to show what be had been doing, and how
hc proposed to play. in this tournament His
opponent was the skilled piaycr who had defeat
I'd him every time tie two had made match
who had beaten him the last time within a
mouth, III game which
TRIED sLoSsoN's NERVES,
as he said to me afterwards, Eore than anr
game be had cver played previously. There
Were many reasons, therefore, teIdin. to make
Slossou nervous. BE seemed to have braced
1,;u,r.,9f fcr. There yraE nm air nj