The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-01-18
From the n. Y, World, 9th inst.
SLOSsON'Ss ACCOUNT OF 1T.


From the N. Y. World, 9th inst.
SLOSSON'Se ACCOUNT OF 1T.
A Lively Description of the Scene
at the Paris Billiard Match, when
He Says He was Robbed OF the
Gamer se 4s'A
George F. Slosson, the h.lliard-player,
sailed for New York yesterday from Liv-
erpool IN the steamship Arizona. The
return match with Maurice vigpaux,
which has been mentioned in cable de-.
spatches as probable, will not be PLAYED,
because Slosson was not willing to have
the selection of the referee put off until
the last. moment and Vignaux refused to
assent to any selection until after the
st,kes had been put up and the new hil-
lard table had been brought over from
New Yo,k Slosson felt that this would
be virtually giving to Vignaux the ap-
tpointment lei the reissses ID case be
wished not to break oif 5Ae game after
incurng all the expens-. Slosson sug-
gested Albert GARNER for referee, but
Vignaux rejected him. Leslie Slosson
yesterday received a letter from bis
brother dated Paris, December 81, 10
which the letter says: II did not lose
the match on the merits; / was literally
robbed out of it. In the sixteenth in
ming on the eighth shot VigDaux missed
semi masse shot by at least half an
inch. The balls were close together at
the right hand rail. a third of the length
o. the table from the head. Vignaux
PLAYED leaning over the corner of the
table, his cue considerably elevated. He
missed the first ball. The referee stood
close to the side OF the table next to
Vignaux. and was close to him. As
snon as Vignaux played he picked up
his chalk and started away. Instantly
some Frenchman said something to him
in French, and he quickly wheeled about
and rushed 10 the spot where he would
have gone naturally had he counted.
raised my hand and said No coun,,
and the referee replied No count, Mon
sieur Vignaux.' At once divers French.
men began crying out in French, He
counted, he countei.' hut the referee
directed me t, play I settled down,
took aim, and was about 10 play when
Vignaux grabbed my cue and nearly
jerked it from my hands The tumult
in the audience was great, the French
shouting He counted !! and the English
No count!' Vignaux, with a dozen
Frcnchmen gathered round the referee,
who commanded me not 10 play on pen-
atty of forfeiting the match The tumult
increa ased, everybody was on his feet,
yelling. screaming, pushing, discussing
and ges,iculating. The referee disen-
gagged himself from the crowd around
h m, moved closer to the table, put his
hand on his heart, and when silence had
been restored fully five minutes after he
said in loud but tremulous voice, Il
did not see the shot! A thousand men
were on their feet in an instant, scream
ing at the top Of their voices. Again a
crowd of Frenchmen rushed for the
referee. Conspicuous among them was
V,gnaux. An American came towards
the table at my solicitation to interpret,
and the Frenchmen yelled. Put him out !
The Frenchmen cursed the Americans
and the Americans replied. Take his
pocket hook Why doa't vouP Rob
bery! Don't plav, George! Lay your
cue on the tahle! and thousand other
things. Finally the referee decided that
the shot counted, this beirg diametrcally
opposite to his first decision. laid my
cue on the table The excitement be-
came indescribable Everybody except
Vignaux. who was delighted at the new
turn of affairs, lost bis head. Had
been permitted to play, all needed to
have done was to pass the cue ball be-
tween the two object balls, and then in
one simple kiss shot would have had
them rallied, long rail, natural way, and
no doubt l would have run the game
ont, for was playing we'll and steady.
Vignaux played and scored Is, and the
game went on until Viguaux won, hut
not fairly. Assisted by the referee, he
stole the game from me- Plot and Ma
gin both say publicly he did not win
fairly Members of the Jockey Club
sitting in the front row say he did not
count and should not have baen allowed
to play. Heaps o: Frenchmen condemn
him As for the referee, even with nearly
all Frenchmen he is dead cock in the
pit. When Vienaux made the last shot
lois of well-dressed Frencbmen hugged
him and kissed him Some of them
came around me and said, Three cheers
for Vignaux Fully 10000 people were
in .he court and in front of the hotel
singing the 'Marseillaise Presently
Vignaux, 'Conquerer OF the match,' &C.,
&c, was placed on a transparency and
By the assistance Of electric lights was
displayed to the surging, crazy multi
tnde. There was Kissing, there were
cheers. But he did not win the game
on the merits.
An offer has been made to paw Schae-
fer's expenses to Paris to play Vignauxl
Schaefer says he will plsv Vignaux in
New York or London but on no account
- D,r;o