The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-03-10
Taken for q Jockey.


and has seen Jacob Shaefer play, knows
that be has the most rapid conception of
any of the experts; but stranger, I'M
less an unusually good Judge of keen
eye and sharp face. would never pick
out Jake, as the boys call him, as a
young man likely to handle wizard s
cue. Tie resembles o cross between a
Jockey and an overworked hall-boy.
While watching the players in the pool
tournament the other afternoon, an ac-
quaintance said to him.
Jake, what was the tightest hole you
ever pulled yourself out OFF,
Jake brushed the hair out of his right
eye, and replied:
II guess it was in New Orleans, about
1875. But Sam, here, was down the
river at the time, and he can tell you
more about it than 1 can"
YES" said Sam, 81 saw Jake pick
himself up and, I'll tell you how he
did it. You know Harry Miller's old
placer"
Eyes; on st. Charles street"
Poor Miller, he's dead now" said
Sam. "Like most men who handle the
worries, he went off sudden like. At
that time he was champion of LOuisi-
ana. He believed that no one within
three thousand miles could outplay him.
One afternoon Jake strolled into Mil
ler's billiard-rooms and threw himself
into chair. He had come from
tramp through Texas, and was as near
broke as the Mississippian who wanted
to pawn his bowie-knife. You've heard
the old story, haven't you?"
Cant say"
well, the Mississippian had staked
his last dollar on faro, and asking
Dupley Dodge to step into Commercial
alley with him, one evening, he whipped
out costly knife from the back of bis
neck, and asked Dodge how much it
was good for.
"'For heavens sake put up your
scythe,' replied Dupley, and you shall
have all you want on it,
"When Jake entered Miller's rooms"
continued Sam, "he had less than the
value of the bowieknife in his pockets.
While watching the games the old feel
ing Of billiards came over him. After
a while Miller, as much out of joke
as anything, asked Jake if he would
like to play.
Yes replied Jake. If you'll give
"'Tn give you fifty, if you want them
said Miller.
"'No. replied Jake, thirty will do
"When they began to play the boys
gathered around laughing. One of them
said: That jock has got an awful face
to play with Miller They all took Jake
for horse Jockey.
Jake's fingers were stiff, and he was
out of play, so Miller made his hundred
twice before Jake could score seventy
points. He crept SO near Miller in the
second game, however, that he thought
he could win next time. So he re-
marked to Miller off hand like, as if he
had lust rode in thousand-dollar race
and had pocketful of money, Il think /
can win the next game for five dollars
Miller looked at Jake in establishment,
and then tossed ahalf-eagle on the table.
Jake covered it recklessly with his last
red.
The boys gathered closer to the table.
AS Jakes fingers limbered and his blood
warmed, he began to play billiards.
There was no more laughing at Jake. He
assumed that earnest, determined man
ners he always wears when playing for
big stakes. Miller played his best, but
he had only ninety five when Jake ran
out his seventy Miller now looked at
Jake, chalked his cue, and proposed to
double the stakes. Just rs you like
replied Jake. Away they jumped again,
Jake slowly improving, and barely
snatching the $40 out of the fire.
"All that afternoon and far into the
night the players kept on punching the
ivory globes. The stakes were gradually
raised, and the points in favor of Schaefer
taken off until at last they were playing
on even terms, with Jake continuing in
an uninterrupted run of good luck. The
Jockeys fame began to spread along st.
Charles street. Then it leaped from Poy-
dras street to the French market. Play
ers gathered in the evening from all parts
of the city. Miller's big room became
packed, and all eyes were conferred on
Jake. He was the wonder of the hour.
His play ran just far enough ahead of
Millers to lead him on and hold out the
hope that luck would turn. Jake played
his best, and never finched at any stake
that Miller offered. Miller used up about
a peck of chalk, changed cues at nearly
every game, playing with o rush at one
time and deliberately at another. Rattle
the balls as he would, Jake ran all his
games out few points ahead OF the
champion. DE debble's roOstin' on de
Jockeys shoulders, shuah, said the black
To-, III total tho Inavaruuaa In this, hova