Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-26
a MAD BILLIARD WORLD.
Everybody Challenging Every.
body Els0-Why Mr.. SloAsOn
Has Taken of His Coat.
New York Horald.

lne events OF last week create
considerable stir and some acrimon,
perhaps, among the leading biiliar
players Of the country. First cam
the news that Maurice Vienau,
would arrive here in February an,
play in the new balk line tournamen
in Chicago in March; next the an
nopncement that neither Jacol
Shaefer nor William Sexton woulC
enter if Vlgnaux was to play; next
that George Slosson would not play il
that or any other tournament until bt
had first had a match with Vignaux
next, that there might not be any
tournament; next, that perhaps il
there were, ,Schaeler and Sexton would
play, next, Sexton challenged Wig
nsux to play him q match at cushion
carroms for $1,000 side; next, Shaefer
also challenged Vignaux to plsy him
a match at either straight billiards,
cushion Oerroms, champions game, or
the new balk line game for $1,000 a
side.
And now ariseth Mr.. Slosson to
challenge both Sexton and Schaefer.
he offers to play the former a match
at cushion carrooms Tor $500 a side.
5gO points, within fifteen days; and he
challenges Schaefer to play the cham.
plons game, balk lines extended to
IL to 38 inches, 800 points up, for $500
a side, the match to be played within
forty days. He says he has axed the
time so that neither match may inter.
tere with the expected engagements
with Vignaux, All these events, oc.
curing within single week, have
excited the astonishment Of the bill
lard world, which has been accus
toned to seeing challenges issued after
mature dellberation and at inirequent
intervals.
sLossoN DEFINES HIS POSITION.
The reasons for Slossol'a belligerent
demonstration are thus given by him
self; During the past few days" he
says, both SextoD and Sohaefer have
demanded contests with Vignaux.
After had defeatedVignaux in Paris
he challenged me to play him there
again at the same game, buI
with the balk lines drawn
at distances Of eighteen and
thiFty.eight inches from the corners
instead of fourteen and twenty eight
inches, as they had been. Ihad then
made four journeys to Paris to play
him, and | promised him thai | would
give him satisfaction If he would
come to New York. When negotis.
tions were progressing to bring Wig
naux to this country last December
he was cahled that he vas to play In a
tournament in this city at the cham
pion's game with extended lines. tht
senders Of the dispatch being in
formed that that was the style o
game VignauI wished to play Be
fore this dispatch was sent [ wa
asked il, provided there was tourna
ment in this city at the champion I
game, would consent to play subse
quently in tournament in Chicago
at the new balk line game, which wa
known to be distasteful to me. | re-
piled that | would play in second
tournament in Chicago or elsewhere
at any game except cushion caroms
When later it appeared as if there
would be no tournament in New
York at ell, or ct least not until there
had been one in Chicago, MIR. H. W
Collender proposed to me that | should
offer to play Vignaux, match in this
city at the champions game. | rea.
soned that Vignaux should rather
challenge me. have since declined
to play in Chicago unless there waG
| lrst atOqrnapent or match in New
J York. have been told that Vignau1
would not be allowed to play me a
match unless | first bound myself tC
play in Chicago Two players have
now challenged Vignaux in his al
sence as ii to aptiaiDate me. Were
Vignaux untrammelled he would, as
a matter of professional pride, rather
seek q contest with one who has never
played him, or With Vhom he defeated
nearly seven years ago at the straight
three hall game, and whe nos seek the
singular satisfaction Of playing him at
a totally different game-cushion
carroms-Which | know Mr.. Viguauy
dislikes and will not play uuless his
contract forces him to play anythinG
and everybody but myself, Leavlnp
his choice Of opponee,g wholly with
| Vignapx, ! have made proposition
to each Of chose who have made hast,
to challenge him,