St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-04-15


Twin Cities. Adams is one of the best
informed sporting men in the country
and one of the best story tellers this
side OF the briny. Speaking of his ex-
perience as billiardiSt back in the
seventies, Yank said:
In III l lett Cincinnati en- route to
New England, but found would have
to make stop at Washington, as at that
point could land with So capital. l
took coach on my arrival for the Ire
mont house, which left cash on hand 50.
After registering my name-calling for
parlors, first flight 'front.' invited the
clerk to smile, which nipped from me
half. My trunk was professional one
and half full of Autographs, which re-
quired two parties to handle it.
That and my personal appearance,
which was rather Chesterfieldian,
l have always thought. stop
ped the clerk from. asking any
hard-anSwering questions. My object
was to see FL. II. Starkweather. the con-
gresham from my district in COnnecti-
the Willard hotel, where l found Mr..
Starkweather, who was delighted to
see me, and during our conversation in
Quired if l still manipulated the worries.
ssBetter than ever" said. He asked if
| would favor his brother congressman
with an exhibition of finger billiards in
the billiard room about 9 O'Clock. Ger
tainly,"I said. At the hour appointed
some twenty-five statesmen were
present, including Ben Butler.
After the introduction l sprung
my little two-year-old speech on
them regarding the origin of billiards.
1t always seemed to me that l played
my best that evening. The exhibition
lasted something like an hour, and had
just concluded my final shot, that of
defying the laws of motion, or forcing
the hand-ball in three opposite dlrec-
lions, when the applause that followed
brought in, as it were, two new stars,
or, in other words, at this moment two
elegantly dressed gentlemen came into
the room in condition that bespoke
close communion with couple of
quarts of Pom. Sec. They were
two uof the principal government
clerks in Washington and had just re-
turned from the races of which they
were $4,000 ahead on the day. They
wererecognized by all. The one most
talkative was a billiard player far above
the average, and always made a spec
ialty of doing strangers, especially when
he had a good audience. Walking up
tosthe table where was standing, he
said:
.1Play billiards."
occasionally" said /. cpl play you
for wet goods for the parity" said he.
+ My capital of S1.5O looked to me that
moment as big as circus tent. /
90 still more if he won, so l accepted
the wager, telling him | would have to
make each shot by spinning the ball
between my forefnger and thumb, as l
could not play with a cue. He said he
did not care whether fused my fingers
or toes, which put good laugh on me
as I thought, but afterwards proved
the laugh ION him, the audience
thinking how badly [ would beat
my opponent. The game commenced
made misses, slips and scratches, but
was finally beaten by twelve points out
of fifty. [ was knocked clean out when
he ordered the waiter to bring in enough
wine for the party, which was three
bottles at S. bottle, and l still had my
S1.5O. After the wine had been slowed
away commented on the game, and
said that had the game been 100 points
anything | would have won. This just
hit the right spot, and he instantly re-
Piled:
"I'll make it 100 points for S100.'
Gin second my heart did a f1ip-fap;
] thought a moment, pulled out a cigar,
then turning to my friend, Congress
man Starkweather, asked him aloud for
a match. AS he was handing it to me,
/ asked him in an undertOne, give me
all the money you have"
He replied in a whisper:
tGentlemen never put up-their words
CO."
I wanted to bet million dollars there
and then, but concluded to go slow and
commenced by stammering, and tried
to back out, but he jacketed me into
betting, as he said had offered to if it
was hundred points. After consult
ing his friend the latter said:
"That's my bet, too"
Laughingly l replied, "All right. /
see am in for it, and may just as well
lose 5000 as $780,"
The game opened, and / was only z
when he was 30. He wanted to bet an
ether 500, when told him could not
stand it.
"Make it $780," said he.
''No; but I'll bet $40 to $50"
1t was taken, and his friend said,
"That's my bet, too"
/ accepted both. Ten minutes from
the last bet the game stood 62 to Sc in
his favor, when he had the betting fever
again, and offered 500 to $50. l re-
luctantly accepted, his partner giving
me the same odds. My friend,
StarkWeather, kept account of the
wagers by their wish, and in footing it
up, was betting $3.50 against their $500.
AS the game was half over concluded
to take no chances, so | made draw
shot from spot to spot-gOt them on the
long rail, and ran my sixty odd remain
ing points in as many seconds. AT its
finish l turned to look at my opponent,
who was leaning on his cue perfectly
dmmfounded. The roar that followed
aWoke him from his reverie. He walked
to where was and took me by the hand
and said, "Your name, please"
handed him my card, which read:
80 ank Adams, champion finger bill
iardist of the world. Residence imma-
terial.
He meditated moment and asked me
how long was going to stay III the city.
That depends" replied.
sssDOn't leave until L have seen you;
but first of all let us settle accounts"
and each handed me $3.50.
T then ran 1000 points at the rate of
sea minute amid great app lause.