Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-10-03
CLEVER WITH THE CUE.
Harvey uckennn. the Phenomenal
BiIIiardist, who rs Matched with
SehafeI.


Wizard" Schafer for contest to occur
in New York in January for the chsm>
pionship Of the world and e.. 500 side,
for 5000 points. and who is under the
management and backing Of W. II. Cat
ton, of tLis city, has made the most
phenomeni record ever accomplished
by knight of the cue, and
it is very likely that after the
great mach in New York. McKenna
will not only have won the championship
of the world, but the title OF Wizard
The gre at player who has been in the city
several days, the guest of his friend, Cat
ton-who, too. is a celebrated play
er,-yesterdsy completed the de
tails for his approaching match,
deciding that it is to take place
on Brunswick & Bake collender
table. This morning McKenna left for
his home 1T Detroit, and about November
he will return to Rock Island and with
Cation give several exhibitions in the
three cities. In the meantime Cation
will arran ge an exhibition tour through
the central, southern and eastern states
to be made by McKenna and himself on
their way to New York next winter. 1t
was the original intention of these two
experts to 60 to Paris the past summer
and give exhibitions with the famous
Frenchman. Vigneaux. at the Paris expo
silion, but they were delayed in New
York in completing the arrangements for
the great contest to take place this win
ter
McKenra's record is marvellous one;
his rise has been so rapid and yet so
marked, that all admirers of skill and
merit in billiards do not perhaps fully
realize tie extent of his accomplish
ments. He made the highest average
score at the three ball game in match
with Eames at Boston. in Dec. 81 and %.
1887. he TO play 5000 to Eames 500. and
he scored his 5000 in twelve innings,
with an average of 4l6j. while Eames
was making 40.
| McKeuna was induced by an ARGUS
representative this morning to give an &C
count of his exploits with the ivory
sphere. and in answer to the question,
"how long have you been playing bill
liards2" replied;
1--WE been travelling and have obtained
a living at billiards, either bp teaching,
giving exhibitions. or by contests with
experts, eyer since ! was thirteen years
of age. ] first commenced to play in my
home. at Detroit, Mich. when about ter
years of age | became interested in the
game at that time. ami the manipulation
of the balls seemed to come natural tC
me. All that | know about billiards
learned myself, never having had any
regular Instructions at the game. Since
taking it up / have practiced it incess>
antly, Civ ng it at all times my entire at
tention aud much hard study. Up to
1885 | travelled through the western and
middle states. coming in contact with
about al the noted players in those
states, meeting with victory almost ev-
erywhere. | spent 1889 in California
after which | returned east. In 1885
played match with the late Lon Morris
in San Francisco for 1000 points, a,
which | was defeated. though | was sick
at the tims. The first night broke the
record there, running 1.64l points. Since
that time [ have never lost a game. anc
have played with all the noted billisrdist:
of the world.
Can you tell me of some of your best
cOntestsG'
| ION May 8, 1886, in Brooklyn,
played ore of the finest billiardists IN
New YORK In order to get myself be-
fore the public offered to play any one
500 or no count, for which | was looked
upon as a crank, but a match was finally
arranged. and succeeded in winning the
game. TIE press and twenty five OF the
finest local players were invited by Morris
DAILY, at whose room we played. to wit
ness the contest. the result of which gave
me the first general notOriety / ever haC
in the cas-. ] was to win three games o.
500 or no count, which did with ease
The Iext match was in New York
August 9Th when | played 1000 or NJ
count, beating another noted player
summing 1900 points in one inning
Next played Heiser at Saratoga. Here
| spotted the balls at every 100 points
and defcsted him. Next i played Billy
Burley o. Grand Rapids, Mich, on Ma!
%, 1887 played 1000 points, 500 o.
no count. and the first run i made wa
: $50 Used then and had to run 90,
over again. The score at the conclusion
of the game stood |, 4U6 to 159 in my
favor. The next match was in Boston
on Deceu Der 3, 1887. / challenged an
one in New England and offered to Civ,
odds. PLAYED 9, 900 points to their 500
Fred Fan es. the champion of New Eng
land. acco pied and we played on the els
and 22d Of last December. 1t was under
stood tina / could make 2 800 nigh
while my opponent was allowed the Op
portunity of making his 500 and winning
the match in one night if he could do so
, The first nights innings stood, Mckenns
first inning, nothing; second inning, 3
and the third inning 2,497. Eames oni
making4 The next / made 2, 800, run
ming 2.12l in the seventeenth inning thu
winning the game and beating thu
worlds record both nights Eames' tota
score WAS As in this game. NJ
average was 4165 points, which is tn
best ever made by any one at billiards.
+ Outside of McKenna. the best record
are: Schsfer, 800: SlOsson. lib; Wig
neaux. .531; Cation, 933; McLaughlir
942.
Police Points.