The record-union., 1892-09-03

"Schaefer, in speaking of the position,
said the first recourse of every player in
considering the shot is to use the push
but push is a foul. a masse would also
be foul or would result in one This state
ment has naturally caused a great deal
OF discussion among the most prominent
experts, and the general opinion inclines
to the belief that Schaefer is right.
AT a gathering of notable billiardistS
and admirers Of the game at Slosson's
rooms in New York City, recently, the
singular position was the subject of
earnest deliberation. The Student was
called upon for his views, and he said
that If the balls were placed as Schaefer
put them, the position would preclude
all possibility of a bank shot because the
cue ball could not pass the frozen object
ball, and unless it aid pass the bank shot
could not be executed.
1.-The more l have studied this posi-
tion,' added SloSsOn, the more l am con-
Yinced that it is really dead safe" There
is no chance to fairly apply the degree of
force to the cue ball to enable a counting
stroke to be made by a masse. And un-
less some action can be impaired to the
cue ball that | have never yet seen, the
shot cannot be made, in my judgment,
once in thousand times. There is
hocus-pocus in billiard play, and by it
the shot might appear to be made fairly,
but | don't believe that anybody alive
has discovered the exact hocus-pocus that
| would make the shot. HocuS-pocuS is
another name for legerdemain, you
know
Harry Rhines, the old-time billiard
player and eX-champiOn of Illinois, agrees
with SlOsson. He tried the shot in the
presence of a number Of gentlemen at the
White Elephant rooms in Chicago. but
was unable TO make it, and finally aban-
doned the attempt. 'It cannot be made,
he said. Il think that Schaefer has in
deed discovered a position where the balls
are absolutely safe. 1t has been claimed
that there was not a shot on the table
which could not be successfully accom-
plisned, but this, in my opinion, is dis
proved by the position which Schaeter
illustrates. 1t cannot be made without
committing a foul according to the rules
governing billiard contests
THAT opinions differ all the world over
is evidenced by the fact that Frank Ives
declares that the shot can be made, and
he says he is the man who can make il.
AS ne has not, however been required to
exhibit his method of doing so, it is left
for the future to receive that solution of
the problem which he says he is able to
produce. Professor Kaarlus, the Belgian
trick player, is sure the shot can be made
by fancy masse.
THE position is, without doubt, one of
the most novel of any ever shown on a
billiard table, and it is no wonder there is
a diversity of opinion as to whether it
can be made without fouling. There is
every probability that the shot will oc-
cupy the attention of expert billiardists
for some time to come, and it will keen
the knights of the cue guessing to find
the true solution of the problem"
It CAN BE DONE.
Notwithstanding the opinions given bv
some of these noted experts, a Sacra-
mento biIliardist has proven that the shot
can be made in a perfectly fair manner.
and easily-for one who knows how TO
handle the cue.
A RECoRD-UNION reporter happened to
be at the Golden Eagle billiard rooms the
other night just as the manager, L. II.
Robbins, was closing, and asked that
gentleman what he thought of the
''Schaefer safety shot"
"Oh, l can make the shot easilv
enough" he replied. SIN fact, [ made it
several times tonight"
At the reporters request Mr.. Robbins
uncovered one of the tables, got out three
balls, and placed them in exactly the no.
sition described by the Mirror. The first
two trials failed, but the principle was
clearly shown. On the third attempt the
balls counted. The following diaoram
shows the courses which the balls have to
take in order to count: