The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-03-16


Tor, was facetiously termed the "Bismarct
Of Billiards by the late Wright SandforC
upCa the occasion of his first professional
appearance in New York, "a years ago Th,
Germans had just whipped the French a
that time, and Cyrille hated the man wht
had encompassed the ruin OF the French ua
lion. Naturally the cognomen was exceed
lngly offensive to him, yet it stuck to hin
ike porous plaster.
So, too, with that other equally famou.
brother, Joe Dion. He was quiet, refined
fellow in dress and manner at a time wher
most Of the boys were bit loud in theil
tastes and methods of expression, and hs
obtained the sobriquet of Gentleman ] oe u
Despite Joe's frequent and vigorously ex
pressed protests. the title remained vested
In him.
Great Foreigner.
Maurice Vigneaux, the greatest foreign
player who ever invaded our shores, was
called 1.-THE Giant" by reason of his Titanic
proportions. He stood feet 3 inches in
height and weighed nearly 500 pounds
What constituted an amusing feature OF
the championship matches Jake Schaefer,
George Slosson and myself INDUCED in with
the big Frenchman some years ago was that
weight of all three of US. We averaged but
1O7 pounds each, or S21 in all, and were each
about feet inches in height.
What made the contrast appear all the
more comical was that Vigneaux came of
race which was supposed to have greatly
degenerated physically and we of one which
is still accredited with breeding maryels of
physical greatness. Small as we were,
hac ha oh
of the world at three different styles of
playing-Slosson at the champions game.
Zake Schaefer at straight rail play and
your humble servant at cushion caroms.
OF the other old time players, that dash
: ing FreDchman, Albert GARNER, and hand
some Maurice Daily, our own gallant Amer
lean lad, attracted to themselves host OF
admiring friends as much by reason of
their magnetic manners as by their spectac-
ular style of play, GARNER was called the
Prince" in those days, both by reason OF
his regal bearing and lavish prodigality.
Maurice Days Sobriquet.
Maurice DAILY was dubbed "Our Mutual
Friend" because then, as now, he was gen.
ial and hospitable with every body He
made no enemies and was sort of self con-
stituted arbitrator OF any little differences
the boys would have. His decisions, unlike
those of msGy supreme court judges of the
present day, were never appealed from. His
judgment went, and every body was salts
fed.
Now word about the present trinity oil
champions at the ''balk" line game-Frank
G. Ives, Jake Schaefer and George Slosson.
They are, as is known Of all men, respective
ly termed the Young Napoleon, +" the Wiz
ard" and the Student" of billiards. | will
pick them out in my own way and tell you
how they received those peculiarly signifi-
cant and fitting titles. II is over % years
ago since Jake Schaefer first astounded the
sportsmen Of the west by that marvellous
delicacy of touch, that wonderful speed and
magic control of the ivory spheres, which
has evoked the admiration OF the world
As boy almost he seemed inyincible. The
harder the game he was up against" the
stronger his play became Finally one
night in Denver he tackled the state cham
plon, in which all of the conditions seemed
wholly against Schaefer The sports of
that thriving western town thought they
had a good thing" at last and bet Schae-
fer's friends to q standstill. To the utter
amaZement OF everybody, Schaefer ran the
game out when the other chap had ali but
turned the last button.
That fellows a wizard" said the re-
nowned Bat Masterson, the greatest sports
man of Colorado even in these days. Its
burning up money to try TO beat him"
The appellation Of Wizard" stuck to
Jake ever since. And he deserves it. He
Is the greatest all around billiards., the
world ever saw He can play straight rail,
champions game, cushion caroms, balk
line and even pool or pin pool with equal
facility.
Young Frank Ives.
The present champion at balk line, Frank
c. Ives, Schaefer's rival, is his pupil. From
Jake he learned his magnificent delicacy of
touch and splendid control of the spheres.
He greatly resembles his preoeptor in his
dash and celebrity of execution. He obtain
ed the name OF the Young Napoleon" in
this way: One night in a tournament in
this city three years ago, IL which Schaefer,
SloSson, Carter, Heiser and Others were en-
gagged, Ives astonished his best friends by a
sudden squirt in the middle of the work
and finishing next after Slosson and Schae-
fer.
THE luck was with the youngster." re- I
marked Carter. who came in fourth, TO Dick .
Roche. Schaefer's friend and backer. II
couldn't run out for third place
NO returned Roche thoughtfl,lly. "the 4
luck was not with him, but the pluck and .
kkill are He is the Young Napoleon of !
billiards and will some day be champion .
of the world
Roche never thought his prediction would \
be ver;tiad in so shorf = time. Ives is a .