Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-11-02
CATION ON BILLIARDS.
Why Public Exhibitions Were stopped In
France-Interesting Talk.

Why Public Exhibitions Were stopped In
France-Interesting Talk
William H. Cation, who was one of
the famous American contingent of
billiard players in Paris. has re-
turned home from Chicago. In
speaking while there to the H erald
of the causes that, in his Judgment,
operated largely in closing up the
French billiard academies, he said:
Il think the American PLAYERS were
mainly responsible. 1t was all right
while our PLAYERS were working for
the Frenchmen, but when Schaefer
and Ives started on their own ac-
count the feeling which their con-
duct worked among the French play
ers was very bitter. All kinds of
gossip was set afloat, and finally the
talk, which almost assumed the pro-
portions of public scandal, reached
the chief of police and the notice to
close or stop gambling followed.
do not think, as has been asserted.
that such a high official as the min
lister of the interior took any hand in
the affair. If Ives and Schaefer had
been content to draw their $50 dav
each all would have been well. The
truth is that there were a mum Der OF
ordinary players in Paris who were
making all the way from $40 to $50 a
day by the corner and other games.
They were at the different academies
where Schaefer and Ives played as
the star attractions. When the two
left the French rooms and started for
themselves they reorganized their
rooms, and a number of these me-
dunn class players were thrown out
OF work. The rooms also where Ives
and Schaefer had been the drawing
cards, failing to present their star
attractions, lost patronage. and they,
too, had to curtail expenses. All
this caused the biggest kind of rue
ton among the poorer class of
French players, and the Americans
were mathematical in almost all the
public billiard resorts in Paris.
Why, some of the most violent COM
menced to talk Of throwing bombs
into Schaefer and Ives room. 1t
was these demonstrations that
brought the police into the field"
whats your opinion of Fournil ?"
Il think he is the coming cham
pion of France" replied Cation.
"Out Of is games that he beat Wig
naux, in six of the contests he made
runs OF over 200 each. In one game
OF 300 points Vignaux made 90 and
Fournil ran out with an unfinished
run OF 800. In another game he beat
the French champion with an unfin-
ished run of 29S. His recent run of
420 in New York is sufficient to show
what he is made of. l think he is
one OF the greatest players of the
present day, and hope he will be
able to visit Chicago before he re-
turns to Paris, and show the western
lovers of billiards what he is able to
accomplish
A Game Probable,
A game between Billy Cation and
W. A. Spinks is one of the pro babili-
ties in the billiard world of the near
future. He has authorized the an
nouncement that he is ready to play
any man in the country, barring the
"big four"-Schaefer, Ives, Slosson
and Fournil--at balk-line 81, 900 a
side. Cation is also willing to ar
rage double match-one at balk-
line and one at cushion caroms-for
5000 side each match. While the
challenge is made general, it is IN
derstood that the individual espe-
cially aimed at is Spinks, who re-
Gently played such a brilliant match
in Chicago with Maggioll. Spinks is
now Schaefer's practice partner in
New York City. Cation desires to
play the match, If his challenge is
accepted, as soon as possible after
the Schaefer-Ives match, which be-
gins in Chicago. Dec. 8.