The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-10-11
IN OLD CHICAGO.
John McGovern in Times-Herald.)
Respectful.

John McGovern in es-Herald0
When 1 arrived in Chicago, as late as 1858,
Dearborn street had it's southern terminus
at Monroe street, and there was a marble
cutters yard there; also one near Madison and
State streets. The TT bune office was where the
Olympic theater is, the Republican QnteI
OCEAN, was opposite the Title and Trust
building Washington street, the Journal,
Pest and Times were all on the west side
of Dearborn street, in the order named, with
the journal on the north. The Richmond
hotel, on South Water street, was considered
the swell thing. The fremont house stood at
the southeast corner Of Randolph and Dear
born streets. Lake street was the chief
thoroughfare. The horse cars ran on Ran
dolph street as far west as Robey and Lake.
The all-night hack stand was at Mack s.
saloon and restaurant on the site of Will
oughby- H.lIs, southeast corner Clark and
Madison.
There was an oddly spotted stone church
First Presbyterian on Wabash avenue, near
Madison street. a steepled church had been
lately abandoned at the southwest corner of
Clark and Washington streets, and Bake
opened 1t as billiard hail. When the new
board of trade opened lin 1869 the Bruins
wick billiard hall was next to it, with a
great gas light transparency. The scene in
S
most brilliant of its kind that l have ever
seen. In those days the game of billiards
was what base ball, golf, football and bicy-
cling all together now are. 1t was fashionable
to pay billiards. The handsomest OF all
the players were Johnny Rooms Pierre Carme
had a hall under Woods museum where the
Schiller theater now is. We all supposed our
Carme was the best billiard player that ever
was. Imagine our establishment when another
and very disagreeab'e Frenchman-without
waXed mustachios, like Carme's-with mere
side whiskers of Indifferent calture-a French
man named Rud0-phe-came along and beat
Carme as badly as Grant beat Greedy as Nc
Kinley bet Bryan! 1t was the first time Chi
cago ever felt a defeat.
At this time Tom Foley had small bill
lizard hall where Thomsons restaurant stands
next the alley-say six tables. Jimmy Gu
sack was the clerk. Johnny McDevitt, cham
pion was there a good deal. Here the news
paper men played their bilIiards-four- bail,
no-pocket game. three points and two points
to shot. Franc Wilkie. Tod Cowles, Fred
Cooke, Meacham. Sam MediIl Jim Haynie
now Henri Haynie of Paris, w. S. Walker.
Sam Steele, W. K. Sullivan, George Gordon,
Frank McClenthen. Charlie Andrews, Oil.
every day. Probably the best player of all
Dave Brock, still of the Tribune as he
was always about the best of the chess play
ers, although in chess it lay between him and
tall Book, who played such parts as Polo
MUS at McVickers theater.
rom Foley was already thinking of base
ball. He boarded at Mrs. Lacey's on the
site of the north entrance to the now demol-
iShed postoffce, and afterward took HoGes.
Craver, Meyerie, Jimmy Wood, Mart King
and the rest of the first league thfther to
board also There had been a great tourna-
ment the year or so before. The tin BOBBY
horn had been won by Pecatonica-hence the
Pecatonica horn. Nobody could defeat the
Cincinnati red stockings. Think Of it! They
went about two years without meeting their
match! Of course Chicago expected the pen
nant when Tom Foley went out after it, and
so the Chicago club went South to practice
At Memphis, think it was, they played on
the side of hill They made 1877 runs and
the other side declined TO chase any more
balls. In Chicago the games were played at
Dexter park, in the stockyards. The season
opened with signal defeat OF the Rockford
club (old Anse and Spalding in it and after
a large final row with Cincinnati, Chicago
compiacently declared Tom Foley's team the
champions of America, and lots on Ashland
avenue and Thirty-sixth street were marked
up accordingly. Excellent Tom Foley. A
pleasing memory out of other days-a man
ALWAYS gentle rather than urbane, generous
enterprising, trustful, and even uncompiain-
ing-the friend of all who sorrowed and were
heavy laden.