The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-02-06

devoted halt a page to sketch Of
Jerome r. Keogh, the worlds cham
plon pool player, telling of his career,
picturing him with very faithful pUr-
trait and illustrating with diagrams
five of his most difficult exhibition
shots. The sketch reads as follows:
Jerome Keogh, who was born in Bing-
hamton, n. y, twenty-five years ago
mas gained prominence in pool circles
that can be compared with that of the
late "Ar' Frey, who a few years ago
was considered a phenomenon among
phenomerCns. Kcogh. who is the cham
pion poullst OF America, and who antici-
pates "A trip to Europe shortly to seek
fresh honors. is very unassuming in his
manner and would hardly tie taken for
professional OF any kind. being rather
undersized and not weighing more than
120 pounds. His habits are very different
from the average professional for he
has never used tobacco and he does not
know the taste of intoXicants.
His style of playing pool is marked
compared with other players in the cham
pionship class being studiUus and careful
10 almost an aggravating degree. He
never plays shot until he has deltb-
Grated The result of this system Is al
most perfect position play and an ac-
tpmplishment OF what he desires On
asm of spectators he will hardly notice.
going about his work as though he were
alone and at practice.
TAKES NO CHANCES.
lie does not know the meaning of the
word nervousness, playing the same cold
deliberate stroke under the most trying
conditions. Whether in the lead in a
match game or behind, he plods along
with the same steady stroke, never at
tempting a shot that he is not reasonably
certain OF making.
Keogh began to use the cue when he
was thirteen years of age, ana barely
able to peep over the side rail OF bill
Hard table. He was an apt pupil of a
ture seemed laid out for him III his early
years.
SO much did his admirers think of him
that his entrance fee was paid in a tour
nament held at BnghamtOn, in 1890, wnen
he was but sixteen years of age. Ihts
he won beating such tried players as
Sherman, IL. Stewart +. Stuart. En-
right, Squires and Smith.
In the following year he played In the
championship tournament in Syracuse
there being eleven contestants. lie nm
ished fifth in this event
A pool tournament was held in Phila'
delphia to decide the championship OF
Pennsylvania, in 1894, which had eight
entries from throughout the state, includ
! ing Sherman and Dougherty, the latter
rnen claiming the title. This was wor
! by Keogh after a three-handed tie game
with Sherman and Dougherty.
Keogh did not appear in public agar
until 1897, when he challenged Grant EbN
for the championship of America. TIT
game was played in this city, and keogt
won by the score of 600 to 5Oi
Immediately afterward Clearwater, wn;
halls from Pittsburg. disputed Keogni
| right to the championship and IA mattel
was arranged TO take place at Scranton
It proved a one-sided affair. Keogh win
ming by a score of 600 to $50.
KEOGH WENT TO PIECES.
Clearwater was not satisfied. claimihi
lack OF condition. and he begged for an
other match. which was played in Bos
ton, Keogh agreeing to u". raj ground
| This game was not plan until Feb
| ruary, 1898, and after a ,.bborn con
test went to Clearwater hy tine score O
600 to 567
1t was now KeoGhs turn to ask fol
return game, which was played som
months later in PittsburE, Clearwate
having the choice of cities. Keog
turned the tables positively in this game
winning the championship honors bac
again by a score OF 600 to APT.
! EeOgh's last game was with Alfredo d
ORC in this city last week, who he dc
| fcated by score of 800 To Sl3 in 81
nights play.
His home is stlll in Scranton, whore h
has 4 billiard business. He expects |
sail for England in about three month
to play any English expert at Englis
pyramids and give exhibitions
Keoeh stated yesterday that he ha
made no definite arrangements for
trip abroad, hut expects TO make on
along towards fall. He had a mate
game arranged for last summer wit
Roberts, the English champion, an
was about to go to London to play hin
when the Engishman. who is IL pool an
billiard table manufacturer, failed
business and cancelled the gam
keogh will endeaVOT to make SON
matches with the English and Frenc
players before going across but if /
does not succeed, he will go over an
make an exhibition tour. The game
very popular i'm England, and in Il
match games large stakes are wagere'
ALWAYS PLAYS HIS BEST.
Keogh's conscientiousness lost hi
an easy $1,000 in New York. Durir
the third night of his exhibition gan
with De orc, when the Cuban ha
made a grand rally and was giving h
friends strong hopes of his coming ol
a winner, Dupree, De OrO's hacker, WI
had intently watched the game fro
the start, approached KeOgh and aske
him if he was willing TO arrange
game for the championship and $l,0O
Yes, or any part of $1,000" answere
KeOgh. Bluff" said Dupree. "Ca
it," suggested Keogh. Its up
YOU" We'll, il will be called" I
marked Dupree, and then he arrange
to have "a meeting at the BTunswicl
Bolke rooms the next afternoon at
o'clock, to put up the stakes.
BILLY" Byrne of Carbondale, WI
was nearby, put up a bottle of VIII
with Dupree that the latter would n
be on hand, and he won 1t. Keogh, il
stead Of letting up in his play, in ord
to clinch the prospective match. col
tinued his marvellous shooting al
fairly ran away from the Cuban. ri
next afternoon De Oro's hacker vi
not on hand. He sent a note sayiI
he could not get the money together.
De ORC told KeOgh, after the gam
Saturday night, that he would cha
lenge him for the championship al
$3.50 a side-the minimum allowed und
J the rules-at the conclusion of the Oh
cago tournament.
Incidentally, De Orc is now in CH
cago leading the tournament and fair
running away from all the 9th
cracks. Keogh was invited to tai
part i'm the tournament, but his tern
were not acceptable. If the De Or
Kcogh game is arranged it viii cor
! off in this city.