The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1904-01-08
He WORKS WONDERS
;" WITH The CUE
George n. Stratton the Hand
less Expert a Remarkable
BiIIiardist.
KNOWS ALL THE STYLES
-
Without Hands and Having No Arti-
fetal Assistance, He Plays All
the Games With Amazing
Ability.
KNOWS ALL THE STYLES

Special correspondence to Chicago Trib-
me-: The most Interesting character ever
identified with the game Of billiards is
George II. Sutton, the handless expert,
who recently became a performer in one
Of the academies" of Paris, having been
induced to go abroad by a contract, COW
ering a period of eight months, by the
terms of which he is to receive $1,000 and
expenses from New York and return.
Considering his physical limitations, his
skill is more remarkable than that of any
other billiard player of the past or pres
ent. OF all the hundreds of thousands Of
persons who, as amateurs or professionals,
indulge In billiards in various parts of the
world, there are not more than fifty, if
that many, who are his equals. Without
hands, and having no artificial assistance,
he plays all games in which the billiard
cue is a factor with amazing ability.
His comprehension of all styles Of bill
llards corresponds to that Of Jacob Schaef-
or, and his execution presents extremes Of
dellcacy and force which the 'WiZard"
cannot excel. In no sense a specialist, he
executes all classes of shots from a SIM
pie carom to a masse, does exquisite work
on the rail or balk line, makes close draws
and follows witt rare neatness and pre-
cision, drives superbly, utilizes the dead
BALI stroke like the late Frank C. Ives,
invariably attempts the right shot" and
directs every effort with a view to obtain
ing a favorable position. 1t is not surprls-
ing that the question, "How does he do
it"' is frequently asked.
Any complete answer must involve a
scientific elucidation which can only be
given by some eminent member Of the
medical fraternity.
Many thousands, including numerous
doctors, nave observed him perform, and
not one thorough understanding of the
performance has been asserted.
No T~rickery Used. 81
That he is capable Of playing billiards
SO skilfully that few persons enjoying
perfect physical development can rival
him at the game is evident and impressive.
There is no a%rtifice, no tricllcry, connected
with his work, Yet there is something
about it that is inexplicable. The reason
is, he has no hands and holds the cue be-
tween stumps, extending about seven
inches below his elbows. tina those
stumps have muscular and nervous. de-
velopments which make them so rcspon-
siVe to their possessor's will that he can
manipulate d cue so as to play expert bill
lizards is almost Incredible. Nevertheless
1t is true. Moreover. with those Stumps
he can do almost anything, excepting to
put on a collar or nccktie. AS Il pennan,
he is quite as clever as he is as a biz
liardist.
Sutton is Is years old and is a resident
Of Milwaukee. He was born in Ohio. In
Martin, about fifteen miles east of Toledo,
or the Sandusky division of the Lake
Shore and Michigan Southern railway. In
his early boyhood Martin was a lumber
town. Among the places in which he was
permitted to play was a sawmill. He was
healthy and active and avoided any mis-
hap until over 5 years old. Then he made
an unfortunate visit to the mill. In get
ting out of the way of some men hauling
boards he backed against an ledger Its
platform was low and its buzzing saw was
close TO the end in which he had come in
contact. ThoughtIcss!y he put his hands
behiud his body to steady himself Ir a
fash the saw nearly severed both fore
arms near the elbows.
Started to Run Home.
Upon realizing what had happened ne
ran for home and went about fifty wards
before he was caught. The arteries from
which blood was pouring were quickly
bound and a surgeon rnmoned Ampu.
tations were performed and the handless
experience of the now famous billiard ex-
pert was begun. After recovering from
the shock and loss of binod he began to
use tie stuinps as best he could. For a
long time the ends we're extremely tender
and he could make little use of them.
Gradually they became less sensitive and
as gradually he increased their Use. When
u years old he was not only able to help.
himself generally but played ba$ebalf,
catching the ball between the stunps.
Constant use of the stumps caused his
shoulders to grow forward and he can nov
get his elbows together in a manner in-
possible to a normal man. ~ae
Chest Is F%Iattcned.
His chest is flattened II in his rcspira-
tons the expansion is in his bach, which
is round and compare lively bullying ap-
parently. compromising for what 5 lack
Ing on tie opposite side. 4 promincn.
New Yorl1 physician who saw sutton
Playing at Maurice Days last March.
and became deeply interested in him, re-
marked:
his development is a clear case of ey-
oaution. He had to adapt himself To the