The Washington herald., 1912-01-21
Bowling Game in London
And Other Foreign Cities
Some Inside Facts Regarding the Early History
of the Pin Game in European
Countries

I tiOns, temperament OF the people. and
general conditions will cause the game
to receive even stronger support and pa
| tronage in England and Europe than II
does In America. Proof Of this is some
what esta blished by the wonderful prog
ress the game has made in Canada
After considerable correspondence and
numerous trips 10 France. Germany. and
10 the United States. I established a
connection with a large company OF
American bowling alley manufacturers. It
was arranged that the writer was to CO.
operate with them to Introduce bowling
! In Europe. After spending considerable
time IN Paris, where this company had
branch and by making every EFFORT
to instruct French mechanics how to
build twelve alleys according to the
American regulations. 1 finally got twelve
! completed and laid down In London.
These alleys were installed by me at the
| White City exhibition. The alleys. how
ever, were anything but bowling alleys.
having serious defects in their construc-
tion, that would have prevented their
being used anything else but wood for
the scrap heap in the United States.
Ihese twelve alleys were opened for bust
ness on Bank holiday, August !, 1853. and
/ in spite Of their many faults, were a
1 big success from the opening day on.
| During the season they were the most
attractive sensible amusement at the ex-
hibition and thoroughly convinced the
writer OF the certain future success and
popularity OF bowling in Europe.
Realizing that good beginning was
| essential to introduce successfully the
game, after the exhibition was over
put the twelve alleys. balls. and pins on
the dump pile to be sold for lumber.
and Immediately set TO work TO have all
future alleys made, and shipped from
the United States. ] placed my first or
der for six regulation alleys, loop the
loop ball returns, mineralite bowling
balls. and all other latest American Bowl
ing Congress regulation equipment in Chi
cago, on the 18th day OF February 1910
and on the I'd day OF June. 1910, I opened
my first regulation bowling alleys in
Piccadilly. London. This is the first mod
ern. up-to-date regulation bowling place.
with all the latest up-to-date American
Bowling Congress regulation pins, beds,
ball returns, cutters, and equipment. in
Europe, and from the opening day up to
the present Is proving a financial and
social success, as well as a prominent
rendezvous for all American bowlers who
are travelling on the Continent.
Big Organization Planned.
The writer is at present in the United
States, making arrangements 10 further
the cause Of bowling. not only in Eng
land, but all OF Europe, particularly. how
ever, England. Germany, Switzerland. and
France, and to promote the organization
Of large syndicate for this purpose and
also to assist in the organization OF a
European Bowling Association to be a CO.
operative body of the American Bowling
Congress and the National Bowling AS
ISOLATION. The spOrtsmanlike nature Of
the English gentleman augurs well to-
| ward the future popularity and prosperity
OF bowling. II is an indisputabie fact
that l was the first to introduce a regu-
lation bowling alley in Europe. and have
in my possession the first mineralite ball
and tenpin TO cross the big pond.
Among the many friends and enthu-
siasts on the other side, Mr.. F. G. Good
ley. Of London. lent an important hand
financially and otherwise. Mr.. Cooley
and the writer gave the first checks which
set the wheels of bowling In Europe GO
ing. Messrs. George P. and William Per-
cival, Albert H Waters, and Thomas
Foulcher. Of London, are also important
factors in the pioneer work, and while a
large sum OF money and time has been
invested by all the gentlemen mentioned
in an effort to introduce the game. the
pioneers cheerfully made any financial
sacrifice to further the cause.
Nearly 5000 was spent entirely in
pioneer work before the first palace was
opened. II there ever was a display
of real sportsmRnship. il was certainly
shown by these gentlemen. and IL is hoped
that not many years hence will see all
annual bowling tournaments "interna-
tional.' with strong European teams COM
peting with those Of the United States
and Canada, and the European Bowling
Association and the American Bowling
Congresses and associations linked into
one great International body.