El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-02-09

patched Tom. Taylor, an English pro-
fessiOnaI billiardist, whose instruction
erts's preeminency at the English
game, to America with credentials
authorizing him to arrange q match at
a compromise game to be played in
London. Taylor was not only author
lied to make the match, but had au-
thOrity to fix the style of the game.
Taylor and Ives met in Chicago and
as soon as the latter learned that his
guest, who, it is recorded, he treated
with the utmost courtesy, had the
proper credentials, he entered into ne
gOtiatiOns with him for the match.
These pOurparliers did not take very
long. The American had thoroughly
familiariZed himself with the rules Of
the English game and after he learned
that Roberts under no circumstances
would play the French style, the pair
settled down to a discussion Of a COM
promise.
Consents to Play.
The result of these negotiations was
that Ives consented to play on an Eng
lish table under the English rules II
Roberts would allow him to name the
size of the balls and the pockets. To
this Taylor agreed, thinking his patron
amply protected by the stipulation of
English rules which provided among
other things that:
THE balls being jammed in the
pocket so that the greater part is off
the table, they shall be considered to
have been holed.
Stipulating a pocket Of only : IA
inches, Ives elected to play with balls
2 IA inches in diameter which were
somewhat larger than the regulation
English balls. That these could be
locked in the lips of the pocket, or
''iaWed," as the professionals termed
it, without transgressing the English
rules, never occurred to Taylor. Such
a play had been practiced at odd times
in this country, but had been barred
years before and most of the newer
crop of billiardists had forgotten all
about it.
Had to Learn.
Ives knew very little about the Eng
lish game and had to learn, also, the
process of ''jawing' the balls, trick
on which he depended TO in
sure his victory While he practlced
openly in Clark street academy in
Chicago at the regulation game, he
spent an hour or two each day per-
fecting nurse that would enable him
to gather the balls into a corner very
quickly in case he should need this ex-
pedient. He acquired great skill at
the English game and learned to hold
the balls past the side pocket At the
end of a few weeks practice he an
nounced that he was ready to play
Roberts and. Furthermore, declared
that he would beat him.
Whether or not he told any one
about his ability to wedge the balls
into the corners without transgressing
the English rules is a question, but
there was no doubt that he believed
himself fully capable of beating Rob
erts without this trick and intended to
use it only as a last resort. He had
been running from 500 to $50 in his
public practice and his friends were
highly enthusiastic about his chances
when the time came to leave for Lon
don to NAV the match.
Ives and His Friends.
A party of his Chicago friends de-
cided to accompany Ives on the trip
and they took with them all the
money they could gather. At New
York they were joined by several more
who were enthusiastic about the great
American and were moved by the
stories of his proficiency that had come
from the Chicago academies. When
they got to London no time was lost
in placing this money. The exact sum
is not known, but it is recorded that
most of it was Wagered at even money
No sooner had the process of max
ing the bets been attended to. how
ever, than Ives became i'll. The damp
climate of London did not agree with
him and he was in far from good
condition when the match be-
gan. They were watching for the re-
suit in America as well as in London
The original articles called for 10000
points with a side bet of $4,000.
They were each to play 1000 points
a night the first block to be played
on May 29. Great was the conster-
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