The New York herald., 1921-12-21
John Andrews's Record.
Chance for a Match When Old Bill
LOwney Equals IL.
From the Brooilvn Daily Eagle

from Te BrOOEiUn DuttU EuQtC.
"Hell!" said old John Andrews, who
up to this time has taken no personal
part in the discussion, "Old Bill Lowney
can't open oysters"
For full sixty seconds after this
defy was laid down the whole world
seemed to stand still. A Brooklynite
had challenged a Manhattanite Had
questioned his superiority! The GUS
toners in Gage g. Tollner's restaurant
on Fulton street, where John Andrews
is employed. waited for lightning to
strike old John dead.
"Yes, SIR John went on when moth
ing disastrous occurred, "Old Bill Low
ney would be like a child in my hands
like an oyster. you might say. He brags,
mind you, about 100 oysters in 3 min
utes 3% seconds. / never in my life got
that slow except when I was very tired
late on Saturday nights. If ] tried to
run that slowly my engine would go
dead on me.
'When Bill Lowney can show rec
ord like mine I'll consent to meet him
In n catch Greco Roman
style oyster opening contest / point
with pride to the figgers that do not lie
$3.50 oysters in nine hours I don't
even stop at that. | did that number
regularly for days at time, stopping
only for food and prayer. 1t was poor
day--when I was younger-when
didn't establish new record.
Not only was l good at speed, but /
was strong on endurance. 1 still am.
I've been in this business forty years or
more. say forty In round figures. I've
opened on an average of 5000 oysters
n day. 900 days a year. That makes
now let's see--300 times 5.000-thats
1.500, 900 oysters a year.
Multiply that by forty and you've got
let's see, now--60, 100000 oysters.
When Bill Lownoy gets around to the
millions let him cross the bridge. Let
him get n reputation II he wants to
meet me.
'T don't know Bill. only know what
saw in the papers about him. Why,
can eat 100 oysters in minutes 3T
seconds! Get me hungry and I'll bet
even money can eat all the oysters
Bill Lowney ever peeled"
He held an oyster i'm his left hand
and with his knife pried its roof or.
slicing the muscle from the upper shell
at the same time. The roof lay back
like the lid of a box. The knife sliced
again and the muscle that holds the
oyster to the lower shell was severed.
The oyster itself unscarred, perfect, lay
neatly on the shell.
That's the way l open all oysters
never touch the meat. I've opened
every cooking oyster that has been
eaten in this restaurant.
when this Lowney can open oysters
that prettily and that long and that
fast. let him speak up Let him make
championship claims. Otherwise let lin
speak only for Manhattan. I've never
believed II took much to be a champion
In Manhattan. Now I'm convinced. One
hundred oysters In minutes 3M sec
onds II is, TO use our bill of fare
language, In laughter"
John Andrews Is around rs years old
He has Just celebrated his nftieth we'd
ding anniversary. He was born In the
old Fulton Market district and has
opened oysters all his life Charles Gage
employed him. tho first man he employed
when he opened his restaurant forty
years ago. He Is the only oyster opener
tho concern has ever had. To date he
has been successful He can open oysters
faster than all of Gage & Tollners Gus
toners can eat them. They've never
been able to push him to the limit