The New York herald., 1922-04-16
OLD TIME BILLIARD
| HISTORY RECALLED
Death of John Deery Revives
Memories of Play i'm '60s
and '70s.
BY THOMAS J. GALLAGHER.

by THOMAS J. GALLAGHER.
John Deery. who died April at the
Neurological Hospital. was one OF the
most active. conspicuous and impress
! sive figures associated with the early
history of professional Billiards in the
United States. He was born In Gin
cinnau February IT, 1912.
Standing close to six feet high, he was
gifted with fine physique. perfect fea-
lures. rosy cheeks. black curly hair and
a black mustache. It has often been
remarked that he was one OF the finest
looking men who ever walked down
Broadway from Fourteenth street to
the Astor House, which In the eos and
'70s was the greatest resort in America
OF politicians, professional men and
sporting celebrities.
In the days when there were no street
railways or subways on Broadway, Wig
orous and even delicate individuals ig-
nored the old type of buses and strobe
on that thoroughfare to and rom bust
ness and other pursuits. 1t was the
pi oper vogue of the period. After Deery
had come to New York John C. Heenan.
the famous pugilist, another fine look
ing individual. who was billiard en-
thusiast. took a fancy to him. As
these two stalwarts, faultlcssly attired
with athletic carriage. paced the side
walks of the then great promenade
other pedestrians would stop and look
at them.
A Pathetic End.
The final curtain on Deery was pa
thetic. Overentertained and feted he
became a physical wreck. Although
neither neglected nor ignored by for
rrer friends, he quietly became county
charge. For eight years he did not re-
veal his whereabouts. Shortly after he
was located an attack Of pneumonia
proved fatal His remains were Inferred
In st. Michaers Cemetery. incidental
, expenses being betrayed by Maurice
DAILY and the Brunswick-Balke Collen.
der Company.
On November 81, 1861. when 10 years
old, Deery played his first match His
opponent was Philip Tieman of Gin
cinnati. who was one Of the first class
players of the time. The game was
1000 points, pushing and jawing al
lowed, on 6 by IL six pocket table.
Tieman won by 317.
Shortly afterward Deery came to New
York On April 4, 1862. at Irving Hall
he made his first public appearance In
the East. He tackled Michael Foley,
an aspirant for championship honors,
and was beaten 1000 to 502 Among
the spectators was the distinguished
PULPIT and platform orator Henry Ward
Beecher, who was given an ovation
as he advanced to occupy a seat that
had been reserved for him.
His First Title Tourney.
The following year. June 1 to .. at
Irving Hall, he competed in the first
championship billiard tournament eve-
held in any country. The games were
played on 6 by IL, four pocket table
He finished third to Dudley Kavanagh
and Louis Fox. Behind him were Philn
Tieman, John Seereiter. Michael Foley.
William Goldthwait and Victor Estephe
Two years later he was champion
On account of illness Kavanagh for
feited to Louis Fox. Deerv promptly
challenged Fox. On May Is, 1866, ut
Grecian Hall. Rochester. Deery won by
1.500 to 1.465. Becoming respondent
over the loss of the championship by
small margin Fox committed suicide by
jumping into the Genesee River
The new champion retained his title
by defeating John McDevltt at Cooper
Union March 13. 1866. but on May 2s
of the same year. at the same hall, was
vanquished by Joseph Dion, then resi-
dent of Montreal.
Acquires Another Title.
At Irving Hall, April 26 to May 10. he
acquired another championship, the en-
blem of which was a diamond tipped cue
about IS inches long. The medium was
tournament on y by IL table, with
four pockets. A new rule barred the
push shot. He won FIVE games and lost
one to Melvin Foster. Other partic-
ipants were A. p. Rudolphe. who fin-
rhed second: Peter Snyder, Henry
Rhines. William Goldthwait and Edward
Daniels. After successfully defending
the diamond cue in match against
Melvin Foster. played at the Hippo
theater on September IA, 1889. he went
to the Pacific coast. Opening billiard
room in San Francisco, because he was
champion he charged an admission or
SO cents. So great was his prestige the
place was packed from noon until late
at night.
The Dion brothers, Joseph and Cyril.
and A. p. Rudolphe followed him to the
Golden Gate On March S, 1870. Ru-
holphe. who had challenged for the dia-
mond cue: won 1t by score of 1900 to
1927. The finish of the contest was
marked by an extraordinary incident.
As Rudolphe was about to make the
winning carom one Of Deery's hackers.
"a man who had the reputation OF
desperate. picked up one of the balls
and threw 1t into the gallery. Amid
tempest of disorder Decry intervencd,
made the disturber take his seat, sent
for the missing ball. obtained 1t and
placed 1t for Rudophe to make the
count he needed.
While In San Francisco Deery PLAYED
several matches with the Dions at both
four ball and three ball games. The
results varied On January IL. 1871, at
Platt's Hall, Deery and Joseph Dion
played the first match between FIRST
class experts in which by 10 carom
table was used. Dion. who won by 500
to 474, offered Deery odds of 100 in 500
Two weeks later on those conditions
Deery won without the odds, the score
being 600 to 47o. Deery then accepted
odds OF so in 500. and on February
won again on more than even terms the
totals being 500 to 491. April follow
ing Cyril Dion defeated Deery 500 10
476. Those games in San Francisco
led to tho adoption of the by 10
standards.
Returning to New York, at Irving
Hall September 3 and 13, 1872, Deerv
and Maurice DAILY played two three bail
matches, each for $1,000 side DAILY
won, 500 to 292 and 600 to 40s. In
1873, at Irving Hall, from June 20 70
80. Deery figured in tournament for
the champfon shin af tbo xyo~id 49,. "a,