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Modern Billiards / A Complete Text-Book of the Game, Containing Plain and Practical Instructions How to Play and Acquire Skill at This Scientific Amusement cover

Modern Billiards / A Complete Text-Book of the Game, Containing Plain and Practical Instructions How to Play and Acquire Skill at This Scientific Amusement

Chapter 112: 1863.
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About This Book

A comprehensive manual treats billiards as a disciplined recreational skill, beginning with historical context and equipment and room considerations. It offers systematic, illustrated instruction in cue handling, shot-making, cushion play, and a wide range of game variants and scoring methods, including carom and pool forms. Practical chapters cover evolving techniques, table and cloth care, selection and use of cues, and strategies for counting and position play. Additional sections explain rules, tournament conduct, and competitive records, aiming to guide readers from basic shots to advanced, repeatable strokes through diagrams and methodical practice advice.

1863.

Kavanagh vs. Goldthwait. Irving Hall, N. Y. City, April 23d.—$500 a side. K., 1500—14.42—125; G., 1282—130.


First Public Tournament, First Formal Professional Championship Anywhere, and First Four-pocket Table. Irving Hall, N. Y. City, June 1–9th.—First prize, emblematic cue and a $750 Phelan & Collender billiard-table; second, $250. Instead of the usual 6 × 12 six-pocket, a 6 × 12 four-pocket was used for first time in public. The highest run was made by “jawing,” also for first time in public. Tieing in both high run and high winning average, done by Kavanagh and Tieman, has yet to be paralleled in a public tournament. Average of this one (seven games apiece), 12.19. Points and money stake in all succeeding matches, 1500 and $500 a side.

W. R. Av. G. A.
D. Kavanagh, N. Y. 6 203 33.33 15.18
Louis Fox, Rochester 5 141 23.81 14.45
John Deery, N. Y. 4 313 16.13 11.41
Phil. Tieman, Cincinnati 3 203 33.33 14.48
John Seereiter, Detroit 3 114 13.16 10.22
M. Foley, Detroit 3 102 16.67 12.48
Wm. Goldthwait, N. Y. 3 185 17.24 11.46
Victor Estephe, Philadelphia 1 86 8.31 9.19

KAVANAGH VS. SEEREITER. First match, same hall, October 15th—K., 1500—16.85—151; S., 715—57.

KAVANAGH VS. TIEMAN. Same hall, April 7, 1864.—K., 1500—12.29—152; T., 1265—93.

KAVANAGH VS. GOLDTHWAIT. Hippotheatron, N. Y. City, June 9, 1864.—K., 1500—17.44—154; G., 1425—117.

KAVANAGH VS. TIEMAN. Same hall, September 15, 1864.—K., 1500—14.56—147; T., 927—139.

KAVANAGH VS. GOLDTHWAIT. Academy of Music, N. Y. City, January 20, 1865.—K., 1500—15.63—158; G., 1406—113.

KAVANAGH VS. FOX. May 16, 1865.—K., ill, forfeited.

FOX VS. DEERY. Washington Hall, Rochester, N. Y., September 7, 1865.—D., 1500—16.67–166; F., 1465—276.

DEERY VS. PIERRE CARME. January 7, 1866.—C. paid forfeit.

DEERY VS. JOHN MCDEVITT. Cooper Institute, N. Y. City, March 13, 1866.—D., 1500—10.79—119; McD., 1145—95.

DEERY VS. JOSEPH DION, of Montreal. Same hall, May 23, 1866.—Dion, 1500—10.42—92; Deery, 1366—144.

DION VS. McDEVITT. Mechanics’ Hall, Montreal, October 5, 1866.—D., 1500—25.86—258; McD., 1276—308.

DION VS. McDEVITT. Same hall, June 10, 1867.—D., 1500—19.73—616; McD., 816—220. Run of 616 was the first case of “jawing” in a match contest for any championship. It led at once to the abolition of “jawing” in this series.

DION VS. EDMUND H. NELMS, Philadelphia. Same hall, September 15, 1867, “jawing” then and thenceforth barred. N. paid forfeit.

DION VS. McDEVITT. Same hall, December 11, 1867.—McD., 1500—13.16—181; D., 1488—291.

McDEVITT (residence changed from New York to Chicago) vs. MELVIN FOSTER, N. Y. Library Hall, Chicago, April 8, 1868.—McD., 1268—21.49—293; F., 1262—263. In fifty-ninth inning, F. protested against a decision. Confusion followed, and the referee adjudged McD. winner while it was still his turn to play. Declining to submit to arbitration, McDevitt guaranteed the stakeholder against a possible suit-at-law, and was paid the stakes.

McDEVITT VS. J. DION. Same hall, September 16, 1868.—McD., 1500—166.67—1458; D., 407—261.

McDEVITT VS. GOLDTHWAIT. Crosby’s Music Hall, Chicago, December 22, 1868.—Fourteenth contest and seventeenth and last match. McD., 1500—25—238; G., 1483—226.

On Christmas Day, 1868, there being no challenge pending, McDevitt resigned the cue to its donors, Phelan & Collender, as a step toward a new championship, push barred. The old style of game came thus to an end.


Best Record Average on a Six-pocket Table. Union Hall, Indianapolis, December 17, 1863.—$250 a side. McDevitt, 1500—17.24—148; Frank Parker, 661—68.

Excepting one at the three-ball game, this was the last public contest at caroms on a six-pocket table.