It is a kind of “shell out”

Isle of Wight Observer, Saturday 07 December 1889

They are playing a new game at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, which bears the very odd title “Snookers.” Its principal attraction is doubtless that at present it is caviare to the general. It seems to be a kind of pool, and regular rules have been issued for it. It is a kind of “shell out” which, as most billiard players know, is pyramids with any number of players, and not confined to two, as in the ordinary game. Moreover, a certain number of coloured balls are on the table as well as the red ones, each having a different value indicated by a number on it. The players go in rotation, and no one can play at a numbered ball until he has holed a red one, the letter counting one, and the former being counted according to the number upon it. After having holed a numbered ball, another red hazard must be made before a numbered ball can be played upon again. That is the gist of the game, which will be readily understood by billiard players.