The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-24
Cr.iMpTON RiCKET PLAYERS.
Mr.. James r. soutcr's WeiI-Enrned Victory
over nv. David Lydig.

The final match for the championship OF
the Racket Club for the ensuing year WAS con-
tested yesterday by Mr.. James 4. Soutor and
Mr.. David Lydig Both are old members and
governors Of the club. and tho news that they
were to be pittcd against each other for final
encounter drew throng OF visitors to the rooms
Of the Racket Club. Twcnty-siXth street and
Sixth avenue Tho contestants stepped out on
the red cement floor. stripped for action. Souter
is tall. dark -complcxioncd athlete. over six
feet high. straight. with fine chest and shou-
dcrs. n rapid, swinging gait and plenty OF wind
and muscle. He weighs about 155 pounds. His
antagonist. Lydig. Is shorter and thicker set.
with % more pounds of flesh. powerful. we'll
developed limbs. and good notion of using
them. His friends however. whisper that he
carries too much beef" and shake their heads
when they compare him with his more litheand
active opponent
the first inning Soutrr scored two, and Iydig
the same number. Both men kept hard ut their
work, and the little white ball few back and
forth against the walls of the court. Toward
the close of the first game Souter achieved
magnificent long -rrach bhck-hnnu shot,
which called forth thundcrs OF applause. At
the end of fifteen minutes the first game was
declared In favor Of Souter by score OF 10 to
II. By the terms Of the contest the champion
ship was TO ~ TO the person winning the best
three out Of five
In the second game the men played for all
up. and handled their bats with awill. Tho
crack crack Of tho little white pellet as II bound
ed and rebuunded from the brick wall. wHs
loud and continuous. At times. when it
would he driven dead on " against the
hard surface. the recoi sounded like the
"spang' of rife shot. Low shots and
2ig2ag cnroms seemed to be favorltrs
with both players. At times the scramble for
the ball was most exciting and II seemed AS
though one or the other Of the contestants must
be laid out either by the ball or the bat
Of his antagonist. Several narrow escapes
dodging alone saved them more than once.
Toward the end the tremendous eXer-
ton told vsibly. II was evident that Mr..
lydg was wearing out much the faster. His
woolrn wrapper was soaked with pcrsp ration
his runs were slow and forced and AZ times he
heavily uga nst the side wall Of the court. recoil
ing in evident pnin. He stuck TO II, however
with dogged pert nHcity that proved his pluck
and endurance. This game. Ike the other. re-
suited IN favor OF SOnter. who scored 10 TO his
opponents IL.
The final struggle was the best contested.
Tine perS plrution was pouring of both men in
streams. and their heavinR chests and pant
ing breath attestcd that the sport was terribly
cAhausting. A rapid series OF counter rushes
Tor the ball In which quick and hard hitting
WAS intermngled with deNterous by-pny
brought the score on both sides nearly up to the
required number. 1t stood u To If Just before
the nnal innings. uud Lydig mustered all his
strength for "a lust effort His 1.-the antagonist
however again proved too much for him. and
a. 4 p Souter scored the ilnal shot and secured
H.. much oveted championship.
Mr. SOutcr. the winner. ls n banker at rs
Broadway. and has twice before carried of the
hOn1rs in the annual handicap. Mr.. Lydig is
in the Custom Huuse. and is one Of the best
racket players III the city.