Omaha daily bee., 1897-08-22
OMAHA TEAM WINS DOUBLES
Chicago Tennis Players Fall Before the
Local Champions,
CoNDEe AND ROCHE LOSE ON ERRORS
Final Struggle is Full of Long Rallies
and Marked by Keen De-
termination to Win on
Both Sides.

People fond of athletics began to appre-
ciate the fact yesterday that a tournament
of no mean proportions was taking place in
their midst The interstate tennis contests
attracted a crowd in the afternoon, which
ovcrfowed from the benches into the unused
courts 1t was the event of the week, a
contest which was full of intense interest
from the time the umpire had his men in
full swing until the close of the sets. The
championship of the doubles was decided.
After the downpour Of rain yesterday even
ing and night, it was feared by the enthu-
sasts that the courts would resemble Man
ava during a drouth. The clay, however,
had been baked in a hot sun for several
days and absorbed the moisture with the
avidlty of a sponge. At II o'clock court No
was rolled and was in much the best con-
dition that it has been during the tourna-
ment. The unfinished match between Condee
and Roche OF Chicago and Crosby and Rip
ley, Hinsdale, was accordingly called. The
result had been pretty accurately called by
the wiseacres, and it was no great surprise
when the Hinsdale team were turned under
with score OF 6-1. The sets on the even
ing preceding were 2-all. The Chicago boys
next moved up a notch in order to meet
Cullingham and Austin of Omaha. Outside
of the excellent work OF Roche, the set was
devoid of interest. Condee played a strong
game at times, but fell down repeatedly on
his long range smashes.
When Cullingham and Austin got down to
business with Condee and Roche at $3.50
p. M, the crowd settled itself in It's seats
to witness a hot fight and it was not dis
appointed. 1t was the prettest go Of the con-
test Not for minute did the interchange
OF hot drives, net rallies, and steady thud
of the balls cease, while the bleacheTs went
wild at times as the little spheroid kept up
a rat-tat-tat on the rackets.
JOHNNY RoCHES SMILE.
The spectators learned early to jolly up
the Chicago Kid" Roche. He was some
thing of josher himself, and took the by
plays and quips of his admirers in man
ner which won him many a friend among
the feminine contingent One thing is Ger
tain, his smile will go down into history.
1t made no manner of difference whether he
won or lost, that genial smile was frozen
on his features When the ball huTtled into
distant corner OF his opponents court the
smile was observed in all the zenith of it's
glory. There was no noise about it, but it
got there Just the same. 1t was peculiarly
eNasperating to his antagonists.
Condee put up the best work that he has
thus far exhibited. He played more carefully
than In other matches and watched the ball
like hawk. He was particularly apt at the
net and returned some hot ones, which were
as good as dead as soon as they left his
racket The juvenile team from Chicago will
SAT back the laurels as the most skillful
:. AZ likemong the visitors.
renestart out Austin and Culllngham
lows thp.n almost faultless game. 1t was
,.i-as h.erized by quick and accurate work,
ana each player was entirely In accord with
the other. The first game went to the local
men with points standing sd In the second
the Windy City pair struck bad streak of
NH oh u
II went on the local tab as a love game In
the next game they managed to climb the
scale trihe and held the score down to
5-S, II was no use. however, to attempt to
retrieve lost ground, and the remainder went
TO the older pair after deuce had been