Omaha daily bee., 1897-08-24
AUSTIN OR CONDEE WINNER
Interstate Tennis Singles Now Narrowed
Down TO Two Men.
GORDON AND cULuINGHAM ARE BEATEN
west Pointer IL outcInssed by the
Omnhn Player and CulIinghnm
succumbs to His Younger and
More Active Opponent.

The semi-nnals In singles yesterday in the
Interstate tennis tournament promised some
rare sport for the lovers Of the nettod bat.
The crowd was slim probably due to the
greater attraction afforded the public in the
form OF the circus. Those who attended
however, were disappointed. The contestl
were slow and in one instance very much
one-sided. Neat plays were infrcquent anC
when they did occur the crowd failed tt
awaken to the fact and the applause lacked
the ginger Of enthusiasm.
The courts were in fairly good condition
but strong wind which prevailed large
portion OF the time, made many of the re-
turns uncertain and caused the players to
discuss it under their breaths. Many a
well placed ball went up into the air ae
though poe5sssei of wings. The strong gusta
formed little whirliggs of dust against the
south clay bank and then rushing across the
courts, played tag with the hats OF the audi
ence and threw pebbles into the eyes OF
the players. 1t was one OF these Nebrapka
zephyra which perneates clothing and
Tumples tempers.
Tho game between Austin OF Omaha ant
Gordon the West Pointer, was called at
O'Clock. Many people who have irequentet
ahe courts during the last week bankec
quite heavily on the soldier, aud thought he
would put up a game which would keel
the Omaha man moving to retain his nureS
1t must be admitted that Gordon has playeC
a remarkably brilliant game at times. II,
gives promise OF becoming a player of grea
strength when time and pactice shall have
rounded out player to the nature born
Tall of figure and strong OF arm, he pos
sssses service which is seldom eXcelled
1Ils weakness lies in voleying, while hi,
strokes also lack force. HIS playing yester
day was the poorest he has exhibited dur
ing the tournament.
Is ENTIRELY OUTCLASSED.
As soon as Austin began moving the balls
in his old time form the West Pointer
went 60 pieces. He did not make it even
Interesting for the Omaha champion. In the
preliminary game Austin sized up his op
ponent's weak points and let it go to the
visitor as love game. The next one Aus.
tin corraled with ease, the points stand
ing Al.
The hcxt one went a point less to the cham
pion. The fourth the same, the fifth not s.
easy, score, 5-3; and the sixth, A. tC
the visitor. The concluding game was taket
by Austin the score for the set being 90
Many easy volleys dropped dead upon the
racket of the soldier boy, for reasons hare
to assign Three points were lost on service
and numerous ones on outs due to ill-timet
smashing.
In the second set Austin evidently wen
to work with the idea of turning his oppo
nent down hard. The Omaha man played
splendid game from start to finish. Tht
West Pointer put up much better articl,
than in the previous set, but it was easil!
TO be seen that he was outclassed at nearl!
every turn Of the game. The score for tht
set was 6-l In Austin's favor.
Tho concluding set was played by botl
men in slow time. The fist one went tt
Gordon with a score of Al. The rest al
went to Austin except the seventh anC
1iu wi irb ha
to his antagonist as a consolation prize
The concluding game was captured by tn
local man, to love, making the score o
tho set 6-3 Austin won in three straigh
sets. r...
SCORES PASSES OFF CULLTNGHAM.
Upon the conclusion of the first mattel
Condee of Chicago and Cullingham of Omah
went to work. There were few good feature
in the play, and what few OF them manage
to come to surface were sadly demoralize
by the wind, which appeared to be stcadil.
on the increase.
Notwithstanding the discouraging feature
under which the game was conducted,
proved to be a hard contest. Cullinghan
early in the first set showed sign
of exhaustion, which grew more pro
nounccd as the series drew to
clcsc. AS usual he showed to goo
placing, but many of his chop strokes fel
short, and the wind played havoc with hi
high balls In the last set he made bu
slight effort to put out of play the lont
drives made by his opponent and the con
test was largely lest to the local man OF
account of the number of passed ball
marked down against him.
The wiry little Chicagoan kept the bal
sprinting from the time he first placed hi
racket against it to the cloee. He appeare
TO better advantage yesterday than at an,
timo during the tournament. AS the maj
on the other side OF the net moved slowe
along toward the last, Condee took on fre5l
strength and finished the contest in tn
forui OF a two-timc winner,
The third set, the only one captured by tn
Omaha man. was taken on account of tn
errltic returns of COndee. over coniden
on account OF his former success, 1t wa
spirited away from him before he becam
aware Of 1t. In the concluding set, however
he settled down with dogged determine
tion to win, which was crowned with sue
cess. The playing was without specla
features with the exception of the first Sc
in which the games were brought up t
tive-all. and twelve were necessary to settl
the dispute. Following is the score in de
tail: