Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-11
Di SCOVerVo
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THE CROQUET TOURNAMENT.
Local Players Much Pleased Over It's
Success.

Success.
The fourth annual croquet tournament
given by the croquet players of Washing
ton is at last thing of the past. Although
the local players for a time gave up bust
ness cares and devoted themselves entire
ly to the enjoyment of the sport, the inter-
est, now that the tournament is over, has
not diminished, and the local men may
still be seen any evening occupying all the
courts. with enough croquet fans" left over
to form good-sized crowd of spectators
The local devotees of the game are much
pleased with the success of the tourna-
ment the number of the visiting players
the almost perfect weather that prevailed
and the general satisfaction expressed on
all sides with the management of the tour
nament The visiting players expressions
of praise of the Washington courts was
also a matter of much qualification to the
local club.
The absence of number of players who
reside in other cities and who have attend
ed previous events of the kind in this city
was much felt, however, although the
presence here of the champion of the coun-
try and the winner of second place pre-
cluded any cloud to the title of champion
Of the south. Among those who could not
attend may be mentioned Geo w. johnson
ex-champion of Philadelphia: Henry G.
Fay of Brooklyn, ex-president Of the Ma
tional Association; James Cousins of New
York, Capt. A. o. Griswold of Elyria Ohio;
James Bilbrough of Philadelphia, Samuel
Dudley of New London and Messrs. Bell
and Chalfonte of Wilmington, Del Great
regret was also expressed by their friends
that DR.. Greenway and Prof. Jacobus did
not play up to their usual form. Both of
these gentlemen have for years been Shin
ing lights In the croQuet world and a little
practice is all that is needed to make them
winners again.
The prizes this year were medals or
badges, six In number, suitably engraved
and In form emblematic of the game The
first prize in each of the three divisions
was a gold medal, with silver emblem for
second place.
won by Geo. c. Strong of New London,
Conn.,, with score Of eleven games won
and one lost. Mr.. Strong has held the ma
tionai championship three years in all, his
last victory being in 1895. and is considered
to be one Of the prettiest and at the same
time most careful players in the country
His fame does not rest alone upon his GRO
quet laurels. for he is prominent business
man and has occupied a seat in the legis-
lature of the nutmeg state.
The second prize in the first division was
captured by Sackett Duryee, who won 1t
In the play-off Of tie between himself
and w. H. Wahly, also Of this city, each of
whom had ten games won and two lost
Duryee won the championship of the
Washington tournament last year and the
rational championship this year, while
Wahly won the Washington prize two
years ago and came second by but one
game in the national tournament this year.
Wahly also enjoys the distinction of being
the only player to beat the winners of both
the recent national championship contest
and the local tournament just concluded
The first honOrs in the second division
were clearly won by a young Washington
player. Charles Williams, his score being
eight won and one lost. As this is his first
experience in tournament, 1t was feared
that he would not retain his nerve when
the critical time arrived for him to show
bis skill. but he has demonstrated his abil-
ity to cope with the best players of the
country, and next year will play In the
first class.
Second honors In this division were only
won after play-on Of tie between p. w.
Coleman and Major H. A. Hall. both Of
this city, tn which contest the former sue
oeeded In coming out victorious Captain
Coleman Is a prominent G. A. r. man. and.
although he has but one arm, has been an
enthusiastic player for q dozen or more
years. Last year In the national tourna-
Eent he just missed winning second prize
In the second division. Captain Colema n
Is also quite an expert billiard player. His
opponent, Major Hall, has never taken mart
In the national contests. but is accounted