New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-23
Burning Speed of Davis Cup
Hero Places CIothier
in Discard.
WILLIAMS ALSO A WINNER
Lawn Tennis Champion Seems
Certain to Retain Honors
Plays Semi Final
on Monday.

Ioughlin. the playing through national
lawn tennis champion, made a wonder
nil stride toward holding his crown in
the ali corners singles on the turf courts
Of the Casino in this city to-day. In the
siYth round the hero of the Davis Cup
contests and the pet OF Wimbledon de-
,ssted his old rival, William j. Clothier.
the champion OF 1905. who was striving 70
regain his lost laurels. There was an i'm
pressive fnality about the score. which
uas Sd IS, s..
To the close followers OF the game the
victory OF Mclaughlin. due TO the ire
,istible power which swept Clothier away
from the net every time he attempted 10
charge the breastworks of the court
marked the contest as the anti-cimax Of
the tournament. There was a striking
air Of certainty about all that the great
Californian did. There were times when
he seemed 10 toy with Clothier as a cat
might with a mouse.
On several occasions Clothier was
within a stroke of winning a game. at
which Mclaughlin would open the
throttle on his burning pace and have
his opponent wildly swinging for the ball
as it crossed the net or standing helpless
as the sphere sped past him in the court.
II vas a sweeping victory, splendidly
carried. and by il Mclaughlin removed
from his path 10 the final the most for
ridable and dangerous obstacle confront
ing him.
Clothier's surrender was complete As
he returned to the dressing rooms he was
met by Billy Larned, the former cham
pion. and Tom Petit the professional.
They questioned him as to the wrecking
Of his offensive play.
II have never before played against
such speed" declared Clothier. HE did
not appear TO hit hard. and vet the ball
went by like a thunderbolt. 1t was
simply impossible for me to handle the
ball and make returns, and that was all
there was TO IT."
The most significant thing about the
battle between the two giants of the
American courts was the fact that Nc
Loughlin was always equal TO the
emergency Of winning a game when he
set out TO do SO. The most noteworthy
instance of this came in the second set.
when Clothier managed 10 break through
the Californian's service on the eighth
game for lead Of So on games.
The erstwhile titleholder fought so des-
perately in the next game that McLough-
lin was put TO a tremendous test. Four
times the points touched at deuce before
Mclaughlin captured II. Then he put his
back into his service and finished up the
set with a run Of four straight games.
In the last three Clothier scored only
points as the Californian made his work
most decisive. Variations Of this same
thrilling action were repeated no fewer
than a dozen times in the three sets
The fact that Mclaughlin always lift
ed up his game 10 the point-earning
height is indicated and plainly told in the
point analysis. The champion scored
total of l2S points TO los for his rival from
Philadelphia. and 16 points Of the differ
ence OF IS is accounted for by the fact
that Mclaughlin scored service aces
to his opponents ] and IS placements 10
a. 1t was his marvellous ability to lift
his game that helped him 10 do this.
The manner in which Mclaughlin COW
cred up direction and often had Clothier
starting for one part Of the court While
he shot the ball past in another amused
the crowd At times II made the Phila-
deIphian look almost foolish. but there
was not a moment when the former
champion was not playing for all that
was in him.
The one place in which Clothier excelled
Mclaughlin was on his driving TO tho
CHAMPIONS low backhand. This was the
sort Of thing he was supposed TO do 10
win, but Mclaughlin kept him so busiiy
engaged in other ways that Clothier did
not get an opportunity TO make the shot
count for much. When he did play IT NC
Loughlin usually dubbed the ball into the
net. as he failed 10 get it up sufficiently
and i, was his 81 nets TO Clothier's "a that
marked the only high light in the lat
ter's play.
Clothier has been a prominent hgure In
national lawn tennis for more than Ten
years. II was he who checked McLouSn-
Inns career in 1903 in the semi-hnal round
OF the all corners in a match that was
marked by high pitch Of excitement ci
the gallery never previously seen here.
Mclaughlin bowed to the inevitable at
that time, but ne has held the position OF
conquerer ever since.
OF course, there were other winners Tor
the day r. Norris Williams a. ana
John r. Strachan, the young Californian
meteor. won in the fifth round. williams
took the measure OF the young Pennsyi-
vanian, b. C. Law. at Ga, Sc, 81 70
couple with Watson NJ Washburn Tor the
semi-fnal Strachan defeated r. n
Whitney at e-3, Sc. 6-l. The meteor
is TO have his singles appearance on
the championship court tomorrow morn
ing against Wallace F. Johnston OF me
Davis Cup team, IL the weather whlch
is threatening tonight. does not hoid the
tournament up for a day.
Mclaughlin and Nathaniel W. Mics
the latter the Massachusetts state u'ie
holder advanced 10 the semi-nnals.
Niles met a surprise that almost terihi-
mated in an unpleasant ending for him. as
Leonard Beekman, the Paving schooi
captain. held the great Harvard veteran
through two fiery deuce sets before the
boy wilted and was beaten at w. 49,
50 In the first and second sets beek-
man was several times within stroke
OF taking the set. Mclaughlin awaits
the winner OF the Wallace-Johnson-
suachan contest. while Niles awaits
either Williams or Washburn. The TWO
great players must lay off until MONDAY
even with clear weather.
Tbs &C.,, - .ho hattie that has prac-