Evening journal., 1914-08-13
BILLIARD MARVEL
Once A NEWSBOY
Welker Cochran, Phenom,
Has Natural Frank Ives
Stroke
EXPERTS BELIEVE HE
WILL BE CHAMPION

Nnlcag0 Tor the express purpose OF
taking the worlds billiard title from
Willie Hoppe.
And this marvellous youth comes from
the ranks Of the newsboys. Welker
Cochran is his name and his age is six
teen years. lie began to play six years
ago At that time he was crying
Extra in the streets Of Manson, Iowa
putting in his spare hours at the billiard
table.
This youth has developed into the
most phenomenal billiard player Of re-
cent years, and at the present time is
the only billiard player who has shown
sufficient skill with the cut to give
promise Of wrestling the worlds titles
from Hoppe,
Cochrans friends believe that he viii
succeed, and Tor this reason are groom
ing him for q championship match with
the youthful title holder. Those who
have seen him play say he is the only
billiardist today who has a chance to
take the iaurels from Hoppe.
Not since Hoppe began to show such
mastery with the cue has anyone ap
preached the skill shown BY. this
youthful wizard. His parents formerly
resided at Edmonton, Alberta; later lac
vent to Manson, where his energetic
nature found expression as vendor Of
laily papers. At the age Of twelve he
VAS known as the newsboy billiard
llayer.
Cochran is a youth Of unusual intel
igence The pennies made as a news
boy went into an educational fund, and
two years later he went to Chicago to
attend Lane Technical College and viii
soon graduate, defraymg part Of his ex-
penses with the money he saved as a
newsboy
lie IS not only taking the full course
At this college, but has been taught the
finer points of billiards during his spare
minutes, and the bulldog determination
this boy possesses accounts for his mas
tering the game while receiving his edu
cation
In Chicago he was recognized as the
most promising billiard player Of that
,itv Under able instructors his faults
we're corrected and he made remarkable
progress in the technique of the game.
Ills development has been SO rapid that
1e Is now considered an even more
lskillful player than was Hoppe at the
In a 500 point 1872 Balk line game at
Chicago with DR.. Harley Parker. lead
ing amateur Of the Windy City, young
Cochran made an average Of 40 and q
high run of l65 few nights later he
met Mr.. Heddon, another expert anna /
teur OF Chicago, at the same game and :
ran $50 points IN two innings, for an (
average Of l25. He counted 40 from the 4
bank and ran out with 205, leaving the I
balls in such perfect position that had /
occasion demanded it he might have /
run as many more. Such billiards from
a player so youthful has never been
heard Of before. And this is not all.
s Cochran is the winner of two handi-
cap tournaments. one at the lo-2 game
and the other at three cushion caroms,
which amply proves his versatility.
He is most consistent player ana
like Willie Hoppe is possessed Of an I'M
movable temperament, which ~ pn-
lard player is a necessary asset
Undoubtedly there is no one IN the
billiard world today, excepting Cham.
lion Hoppe, who can prove the equai oi
his youngster in match game. Ana
,very time he plays he shows Mondet
improvements 4
,otinn six hours each dax to practice,
and this is why those who have seen
,im arc SO confident that he will soon
,e able to capture the billiard titles OF
he world
His stroke Is both wonderful and nat
.iral. and resembles very much the
,troke OF the famous Frank ives The
3ov Wonder. as be is now known to the
billiard world, has the unique record Of
.haNing jumped directly into the pro-
'essiunal ranks. The billiard player
Usually spends several years as an anna
teur before he is sufficiently recognized
by the public to be worthy Of profess
sional patronage.
With Young Cochran it has been diff
ferent On account Of his wonderful
ability and his certainty of soon be-
coming Il title holder the boy Wonder"
has been accepted as member Of the
Champion Billiard Players League. This
will give him the opportunity OF play
inc during the coming season with all
Of the champions Of the billiard werld
and he is sure to give an excellent ae-
count OF himself.
II is a far-fetched prediction that be-
fore the end of the season Nelker
Cochran win be as well known as any
other member Of the Billiard League,
and champion Of more than one style Of
balk line
Before the beginning of the Billiard
League season young Cochran will be
seen in a number of exhibition games in
New York He also may appear at the
Crescent parlor, this city, this winter
lie has placed himself under the man
agement Of President Mank, of the
league. who has arranged for him sew
eral important matches. During the
month prior to the league season Coch-
ran win meet several Of the champion
players. 1t is probable that these
matches. will be played at Doyle's and \
Maurice Daly's.
President Mank, who formerly man
aged Willie Hoppe and had much to do
With the development Of the present
champion. is confident that Cochran win
he able TO win billiard title before the
end Of the year and that it win not be
long before he viii hold the title Of the
world
rErpxsc 4 ntVT tMr rU lVCE