Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-09-05
[By Latest MALL.


NEW YORK.-They are grooming a
youngster in Chicago for the express
purpose Of taking the worlds billiard
title from Willie Hoppe.
And this marvellous youth comes
from the ranks OF the newsboys. Wei
ker Cochran is his name and his age
Is Is years. He began to play bill.
lizards six years ago. At that time he
was crying Extra" In the streets Of
Manson, Ia. putting In his spare hours
at the billiard table. -. LII
This youth has developed into the
most phenomenal billiard player OF
recent years and at the present time
Is the only billiard played who has
shown sufficient skill with the cue 70
give promise of wrestling the worlds
title from Hoppe.
Has Chance Against Hoppe.
Cochran's friends believe that he
will succeed and for this reason are
grooming him for a championship
match with the youthful titleholder.
Those who have seen him play say
that he Is the only billiardist today
who has a chance to take the laurels
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 former
~ resided at Edmonton. Alberta; lat.
er he went to Manson. where his ener-
getic nature found expression as
vendor of daily papers. At the age Of
IL he was known as the newsboy bill
lard player
Cochran is youth of unusual in
telligence. The pennies made as a
newsboy went into an educational
fund and two years later he went to
Chicago to attend the Lane Technical
College, and viii soon graduate, de-
fraying part Of his expenses with the
money he saved as newsboy.
He 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 bull.
dog determination this boy possesses
accounts for his mastering the game
while receiving mis- education.
In Chicago he vas recognized as
the most promising billiard player of
that city. Under able instructors his
faults were corrected. and he made re-
markable progress in the technique
of the game. His development has
been so rapid that he is now consid-
cred an even more skillful player than
Hoppe at the same age.
High Run OF 1855.
In q 500-point 1872 balkline game
at Chicago with DIR. Harley Parker,
leading amateur of the Windy City,
young Cochran made an average OF
40 and a high rum of les. A few
nights later he met Mr.. Heddon, an.
other expert amateur OF Chicago. al
the same game for an average OF lbs.
He counted IS from the bank and
ran out with 205. leaving the balls In
such perfect position that had occa-
sion demanded II, he might have run
as many more Such billiards from q
player SO. youthful has never been
heard OF before. = And Ethis Is not an
Cochran is the winner of two handi-
cap tournaments, one at the 1872 game
and the other at three-cushion carons,
which amply proves his versatility.
He Is most consistent player, and,
like Willie Hoppe, Is possessed of an
immovable temperament which in a,
billiard player Is a necessary asset.
Undoubtedly there is no one In the
billiard world today, excepting Cham.
pion Hoppe, who can prove the equal
Of this youngster in match game.
And every time he plays he shows
wonderful improvement. This Is why