New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-03
By FRED HAWTHORNE.

koptIt LluNltN .Nulid!f tuV 4NNNN't
from California. in one OF the most
thrilling battles ever seen on the
courts. defeated George Myers Church
Of Tenafy. A. j.. yesterday ln The rtth
round Of the thirty-siXth annual ma
uonal lawn tennis championship tour
nament. az Forest Hills. Murray. after
dropping the first two sets and appar-
entity hopelessV outclasscd, rose 10 the
situation with superb courage and won
the last three sets and the match al
9 s. 8. e, 6 Z, %
Not even victory by Maurice Nc
LouChlu. the Comet from the Coast,
could have been hailed with more un-
bounded enthusiasm than that which
greeted Murray as he finished of the
final point. The thousands who had
sat through the long afternoon under a
blazing sun. who had watched while
this stalwart son of the Far West
had crcpt up slowly and. with unial-
teriuC courage. passed has brlliant
rival, finally 10 win the greatest victory
O. his career, were stliled for mo-
mcDt by wonder
Then came the realization that Muir
ray had wreSted triumph from what
q short time before had appeared GER
tain defeat. Men and women rose up
IN their seats almost simultaneously
and cheered. stamped their feet and
clapped their hands. As If this was not
sufficient 10 express their feelings, they
graspcd the white cushions they mad
been sitting upon and tossed them into
the arena IN which Murray and Church
We're still standing.
Cushions Cover Courts.
Thousands Of these cushions few
through the AIR. covering the courts
like huge fakes Of snow, and the Cali
fornisn and his defeated opponent had
20 dodge the dcluge that descended
from both stands. IL was the tribute
of the onlookers 10 the courage and
uncomfortable lighting spirit that had
brought Murray through 10 victory.
During the entire playing Of the last
two sets. when the spectators realized
that Murray was making tremendous
fight for the lead, the scene was an
unparalleled one. Every point the Cal
ifornian won was the signal for fresh
burst Of cheers, and the din was so
deafening that Church, nervous and
seeming approaching defeat, appealed
10 Eddie Conlin, the umpire, who asked
the onlookers TO delay their cheers
until each point was finished,
and grasped Church BY the hand warm
Is. The tall Fastener who had set
mis- heart upon winning the national
title this year. was too stunned, IT
seemed, 10 thoroughly realize that his
hopes had been dashed, for this year
at least. He responded weakly to MuT-
rays handclasp and walked from the
clubhouse with f"itering step and head
bowed, as though in trance.
\ Sensational Gatcn.
This match had come as the sensa-
tional and unexpected climax TO day
of rather unInteresting lawn tennis.
Clarence J. Griffin, OF California, made
runaway OF his match with Wallace
+. Johnson, Of Philadelphia, winning
al e. GO, 60, and Richard Norris
Williams. 3D. former champion and the
lone fastener now left in the tourna-
ment, after dropping the first set IN
his match with Douglas ;. Waters, oil
New Orleans, pulled himself together
and ran out the last three sets easily,
winning by a score of 3-6, 6-l, 6-l,
Go. William NJ. Johnston. playing
through champion, crushed Watson VI.
Washburn, of New York, in straight
sets. winning al GO, 60, 10.
One chan Dionship was decided yes
terday. and u was victory for the
East. for young Benjamin Latson, Of
The Bronx. won the boys national
championship By defeating d. ". John
son. tri-state champlO on, at 60, co,
6-l. Harold Throckmorton won from
Arthur Favreau, New England cham
pion. in the semi-final round Of the
national junior championship tourney
and will face Roland Roberts, Of Cali
fornia, in the final round tomorrow
morning at i o'clock
or the four men left in the semi
finals of the national tourney three
Griffin, Johnston and MURRAY hail
from the Pacific Coast. Williams
lands AS the last buwark Of the East
against another California triumph.
He will play Griffin at 1880 o'clock to
morrow afternoon on court No. Tor
the right TO occupy the final bracket
in the upper half Of the draw
Johnston and Murray.
One Of the Californians must step
down and out in the other half, for
Johnston and Murray are 20 do battle
for the right 20 contest in the maj
round on Tuesday afternoon.
Williams, although Griffin has de
feated him twice before, the only oc-
casions when they have met this year,
should take the measure of the stocky
Californian tomorrow. HIS game Is
far and away superior 20 Griilin's both
as TO strokes and speed. and If he can
overcome the psychological advantage
Peck holds over him should be one OF
the fnalists.
The outcome Of the struggle between
Johnston and Murray is more difficult
10 prophesy. These two have met often
before. and the champion held the ad-
vantage Should tomorrow find him
in the form that won him the title on
the West Side Tennis Club courts last
year he should triumph over Murray,
brilliant as the latter showed himself
20 be yesterday His terrific driving,
with the ball always played low, and
his deadly volleying from midcourt are
better calculated 20 conquer the ma
tional indoor champion than is Church's
style q play. Yet man who can
come from behind as Murray did
against Church is capable Of almost
anything
Close 20 10000 persons were seated
IN the stands when Murray and
Church came out from the clubhouse,
ready for the fray. Conlin was In the
umpire's chair and Edwin Fuller Torroy.
secretary Of the L. S.N. l.. 7. A., acted
as Judge OF footballs. His duties
were principally to check Church, who,
when the tide Of battle began TO flow
against him, started in TO swing ms