New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-02
A NEW ENGLAND
GOVERNOR ONCE
STAR ON COURTS
Chief Executive of Rhode
Island Reached Finals at
Newport in 1886.
By JAMES s. O'NEALE.

Few know that Governor r. Living
ston Beeckman Of Rhode Island was one
Of the country's best tennis players in
his younger days. In 1886 Beeckman
won the all-comers at Newport, coming
through TO the finals with the loss OF
only two sets
In the challenge round Beeckman
made an exciting fight against R. d.
Sears. who had been champion ever
since the inception OF the tournament,
five years before. Sears always won
with the utmost ease.
Beeckman, however. made the cham
pion approach much nearer TO defeat
than ever before. BY fast play the
future Governor won the first set, %,
but Sears pulled himself together and
showed his right TO the championship
by taking the next three sets. 6-l,
6-3, Cd. Contemporary accounts
mention the swift and effective drop
stroke" of Beeckman. which carried MIN
TO victory through the tournament.
During the seven years Sears heId
the championship he lost only three OF
forty-six sets. The daddy of American
lawn tennis was obliged to retire be-
cause of an injury.
Beeckman competed at Newport IN
1884. 1885 and 1887 also, but ne never
had the success he experienced IN 1880
Another indoor tennis tournament IS
going on at the Heights Casino. BrooA-
lyn, despite the fact that the outdoor
season stands coyly just outside. ms
latest is a handicap mixed doubles ciu9
event. Several matches were played
yesterday. They follow:
First round-L. II. Shepard and Miss
c. Putnam, minus half fifteen, defeated
r. c. Ward and Miss Cornelia Cousins,
scratch. IL, 81; G.. Thirkeld ana
Mrs. r. W. Belts. plus fifteen, defeated
{. VI. Bull. jr., and Miss Adele Bull
minus half thirty, 6-3, 6; 5. Fer
guson and Miss Margaret Taylor,
scratch, defeated I. II. Beardsley and
Mrs. Beardsley, scratch, 81, 6.l
Second round-L. H. Fitch and Mrs.
Morton Fitch, scratch, defeated l.. ;.
Fldredge and Mrs. Eldredge, plus
fifteen, 6-3, 6-3; Ferguson and Miss
Taylor defeated Thirkield and Mrs
Belts, %, ca.
Still another star is rising on the
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco,
courts. He is Elmer Griffin, who has
lust won the open handicap singles
event. which attracted eighty-eight en-
tries. Griflins playing right through
the tournament Is said TO have been
remarkable. lie played from owe-3O'
the heaviest handicap. Griffin Is one
OF the latest additions TO the Olympic
Clubs team, and from now on he Will
play under the Winged-O colors.
So many men have elected tennis "a
the sport in which they wish TO get
credit for required gym work at Prince
ton that four large squads will be
necessary.
PERHAPS the earliest Of the North
ern college tennis teams TO indulge IN
outdoor practice is that of the Univer-
sitv of Illinois, at Urbana. con-
crete court has been available for some
time. ,,,
Six of last years squad are handling
the racket again, in addition TO Cap
tain Bob Moses. The schedule fol-
lows. except for the match with Chi
caeo. the date Of which has not been
decided:
April 20. Northwestern at urbana;
May 6, Northwestern at Evanston;
May 20, Wisconsin at Crbana; May Is,
Stanford at Urbana; June 3, Western
Conference championships at chicago.