Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-25
TENNIS TOURNEY
ALMOST HALTED
Auto Wreck and School
Stopped Middle States
Event Three Hours
FRED ILL
By ROBERT T. PAUL

Running an outdoor tennis tourna-
ment in the summertime is a fine idea,
but staging one in the winter season
sure meets with quite a few difficulties
mostly with the weather. If 1t doesn't
rain, It SHOWS, and when it isn't snow
ing, 1t either halls or the wind blows
so much that irst-class playing is i'm
possible.
Despite all the setbacks received from
the weather man the Middle states COW
cred tennis championship tourney on
the roof of the John Wanamaker store
has been going along in fairly good
shape. Yesterday. however, a new OBJ
stacle for the committee TO overcome
made it's appearance. This newcomer
| had Bill Tilden and the rest hanging on
the ropes for the greater part OF the
| day and the club men were looking Tor
a knockout and what not.
Weather Conditions Fine
The weather conditions yesterday were
the best of the tourney, but, instead OF
shelving quite a number of matches only
a. few we're played, 1t seems that some
how or other something stepped in and
prevented the men from playing their
matches. First the two Vanemann broth
ers notified Tilden that they couldn't get
down Harold Taylor was unable 10
get away from school for his semifnal
singles match and a report was circu-
lated that Craig Biddle had departed for
Palm Beach, forgetting his scheduled
double match.
Then for a climax-for all good stories
must have a climax-Vincent Richards
-. 49, raA III ~
make an appearance at noon for hi:
match with Bill Tilden. The large gal
lery was getting impatient, and thing
we're looking bad. But there's always
silver lining to every dark cloud. Will
Tilden and Wallace were amusing" tn
crowd Vincent Richards calmly walke'
into the scene and proceeded to get int
his flannel trousers. 1t seemed that h
had been in an automobile wreck an
DELAYED considerably in reaching here
Rut this wasn't all. Craig Biddle cause
a mild sensation by appearing In III
dressing room ready for his double
match. The Palm Beach yarn was a
bunk.
New Doubles Teams
OF course the appearance OF Richard
and Biddle changed matters quite a bi
Tilden had defaulted the match betwee
Richards and johnson, the local sta
This was damaged and instead the
will play their semiinal-round mate
this afternoon. Taylor's nonappearanc
placed Tilden in the seminal rounC
He will meet Fred Alexander toda!
The final round will be staged tomorrow
The Encouragement Of the double
schedule, necessitated by the droppin
out OF Kumagae and Harold Taylo
made It possible TO allow the entranC
of a new team, Lieutenant r. T. Gut
bert. L. S, ~. and Lieutenant Clifor
Herd L.. s. n. Lieutenant Herd hal
from California and is a frst-figl
PLAYER. He was runner-up to Howar
Voshell, Of New York. in the nations
indoor tournament back in 1917 ar
has beaten many of the eastern stal
from time TO time.
Alexander Unable to Play
The jinx continues to get in its dea,
~ work. The latest victim Is Fred Ale,
ander, the veteran New Yorker, of Dav
Gun fame. Alexander is suffering fro,
a face infection and his doctor adviss
him not to play today. This will eau
a change in the schedule. Bill Tide
chairman of the committee, ~nou
this morning that AIexander's match
would not be d~efaulted but held owe
They probably will be played Thur
day.
Alexander was 10 nave played
singles match with Tilden. in the sem
final round and a doubles match, wi
Howard Noshell against Fenner al
Brown, of Penn. The big match OF Il
day is that between Vincent Richar
and Wallace Johnson, at 2 o'clock. II
medIately after his Tllden and Richar
will meet Don Nichols and Bart Phns
in a doubles match.