Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 61, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1916 — YOUNGEST CUE ARTIST [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

YOUNGEST CUE ARTIST

Playing of Welker Cochran Proves to Be -Revelation. Generally Conceded by Master Students of Game to Be Coming Hoppe of Billiard World—Noted for His Indifference. Welker Cochran Is the youngest professional expert In this country, as he was born at Mawaon, lowa, in 1897. The recent handicap tournament In New York was the first professional tournament in which he appeared. His playing there was more than a revelation for one so young and Inexperienced. He made a high run of 88, and in one game an average of 20. While playing recently at Hartford, Conn., he averaged over 42 in a 300-point game, 18.2 balk line, with a grand average of 28 in 900 points. Cochran is generally conceded by master students of the game to be the coming Hoppe of the billiard world, says a writer in Philadelphia Public ledger. There is no doubt that this youngster is wonderfully gifted in this respect, but he has yet a great deal to learn before

he develops into a Hoppe class—by which I mean not billiards, but Hoppe’s sound common sense. As an expert, young Cochran recalls Percy Collins, Robert Lord and Cope Morton in reckless and pure “cussed” indifference. One of the secrets of Hoppe’s marvelous success as a master expert is the fact that whether in practice or otherwise he always played his best, while young Cochran is notorious for his recklessness and indifference as to whether he shall count or not. It is true that he is still very young, but it is no less true that Mr. Hoppe was also at one period of his life younger than Cochran, but displayed much more wisdom for his years.

Welker Cochran.