LOSS TO TENNIS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18366, 7 April 1934, Page 5

LOSS TO TENNIS

SATOH’S TRAGIC DEATH JUMPED FROM STEAMER SEQUEL TO BREAKDOWN (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Received April 7, 11 a.in.) TOKIO. April <>. Advice from Singapore states that •lira Gutnh. tlic .Japanese Davis Cup player, committed suicide by jumping overboard from the steamer llakone .Mam, 12 hours after leaving Singapore with ihe Davis Cup learn for Europe. lie had lauded al Singapore with the iirtenfion of returning to Japan, suffering from neurastkenin, hut after a medical examination he continued I lie voyage. lie was very depressed. A smirch failed to find the body, hut his will was found in ihe cabin uf the llakone -Marti. Saro'h left a letter of farewell, indicating his intention to commit suicide. The captain of Ihe llakone Marti states that t he ship was'searched fruitkssly. Naloli’s fiancee reveals that Satoli jokingly threalened to eommil suicide in tin l event of lining forced to proceed to Europe. 'Sntoli refused selection, hut was finally persuaded against his u ill. knowing that lie was on (lie verge of a nervous breakdown. Japan’s Davis Cup hopes received a shattering blow by the death of Satoli, when the Japanese Tennis Association received a lelegram about his disappearance from the llakone Main on Thursday evening. .It, is presumed that he went overboard while in the Straits of -Malacca on the way to Penang, where he was due this a fternoon. \\ lien the Tennis Association received his telegram earlier in the saying that lie wanted to return owing to illness, the association replied persuading him to continue. Apparently, he suffered a nervous breakdown on shipboard, but even while at home he used to act' queerly, sometimes walking the Tokio‘streets with >\ compass. Friends fear that the responsibility for jliis year’s critical prospects against Australia ami Britain, weighed too heavily on his mind. The Tennis Association lias decided to substitute Ryuki Miki, now in London, for Satoli, and not to send anyone from Japan. Miki will he playing captain instead of non-playing captain, as previously arranged.

ENGLAND SHOCKED PLAYERS’ HIGH TRIBUTES (Received April 7, 11 a.m.) LONDON, April 0. Satoli’s death lias greatly shocked tinnis circles. Perry, interviewed, said Japan and the game had lost one of the finest players and greatest sportsmen who ever'walked on to a court. Austin said Satoli was Japan’s finest player, and always gave the iinpiession that he would be the last man tin ‘earth to come to such ,an end.