DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2308, 26 May 1898, Page 40

DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

"A Bit Behind." — A correspondent of tlie " Minneapolis Journal " recently wrote as follows to Mr W. H. Grimshaw, the checker editor : — " I have several books on checkers. They all claim a sure win for three Kings in the 'centre of the board ariol two Kings in the double corners. But I think that with one of my Kings in each double corner I can draw with two Kings against three." Mr Grimshaw promptly advised him to get that idea out of his head, saying to him — " Bless y.our soul my dear amateur, little Egyptians nine years old could win with the three Kings 11,000 °» years B.C. Centuries before that kindei-garten Chinanien learnt it among their first accomplishments. Trade off one King, and corner the remaining one with the other two."'

Drmjgets in Time of Trotjble. — A serious accident occurred a few weeks ago at Muirkirk, in the county of Ayrshire, through the flooding of a coal mine with water that broke in from disused workings. Nineteen men were entombed, of whom, three were cut off. The other 16 were rescued at the end of 30 hours'. Their rescue was due to the bravery of a fireman named Robert Blyth, who knew all tho roadways of the mine, and who deliberately remained in the workings in order to try and save life. "He explored the whole of the r^it f gathering the men together, and constituting himself their leader. They had plenty of lighb. Each miner had his lamp with him and a supply of oil. The oil was carefully husbanded, only two lamps being alight at a time. The mine is well ventilated, and the men, who had no fear of being suffocated, soon knew ■Uaafc vigorous efforts were being made for their release." After many hours of pumping thejj had the pleasure of noting that the level of the water -was falling, and they cheered their spirits by placing stones at the water's edge and keeping a record of the rate at which ifc ebbed. They also managed to while away part of the weary time of their imprisonment by playing draughts on a board improvised with, a piece of chalk. J. H. Blackbume. — Mr J. H. Blackburne is an expert at draughts and bowls as well as che3s. Last July Sir G-eorge and Lady Newnea gave a garden party at Wildcroft, Wimbledon, to the players who took part in the Ladies' Chess congress. Blackburne showed himself an adept at bowling. His children have been brought up to play draughts in preference to, chess.

Mr A. J. Ileffner has become very much fascinated of late. He is reported as contesting games blindfolded against the strongest of Boston's contingent with marked success. An Ettigvam : Is it Draughts?— Pi esumably the witty dean of St. Patrick's (writes R. I. Clegg in the New London Day) had some acquaintance with the game, as the enclosed epigram would suggest :— " I am up and down and round about, Yet all the word can't find me out ; Tho' hundreds have employed their leisure, They never yet could find my measure."

Draughts at Klondyke.— Mr G. W. Johnson has returned to his home in Seattle, Washington, after seven months in the Klondske Goklfields.Writing to the Pittsburg Chronicle-Telegraph, he says : _"> Send me the Draughts World quick. Just arrived from Bawson City, and hasten to get the checker news. To fully comprehend the popularity of the game one must go-to the Klondike, wheie all play checkers." Champion of New Zealand.— Mr J. A. Boreham is willing to arrange wilh North Ofc&go clubs fora visit to their rendezvous to meet all comers. This helps the game wonderfully. Sydney.— Messrs C. Trumper and J. Drury had a lively skirmish during the last week of April, and left off with an even score, afier ploying nine games within the space of two hours— rather sharp work for Mr Drury, who has been noted for his stonewalling tactics for years.— Sydney MaiL