BLIND MAN’S SKILL

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 190, 10 May 1938, Page 11

BLIND MAN’S SKILL

Can Beat Most Darts Players “Dominion" Special Service —By Airmail. London, April 16. . Blindness has not prevented 55-year-oid Harry Hollins, a Yorkshireman who sells lavender for a living in the streets of London suburbs, from playing darts. He has been totally blind for three years, yet he is an accomplished player who can beat most average darts players. Harry usually plays for double or treble sixteen, but he can get any number on the board. It is amazing to see him walk straight to the board after his throw and take out his own darts. He does not have to fumble over the board for them. He knows exactly where each one is. The little Yorkshireman —he comes from Bradford—-needs no assistance. He takes his own darts out and toes the line like any other player. He knows roughly where the line should be and feels for it with his foot.

When going for double one he throws his first dart outside the double six for a guide. His friends tell him whether he is level with the six, or too high or too low. Then, having got the lie of the land, he goes for double one—and gets it. Often his second dart will hit the first dart.

“This game costs me more in new flights than it does in beer,” lie mourned.

Eleven years ago he lost the sight of his left eye, when a piece of emery flew into it from a grindstone. Three years ago lie got a piece of flint from the road into his right eye. lie went tolled and woke up with the eye hurting. He rubbed it—and rubbed awtly what remained of his sight.