DEATH OF THE "HERD LADDIE."

Evening Star, Issue 10900, 7 April 1899, Page 2

DEATH OF THE "HERD LADDIE."

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.

LONDON, April 6. Mr Wyllie (the. Herd Laddie), the draughts champion, is dead.

[Jame J Wyllie was born at the Plershill cavalry barrack*, just outblde Edinburgh, on the Portbello road, in the year 1810. His father had been a soldier. The boyhood of the coming champion was spent near Leveh, in Fifrshire,, where he waß engaged by a well-to-do farmer to tend cows. I'bis lamer, a devotee of the Scottish game, taught tbe herd laddie. On one occasion a famous player of the day who was touring the country districts called at the farm and was hospitably received, but the host, distrusting his own play, made it up with the boy to take on the visitor. "I must be away, myself," said he, " but I've a herd laddie who will give yea game till I come back." By the time thy farmer, returned the herd laddie hod soundly drubbed the proftssional, aid the title of "The fcJerd Laddie" stuck to him in after Mfe. He was unquestionab.'y the world's ohampioQ draughts player for a very long peiiod, but hi hn later life he became rathi-r old for the nvnta' activity necsgsary to an aggressive game. This, .however, was not his o mdition when he visited the colonics some ten years ago. He was then a very tough and resolute maninall-resp&ts. and the king of i Lb chequered bjar I. He took part in the Scottish tour atnent at the beginning of this year, then in his eighty-first jear. For the above information we are partly indebted to Sir Jordan, the present champion, now in Punedin, and partly to Mr W, M'Jlwrick, referee at the current tournament. Mr M'ilwrick knew "The Herd Laddie " personally. Mr Jordan dil not play Mr Wjltie for the championship, but met him in a public match af; Edinburgh }n 1892, the result being that Jordan won two games ami Wjllie one, the ret being drawn. Wyllie* afterwards lost the championship to Ferrle, at Glasgow, and it was by beating Ferrle at GlaßgOw that Jordan secured the world's championship. Wyllie was a widower with a family. Wh n the news of his death cams this morning it was announced at the tourney rooms by Mr Hilliker, and was reoeived with deep regret.]