William Strickland. Blindfold Champion.

Otago Witness, Issue 1861, 22 July 1887, Page 29

William Strickland. Blindfold Champion.

The subject of the present sketch has "earned a ipermanent uiche iv the Draught Player's Temple of ratne, therefore I need not apologise to the reader •for giving the following' particulars :— William Strickland was born at Leeds in March, 1849. At the age of 16 he acquired a liking for the game of draughts, and began to practise. Five years passed away, and then izi IS7O lie made the acquaintance of tHe leading Yorkshire players. These experts recommended him to get that rare draught classic, " The fraught Board.' 1 He did so, and commenced to study the game assiduously. His progress was so Tapid that in less than a year's time he received several challenges to play matches. In 1871 he played his iirst match, his opponent being Mr D. Jlurray, of Leeds. Strickland allowed his opponent «»ree games start in six, and defeated him by winning nil the six. In 1873 he played a match of 10 games with Mr T. Lockwood, of Leeds, beating that Piavcr with the score of four to two. In the same >ear our hero experienced defeat at the hands of Mr w. Brytleu, of Glasgow. After this lie contested a •subscription match wioh Mr J. Busby, at the Woodman Inn. Leeds, aud was again victorious. His reHb£t f O *i ?r on match es is a good one, he having ttt " ted Messrs Hesketh, of Barnsley; W. Whittaker.ofWortley; Thos. MvDougal, of Bolton; and nU*. fcl Of HulL He has been defeated by Mr "irkenshaw, of Leeds. In friendly contests he has defeated Mr I{. Martins and Mr J, Smith, the pre''jLt?^P 101 \of\ 0f^ nn S lanfL He has Published the eond rtti D , rau ,«l lfc Player," a cheap and exceedingly K ltu ?.y»k for beginners. At the International -uateu with Scotland in 1884, he tied with Mr A. Jackson, of Manchester, for first place in the Ene'isu t«am, his score on that occasion being, for three w^iL PP M yi TonT 0n ? win ' oneloss ' and 16 drawn games; Str 1 1 ,? acks °n s score was 16 drawn games. But tl !e S?« me ?s? s a P rncfcical Player is eclipspd by " c imputation he has acquired as a blindfold pla-ser heff . years ago blindfold draught playing was B ■ MV s an Even such players as "rauhS W red ifc trickery. Phifidor, thS the Bim« d Chess -Player, tried to play draughts t«l S Way / ?? d failed - the celebraSnS H?, rr f 0 U he '' Sco t«sh Draught Player," detWh/fni .d"}}'ghtß. d "}}'ghtB required both sight nnd ■oughtful mind." In spite of these opinions, Mr His Sll pp c a * tem Pted blindfold play and succeeded. soonW SS 1 8h r tl . Stricklftnd ' 8 amblcion.and he was ardour v p^ ym ? the blind f°ld ff«ne with great noi/hl;, c lon S lie commenced a tour through the Chm?T° ties . of England and the -south of oiwlv T,? la3nn ?. 8I -^ a nd a doxen games rimultanedescrinHrT e i lhlblfclons were of the most brilliant from tfc;« and m, lled forth most laudatory notices itwasannn 6681 6 element culminated when •imXST 64 <* at ,. he would contest 20 games ""utaneously with the best players of Leeds and

some ver

district. On that occasion he won, .sejven.,', lost six, and the remainder w.ere v n. Since, then Mr Strickland, has. continued po, devote, h.is attention to t ( he practice qf, the blindfold .game. His performance never fails to elecit. the greatest astonishment at ifs marvellous and unique ehamjter. — From the " Gardner-Strickland Match Games." ..Ih-augjiis News. , . , Mosgiel Draughts Club.— The best -evidence of the enthuiiasnrof the members of this club is the fact that 49 have entered for.tthei liahdlcsp" tournament now^jn progress. Ap each player has to play four g^mcs with every other player, that will amount, to 192 for every competitor, and 9216 games in all, if the contes'ants play out all their games. Such practice ohould produce some dons. Waipahi Draughts Club. — This club hnmenced practice for the seaio^ „„ cornsome very fair an* »- ' ' .„, o nct ns there are we •"" vawiuMasfclc players among them, - ««< HKely have to chronicle some triendly niatohes with, the neighbouring clubs of Olinto i and Waiwera b"fore very long. Draugh.rs in. ObHstctiurtih.— Afca meeting presided dvdr by Mr D. Reesfe. M.H.R.jit was dt elded ,to guafrantes. ab least £15 to Mr James • Willie', the AoHd'B IMampioiv, sllonl'd he pay Canterbury a Answers to CorteSpondents. We liave received eefer&l, Solutions similar to the author's of ProSl'tßifr oi3, but as we have., received ttiiiSt- .ihgeVlfops .fray ;fpr,£, Black : wln, from Mr A. Hufgie, who, is ,i\ow in '.Adelaide., 'S, A , ,y/e intend publishing ,it • vex(, , w eek with the atnpuded conditions, and. we feel sure-; our, readers will at once admit that tit is & highly creditable colonial production.' •.•Robeco MVJJI, fmue '3pm".— 3?he r 'posStil card duly reaeWdd. We 1 have no dtfubt ',the trine of '• The Camr/bella are coming " would 'have been most welcome to you 1 before the late' match! ' '• : ''' J Manning, ' Hon. , Sec Chess; ;and Draughts Club, Wyndham'.— Have replied 1 to your letter oy post.' W B Anderson, Waiwera.— We have scut you the books ordered. W Houston, Dunedin.— Your solution of Problem 615 is correct. T Menzies, Christchurch.— Your long and interesting letter to hand. Will write soon.

CHESS.-Problem 616. By Q. J, Slater, Bolton. (A competing problem iv the Nashville American Tournament.) [Black.J

, White to play and mate in tvvo movt's.

Mr Sliinkman.'one of the-jud^es, Bay« Mlis problem has a^o'6il l(oy (uid jn'ctt.V varlatio'iiß, Atul,Xhat tho pieces are distributed wit\\ linjipv effect. Another of the jadses, Ml 1 WaJu'right, ri-fcts lo the " cunning key " ttia to certfiiu features of " charm- ! ii|j; no\xlty '' in tb'e solution.

CJie& in Eriffkud.

An original lino ot defence just adopter! l>y H. E. Birf< in 1886 ugainst Mv Guest, subt-equi nUv "gainst Mr E. Anthony, of Hereford', aud (J|i l iii'« ' •Ujently against Mr Burn. STtelNiT'fc GAaibtT. . White, Black. M¥ G v aest. H. B. Bird, i P to X 4 P to X 4 2KttoQB3 KttoQß3 3 P to X B 4 P tks P 4PtoQ4 Qtoßsch 5 X to X 2 V to X Xt 4 6 Xt to X B 3 Q to X H 4 7 Xt to Q 5 B to X Xt 2 BPtoQB3 KttoKß3(a) 9 Xt tks P eh X to Q B q 10 Xt tks B Xt tks X P 11 Q to Q B 4 X E to X sq (6) 12 X to Q 3 Q to X Xt 3 (c) 13 X to B 4 P to Q Xt 4 14 X tks P, best Xt to Q 3 eh 15 X to B 5 Q to X 3 16 P to Q 5 Kt'to Xt 2 eh 17 X to B 4 , Q to X 5 CD and Black witifci (fl) This liu'e of flefex&'e fr, we believe, quite original. (6) TKs Torce of thi3 move had not been foreseen by Mr Guest, who was taken by surprise in the opening (c) A strong and well-judged move of what the late Mr Boden would call a very high order. — H. B. 8.-Leeds Weekly Mercury.

ft k sjiojuii) piE • , '■ • If I should die to-night, ■ '• My friends would look upon my quiet face Beforethey laid ifi in its resting place 1 ." - And deem that death had left it kltfrost fair V And, laying snow-Jwhite flowers against toy hair, • Would smooth it downiwit&tearfuitemlernesa, And fold myhands with, lingering oafess-. Poor hands, .so empty pnd so cqia td-higbt 1 ! ■ If I should die to-night, My friends would call to mind, with lovinir thought, 6 Some kindly deed the icy hand had wrought • home gentle word the frozen lips had said- ' Errands on which the '••"" . , •--» The m*"^- - wining feet had sped— uiury of my selfishness and pride, My hasty words, would all be put aside— And so I should be loved nnd mourned to night. 1 If I should die to-night, Even hearts estranged would turn once more to me, Recalling other days rethorlely i The eyes that dbilf Me with averted jgiahCS Would ldok lipott me as of yore; pSrchanc'e; And sbfteri, in the bid familidr way. . , . For,wbß could war with dumb, Unconscious clay ?, So I might rest, forgiven 1 of all; to-night. Ohi frijands, i jxMiigiit, , Jteep riot ypur kisses for my dead, colp brow— The way is lonely; let me feel then? now, Think gently of mo ; lam travel-wprn-^- , ... , My faltering feet are, •pierced with .many a thorn. Forgtye, oh .hearts, estranged, forgive, I plead! WJien drea.jnleißß.veßt ds.mine ,1 ghall npb need The tendernesß\.fflc^yiiioh^l4ong^tft.-aight.

LIGftTOTG.THE BURDEN. " Set m,e caVry your frail lily dear, Brimming oVer with water" ; '" ' " No ! I'll take hold, and you take hold,"

Answered'the farmer's daughter. And she would have her own sweet way As her merry eyes crew brighter ; So she took hold and no took hold,

And it made the burden lighter. And every day the oaken nail Over the well-curbed slipping Was upward drawn by hands of brawn, Cool and so softly dripping. And every day the burden seemed Lighter by being divided ; For he took liold and she took hold, Sy the seltaaWe spirit guided: *ill by ahtl bye" fckey le'ariied fed lovfe' An(i each trust in thS other"; Till she for hitfa; drib twilight diffl, Left father aiid left rtlothb'r. The wfed'dirtg bells were, rung at morii, The DndalDlessings giye,n, M And npw the jjair. without a care) Entered an earthly Heaven. WheniStormiand sunshine mingled, they Would seldom trouble borrow ; And when it came they met the same With a brigh.t hope of to-morr.ow. And now ■ they're at the eve of life, While the Western skies grow brighter, For she took hold, and he took hold. And it made the burden lighter.

A SONG OF THE SADDLE. On a slimmer eve', ,what could sweeter be Than to .canter along,by the sleeping se.a, While the deepening rpse of .the .sunset sky Steeps alf around In jfs fairy dye^— And wavelets steal f rf!m t\ie aeA bf glßhd To greet you in whispers as you pass 1 On a winter's morn, wjiat could gayer be 'J han to gallop along by the jroariug sea I While bounds like a stag your agile mare,, Elato with the^wine ot v tne crisp June air, — And the tumbling billows, ,with crests of snow! Seem racing to catch you a,s you go ! Oh ( ! wave-kissed, beachand varyingiseal Your breeze is the breach or ( ,a spirit free j In .every season, and kvery olimei • t » , , Your charms are alike— untouched by fcittte— But ever to me do you Beera most fair, When galloping by on my fav'rite mire ! — Wych Elm. July 8. ,