Wyllie v. Ferric.

Otago Witness, Issue 2106, 5 July 1894, Page 38

Wyllie v. Ferric.

The fioal scores were announced last wtek : Ferric 13, Wyllio 6, drawn C 9. The match was brought to a close amidst the cheers of the spectators and the warm congratulations of the winner's friends. When the excitement had cooled down, tho referee (Mr R. M'Call) complimented both players on the fact that so lengthened a contest had been got through without bis services being once called upon, and too much had, perhaps, been made of the fact that the winner, in the earlier stages of the match, had been constrained more than once to ask Mr Wyllie not to speak during the progress of a game. He congratulated Mr Ferric on his victory, and all the more so because the contest had been none of his seeking. Mr M'Call recounted the circumstances which led to the match, the most important being a published statement in which the "Herd Laddie" complained that "not even Mr Ferric" would take up a challenge the veteran had issued to the world. As to the loser, there were none present but felt sympathetic regret with the old man who had so long and houourably held the position of draughts champion of the world ; and that old age had much to do with the result was evident from the fact that in the firs: two week* he won 5 to Ferrii/s fi, while in the last two weeks of the match Ferric had won 7 to bis 1. He called for three cheers for both players, and these bcrng heartily given, the proceedings terminated. The winner, although born in Scotland, is of Irish descent, both his parents belonging to the

Emerald Isle. He was born at Greenock in December 1857, and is thus in his 37th year. He has played draughts for the past 20 years, and has defeated in match play Campbell, of Glasgow ; Beattie, of Liverpool ; and G. Smith, of London. He was champion of Lanarkshire for IS9i). The well-known J. P. Re« , ex-champion of America, while on a visit to this country suffered defeat at his hands as the result of a subscription match of six gimes, the score being — Ferric 4, Reed 1, drawn 1. In May 1891 he defeated W. Bryden, of Glasgow, for a £100 stike and the championship of Scotland. It is a strange coincidence that he was defeated in both of the Scotch championship tournaments by Stewait, of Fife. The " Herd Laddie's " reputation is world-wide. He was born in Piershill Barracks, Edinburgh, July 6, 1820, and is consequently in his 74th year. His father was sergeant-major in the Scots Greys, and took part in the engagement against Napoleon at Waterloo. Wyllic first began to play draughts in 18134. Later on he developed extraordinary powers at tho game, and while at Bigcar, in Lanarkshire, formed the acquaintance of Mr Porteous, a stock-cattle farmer, who was an ardent and onthusiastic draughtsplayer. In those days there were no railways, and Wyllio agreed to help P. rteous into the Edinburgh market with his cattle. Mr Porteous was delighted with tho youth's ability in draughts, and conceived the design of taking him into Edinburgh to give the players of that city a pleasant surprise. Wyllie's consent to this project was readily obtained, and, in the assumed oapacity of the " herd laddie." he accompaiiei the cattle dealer. While at Edinburgh, there took place an encounter between Mr Porteous and a Mr Bertram, of that city, in which they played for a shilling a game. After a few games were contested, Pc rteous. on the plea of busineßs, arranged that his "herd laddie" should continue the play until his return. Bertram readily assented to this. Btakes were doubled, and upwards of 6Q sanies were played, in which Wyllie scored 59 wins, his opponent only occasionally getting a draw. The sobriquet thus assumed hos stuck to him through life. During the past 50 years he has, perhaps, contested hundreds of matches in Scotland, England, United States Canada, and Australia ; and it may be said that he has only suffered really decisive defeats at the hands of fou'" men — viz , Anderson, of Scotland ; Martins, of Londo.n ; Yates, of Brooklyn, and tho present champion. The championship has, however, been mrx i or less associated with hisnamc during the past half century, and the loss of the title at so advanced an age is, of course, natural enough, though all could have wished to see him retain it. — Mercury.