DEATH OF THE " HERD LADDIE."

Otago Witness, Issue 2355, 13 April 1899, Page 17

DEATH OF THE " HERD LADDIE."

• — » LONDON, April 6. Mr Wyllie (the Herd Laddie), the draughts champion, is dead. The news of the death of " the Herd Laddie " was, received yesterday -with general regret by the lovers of the game of draughts. James Wyllie was born at the Piershell Cavalry oarracks* Portobello Toad, Edinburgh, in 1819, Ins father having been a soldier. Aa a boy he was engaged by a farmer in.Xieven, Fifeshire, as a cow herd, and there he Jearnt to play draughts. It is related that when his jnastef'was visited by a famous player of the day, he handed the player over to his " herd laddie," who soon showed that he was a thorough master of the game. He commenced to play draughts in 1834, and first took part in matches in 1837. Tho first match recorded was played in Edinburgh, In that year, against Bertram, for a stake o£ £5, and was won by Wyllie. From this on the champion achieved an almost uninterrupted succession of victories. The first large wager played for was in 1810, when Wyllie beat Price, the stake being JEIOO. He also heat Lindop in 1841, Martins in 1861, and Barker in 1874 for a similar sum. In 1844' he played Anderson for £130 and won, and in 1873 he defeated W. Barker at Boston, thereby winning a stake of £200. In two matches against Martins for £200 the games were drawn, but invariably when playing against noted men for sums ranging from £5 to £100 the_ champion came out with flying colours. > His reverses were few in number when playing for a stake, and were experienced at the hands of Anderson (four times), Liiidop (once), and Martins (once). In playing subscription and exhibition match.es the Herd Laddie won 16 games out of 19. During his visit to Victoria in 1888 he played 1850 games, winning 1760, drawing 88, and losing only 2. He then made a successful tour of this colony, and was everywhere well received. In January last ho was one of the contestants for the championship of Scotland, but was " knocked out " in the first round by the present Scottish champion, H. Freed/nan. Thftt was hia last battle.