The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-11-28
THE AuronaroN cHEss-pLArER

tor TO The Royal Chamber Of the domains of the EN-
peror Of Fermany, being called to Vienna In the year
1863 by the duties OF his station present at some
experiments IN magnetism by Peetier trenchrnan,
who had been commanded TO exhibit before the Empress
Maria Theresa During the conversation with her
Majesty De Kempeln who had honoraby distinguished
himself in the paths of science limited that he could
construct piece of mechanism the effects Of which would
be striking, and the deception complete than
anything which his royal mistress had hitherto Witnessed
His in making this remark excited the attention
of the Empress who encouraged him to make the effort
and accordingly within few months he rcappeared at
the court of Vienna with the Automaton Chess player
The following description Of the appearance Of this
figure, and of the in which the games con
Quoted
On entering the apartment where II was exhibited the
Automaton attired in gorgeous Oriental costume, was
seen seated behind a chess board which stood upon a
chest about three feet high two feet vide and four feet
long The Auomaton the chair upon which it sat- aud
the chest fixed together and being poi castors,
could be moved with facility to any part of the chamber
The exhibition began by opening certain doors coltrvcd
in the chest two in front and two in the back pulling
out at the time long shallow drawer at the bot
to OF the chest containing set OF chess men, eush-
ion and some counters Two lesser doors under green
cloth screen in the body Of the hguts ard its lower
parts, also opened and the Turkish drapery which
covered them raised that the construction both
of the Automaton and the chest appeared to be fully dis
played. In this state the whole apparatus was moved
around for the examination OF the spectators and to
Danish all suspicion from the most skeptical mind that
any living object concealed within lighted taper
vas introduced into the body of the chest and figure by
which the interior Of each was rendered in great meas
transparent and the most secret apparently
made visible. The precaution TO remove suspicion
used at the termination at the nccemcnt of
game of chess with the Automaton
The chest upon which the figure appeared to lean while
playing divided into two unequal compartments,
which filed with wheels, springs cylinders, and
other machinery used in cockwork The interior of the
body and lower parts of the body also occupied by
levers, tubes &C. After sufficient time during which
the spectator might satisfy his curiosity the exhibitor
closed the doors, wound up the machine placed cushion
under tile of the figure and Invited any individual
present to game OF chess. As champion
tered the lists the eyes Of the tcuason appeared to be
directed to the board and after moments OF
ing meditation it slowly raised its arm, moved it towdfds
the piece to be played suspended its hand over 1t for an
instant then grasped IL firmly between the fingers and
placed the destined square II piece captured
the process gone through and at every
noise of wheels and clockwork was heard Tho Au-
tomaton always claimed the privilege of playing fret at
the beginning of game Any attempt TO dsconcert it
by false futile Upon the least Infringement
of the customary rules of chess he would tap upon the
chest replace the offending piece, and then proceed to
take the due advantage OF moving piece of his
An anccdoe recorded of Napoleon who attempted to
make false moves in game with the Automaon, for the
purpose of gratifying his curiosity but upon third
petition of the offence the figure swept the pieces all OFF
the board and refused to continue the game Whenever
the Attenuation gave check sound resembling the word
check was heard aud it courteously announced an at
tack upon its adversary queen by bowling twice.
Such the appearance and manner of the chess Au
tomaon exhibited in Vienna Immediately after its in
yenton and In London the occasion of its second
visit in 1919 For years the mystery of this remarkable
machine remained mpcnetrabe. During this period IL
visited the capitals OF England Germany, and France it
everywhere received with curiosity drew crowds of
visitors and excited the lvcest feelings surprise and
admiration. On returning TO Berlin it permitted the
honor of playing game with the great Frederick him
self, DE Kcmpelin died in 1904, and the Automaton
came into the possession of NJ Maezel who exhibited it
for many years with equal AS it vanqushed
nearly every adversary, NJ Maelze resolved in future
give all opponents the odds Of the pawn and and
large number Of the games played by the Auomaton
were recorded and have been published SO far as we
able to ascertain the first who succeeded in pene
tating this mystery MIR. Willis, gentleman connect
ed with the University at Cambidge England who pub
lished small work the subject entitled An Attempt
to Analyze the Auomaton Chess Player Heshows what
manner human being might be concealed within the
machine although II apparently thrown completely
open to public inspection and his work is accompanied
with drawings to demonstrate the presence of hidden
player. Mons Mourct, of the most eminent chess
players of Europe, for many years the secret col
league of NJ Maelzei in The direction of the antouaton
and he subsequently revealed the mods opgdad corrobo
rating the correctness of Mr. Wiliss conccures The
chessplayer hidden Mr Willis supposed within
the chest. Seated upon low stool which moved on
casors he enabled with facility to change his posi-
ton circumstances might require. During the OK
hibton OF one portion of the machinery he took refuge
in another-sometimes in the body of the Automaton,
and at Others in portion of the chest These changes
of in obedience to preconccrted arrange.
ment and compelled that undertaking regularity in the
opening and shutting Of the different doors which Mr.
Willis had remarked
Perhaps the most interesting and ingenious part Of the
continuance the method by which the hidden opc-
raor made acquainted with the of his oppo
and enabled to repeat them q smaller chess
b ,ard of his He seated in his narrow cell
Immediately under the chess board upon which the Au
tomaton and his antagonist made their moves and the
of this board which formed the ceiling hs
head, exact representation of the upper side,
cept that the side presented the concealed player
every square numbered according TO the usual
ton adopted by chcsspayers, and furnished with
small metallic ball. These sixty four little knobs or
balls suspended short distance from the squares by
silken threads and, each of the chess-men the
bic above contained magnet, the moment any of
them placed upon the chess board IL attracted the
little ball suspended from the corresponding square be-
low and fixed it to the board that by the time the
men were arranged in due order for battle, thirtytwo
these metallic indces beng the number pieces would
be closely attached TO many squares the inside of
the board while the remaining thirty two denong the
vacant squares above remained suspended to the extent
of the thread supporting them. We may suppose
the game and the Automaton to open
It, DAILY turning the handle which directs the arm
of the figure, and setting in motion the springs by
Which its fingers net, the operator sits watching the
board upon the ceiling of his CELL and upon tho piece in
tended be played being taken up he observes the little
corresponding index fall before described; aud when
this piece is played its destined square, lac also
the bali below IL attracted TO the board Having COM
Ia llv ted tpnih he