Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-08-04
6Nurtester Daily Spp.
From the New Orleans Pieayune.
THE AUTOMATON CHESS PLAYER

"a,
the whole secret very simple one, laid bare,
yet there will doubtless be found in the follow
lag article, which our attentive Paris CORE
spondent Gamma" sends US, something to
interest those of our readers who do, and all
who do not, remember the excitement and the
solution OF the mystery.
Inc tame acquired by our Young townsman,
taul Morphy, as the champion chess player of
the world, has spread over both hemispheres,
and his great successes have created new
and peryading interest in the game, so that al
most anything relating to it is likely to be re-
ceived with favor by its devotees.
Our correspondent translates the paper he
sends us from Mons. Robert Houdin's Memoirs.
In 1874, saw in the house of a man named
Cronier, mechanician living at Bellville, a
village at the gates of Paris, the famous au-
tomaton chess player, whose combinations per-
picked scientific men for so many years. 1t
was, indeed, marvellous automaton, which
was scarcely ever beaten, even by the best
chess-players. L never saw it at work, but
since then | have received information about
this masterpiece of mechanical SKILL which
suspect will surprise him as much as it did me-
The first partition Of Poland, in 1872 produced
a great deal of ferment which caused few
years afterwards, innumerable riots. About
l776, grave revolt took place in regiment
composed of Russians and Poles in equal num-
the rebels was an officer named Worousky a
man of considerable talents and great energy.
He was small in stature, but well made. His
marked features seemed so many wounds, and
gave his masculine physiognomy martial
character. This instruction became so for
midable, that the troops sent to quell it were
twice driven back with considerable losses.
Nevertheless, reinforcements poured in from
St Petersburg, and in Il battle fought in the
.r4I,..
Many of them were slain on the battle field ;
the rest fled through the swamps, where the
troops pursued them, with orders to give no
quarter In this battle, Worousky was Sc
verey wounded in the thighs by gun shot,
and fell on the battle field. Nevertheless, he
managed TO escape from the general massacre
by crawling to ditch covered with brush
where he lay concealed.
When night came Worousky contrived to
crawl, through with unexpressible pain, to the
house Of neighboring physician, one DR.. Os-
loft, loved by everybody for his benevolence
and humanity. The Doctor, touched by the
unhappy mans position, exerted all his medi-
cal skill for his reiet, and agreed to keep him
In the house. Worousky was severely wound
ed, nevertheless the Doctor hoped for some
days that he would cure him. But gangrene
suddenly appeared and it became necessary
to sacrifice one portion of his body to the 9TH
er; the Doctor amputated both thighs, the op-
peraton was successful, and thus Worousky's
life was saved Some time after Worouskys
recovery, Dr. 0sloff received the visit of Herr
Won Kempeen, celebrated Vienna Mechan-
ician and his intimate friend, who visited Rus
STA to study its language to enable him to
write on the mechanism of speech, which he
has so well explained in his well known work,
published i'll 1871, at Vinenna. This visit was
the more agreeable to the worthy Doctor as he
had begun to conceive some uneaSiness about
the consequences which might result to him
from this good action Herr Won Kempelen's
visit was therefore a lucky event for the Doc
tor, who reckoned on his friends imagination to
extricate him from embarrassment. Herr Won
Kempelen was alarmed at first to share such
secret He knew reward was offered for
Worousky's head, and that his friends human
ity sFas crime severely punished by the Rus
sian law but when he saw the mutilated body
of the poor outlaw, he forgot his fears, and on
ly thought how best he might effect his escape
DR. Oslot'was passionately fond of chess play
ing, and as much to satisfy his love for the
game as to amuse his patient, he played fire.
quently with the latter. Worousky was so ex-
cellent player the Doctor could never win a
single game. Herr Won Kempelen joined the
Doctor to play against the poor cripple they
were always defeated. This skill suggested to
Herr Won Kempelen the idea of the famous
automaton chess player. He instantly form
ed his plan and set to work. Strange to say
this masterpiece of mechanical skill, this mar
vel whose combinations astonished the whole
world, was invented and made in three
months
Herr Won Kempeen determined the Doctor
should be the first to see his work. He invited
him to play againt the automaton chess player
the 10th of October, 1896. The automaton re-
tbo cf ~,
national costume, and seated behind chest of
drawers, which was about yard long and
eighty one hundredths Of a yard wide On
the chest, in the centre of it, was chess board.
Before the game began, Herr Won Kempelen
oped several doors Of the chest of drawers,
and DR.. Osoff saw inside an immense quanti-
ty of wheels, levers, OFFENDERS, springs, dials,
&C., &C., &C., which filled all the space. the eye
could see. AT the time he opened long
drawer containing chess men and cushion on
which the Turk leaned his arm.
After this examination ended, the automa-
toms dress was lifted up, and DR.. Osloff looked
into the interior of the Turks body. Herr
Won Keplpelen then closed the doors, arranged
the machine, and wound up one of the wheels
with key which he introduced intoa hole one
side of the chest of drawers. After this was
done, the Turk nodded to salute the company,
placed his hand on one of the chessmen, took
it in his fingers, put it on another square, and
then rested his arm on the cushion above men.
toned. Her Won Kempelen told Dr. Oslof
that the automaton did not speak, but that
three mods meant check to the king, and two
mods check to the queen. The Doctor began
to play, and patiently waited until his adversa-
ry, who moved with all the gravity of the Sui
tan represented, moved another piece. AL
though the game opened slowly, it was steadi-
ly played, and the Doctor soon saw that he
had formidable adversary, for, despite all his
efforts to defeat the machine, his own game
soon became desperate. 1t is true the Doctor
became absent-minded towards the last his
mined absorbed by some thought or another I;
but he hestated to communicate his reflections
to his friends, until all at once the automaton
nodded three times The Doctor was check
mated, and he exclaimed impatlently enough :
"By Jove! if ] did not know that Worousky
is in his bed, up stairs, would swear he is my
adversary. Nobody but him could have play
ed such game as that automaton has played.
Besides added the worthy Doctor, looking
Herr Won Kempelen steadily in the face, chow
is it your automaton plays with the left hand,
Nh just as Worousky does 60 The automaton
chess player did play with the left hand, de
feet wise men attributed to the inadvertence of
the inventor.
Herr Won Kempelen roared with laughter,
and to end the joke which was to be so often
renewed he confessed to his friend that Wo-
rousEy was indeed his adversary. "But where
in the deuce have you hid him 2" asked the
Doctor, looking on every side around him to
discover his antagonist. Herr Won Kempelen
roared with laughter. DWELL Doctor. don't
YOU recognize me ?" exclaimed the Turk
holding out his left hand, while Herr Won KEN,
pelen raised the dress and exhibited the poor