The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-03-05
THE FAMOUS AUTOMATON CHESS
PLAYER.

invented by Baron Wolffgang De Kempelen.
of Pfesburg, Hungary, Aulic Counselor of the
ROYAL Chamber Of the Domains of the EN-
peror in Germany. The history Of the ma
Chine has often been incorrectly told. The
following is, we believe, the true account OF it:
In 1863 revolt broke out in Russo Polish
regiment at Riga, headed by Pole named
worouski. The Poles were eventually de-
feeted In q pitched battle. and in the rout
Worouski had both his legs shattered by Q
cannon ball. He contrived to thfow himself
into q ditch, and ct night dragged himself to
the neighboring house Of . surgeon named
Osloff
The surgeon, moved by his sufferings, at
landed him and concealed him in his house.
Both legs were amputated, and Worouski re-
covered, contrary to expectation. De KEN
'pelen came about this time on visit 10 Osloff,
snd TO him was confded the secret, and his
assistance begged to get Worouski out Of the
country; for had he been found in the house.
the consequences would have been serious
It happened that Worcuski was fine chess
player. and the idea occurred to De Kempe-
len of concealing the mutilated man in box,
10 that the contrivance could ne passed OF as
a che .s.playing sutomaton. II three months
the automaton was finished. It has been SO
often described, that it will be sufficient to
mention here that it was lifesize figure of
a Turk seated at q chess board. The machinery
Of the interior was attached to hanging frames.
which could be pushed back, 80 that Worouski
could conceal himself In the body; nothwith-
standing that it appeared to be filed with
wheels, cranks, pulley4 etc.
While the lover cupboard was being ex.
amined. Worouski Crept into the body, and
pessed his arms and hands into those of the
figure. and his head into the mask. whence
he could see the chess-bosrd. In order to
give room for the passage of his head, the
neck was surrounded with Q large collar, 80
Contrived as to conceal the hollow space
necessary there. The spectators having, az
IL appeared, thoroughly examined the inside,
the doors were closed, and the whole machine
having been wheeled shout the room, to show
that there was no connection from beneath.
small door in the thigh was opened and the
automaton wound up. This winding mp was
Q mere blind; ct each move the noise Of
machinery Was heard; this noise was pur-
posely introduced to drown the sound Of the
movements of the performer. On October
10. 1859, the frst rehearsal was held, the fig.
ure playing game with Oslof.
A month later, Worouski was sufficiently
perfect in his part. He was hid in Q large
box. which had to be moved very slowly, on
pretense of fear Of breaking the machinery,
but ia reality to protect the inmate. In order
70 avert suspicion, it was agreed to give
performances on the road at all the towns
passed through. The travellers got rs far as
Vitebsk, on the road to the Prusaian frontier,
without interruption, when the Empress Cath.
arine, having heard Of the singular powers OF
the chess player, comm Anded its presence at
tho imperial palace, where the prescribed
rebel actually played with the Empress: It
IL said that she attempted to cheat by making
= falao vnova vhen WOr0uski'a tam mar getting
the better Of him, nearly caused the whoe
conspiracy to collapse. The automaton upset
the pieces with blow OF his hand. and the
clock. work stopped ss though injured. The
Empress took It very good humoredly, posi-
bly, because she was not sorry thus to save
Lost game
She at once offered to purchase the automs-
ton, and insisted on its being left in the
palace library all night Fortunately, De
Kempelen managed 10 smuggle of Worouski
in the big chest. ana next day he told the
Empress that the figure could not perform
without him, and therefore that it was no use
selling it. Three months afterwards the
automaton vas safe in England, under the
management Of Mr.. Anthem, to whom Ds
Kempelen is stated to have sold it; but. &C.
cordinR to some accounts, it was not sold
until after De Kempelen's death in 1903
Anthem visited the whole of Europe, and
made large sums of money BY the exhibition.
At his death it was bought by NJ. Maelzel,
Who took il to America. Maelzel died ON his
return passage, and his heirs sold the chess.
PLAYER to M. CroDier, Of Belville, at whose
house N. Houdin saw it in 1874. Houdin
was the first to give the true story Of this re-
markaSle figure, on the authority OF NJ Hess
Ter, q nephew of DR.. Oslof' s.-Cham6ers $
Journal