The daily gazette., 1877-06-06
19t,p,E oi,~sb wsg
From the New York sun.
Wonderful Checker Playing.
A BEARDLEss YOUTH OF NINETEEN
RoUTs ALL THE BEST PLAYERS

A BEARDLEss YOUTH OF NINETEEN
RoUTs ALL THE BEST PLAYERS
IN THE COUNTRY.
Robert d. Yates, the champion check
er player of the world, who has just ac-
cepted the challenge of James Wylie, Of
Scotland, to play a match for $500 side,
is boy 10 years Of age, employed at the
cash desk of his fathers eating saloon,
under Fulton Market. His forehead is
broad, square and high, and the part OF
the head in front of the ears looks over
weighted. Mr.. James Wylie, 'the in
vincible herd laddie," so called because
he learned to play checkers while watch
ing cattle in the fields, is 55 years of age.
He has already had taste of the cham
pion's quality. Last year he came to
New York and played twenty-four games
with Yates. The youth won two games
and the rest were drawn. OF twenty-six
games played in Brooklyn, Yates won
five and Wylie one. In match for $50,
Yates won two games. Wylie one, the
rest of the fifty being drawn. Yates, in
his recent match with Thomas Martins,
who crossed the ocean to beat him, won
three games, and Martins one.
Five years ago a school companion of
Yates came back from visit 10 Sullivan
county enthused with the game. He
taught the moves to Yates. ave used
to play around on the stoops in those
days." the champion said to us yesterday.
"Afterward l went TO the Union for
Christian Work in Fulton street, near
Duffield street, Brooklyn. There l first
learned that could take two men at a
time. l thought that was big step
gained"
Several years ago gentleman in AL
bany wrote TO friend in Brooklyn that
he wished TO play with some good player
by correspondence. Yates, under the
name of ii. @. Macdonald, agreed to ac-
commodate him. After the Albany gen.
tleman had been driven into close quar-
tiers by his antagonist, the correspond
ence ended in an angry dispute. Recent
ly he wrote to the checker editor of a
New York journal to inquire whether
Mr.. Wylie had ever been defeated. He
received an editorial reply: "Yes, by
your old antagonist, II. G. Macdonald"
The letter was signed by "Robert d.
Yates"
Two famous players from an inland
city, while visiting New York, not long
ago, routed all competitors in the rooms
of the Young Mems Christian Associa-
tion, at Twenty-third street and Fourth
avenue. One of them casually met and
| played with Yates in Nassau street
office. After he had been defeated he
| induced Yates to visit the Young Mems
| Christian Association rooms, TO play with
his friend. Yates was introduced under
the name of Craig. The rural champion
tucked his legs under his chair and got
TO work. After five short, sharp defeats
he gave up the contest, complaining that
he had "no luck" Then Yates was in
troduced as Yates.
Yates has dry humor that frequently
leads him to stroll into resorts of checker
players, and engage strangers in play
| He has slow, unpretentious manner
that, added to his youthfulness, throws
strangers entirely off their guard. After
he has enjoyed their chagrin at being
beaten by boy, he engages in converse
ton with them, and relieves their annoy
ance by letting it leak out that his name
is Yates. There are no stakes in such
games.