Connecticut western news., 1889-09-25
THE PASHA'S BIG GAME
HOW VON MOLTKE CHECK
 MATED HIM.


 A Game of Chess Between Two Notable
 Men.
 On summer afternoon almost fifty years ago, Sulejmann Pasha, comman- der-in-chief of the Egyptian artillery, sat at cafe on the Nile terrace in Cairo. At tables near him were many soldiers who had helped him fight the armies of Sultan Mahmud not many months before. Several of them had been with him in the battle of Nizib, when he routed the Turkish army. un- der Hafiz Pasha and Col. von Moltke, then in the Sultan's service. But Sulejmann was not thinking of the soldiers about him, nor of Hafiz Pasha, nor Col. von Moltke, nor the battle of Nizib. His whole attention was concentrated on chessboard be- fore him. Sulejmann Pasha was famous chess player. In the first few weeks after his return to Cairo he had beaten dozens of times Ulema Reschid Aga, formerly the champion chess player of northern Egypt. He regarded his reputation as chess player as some what akin to his reputation as war rior. He considered chess to be pre- eminently soldiers game, and never tired of making elaborate comparisons between strategy on the chessboard and strategy on the field of battle. Every afternoon he met Ulema Res enid Aga on the Nile terrace and beat him two or three games. On this particular afternoon, almost fifty years ago, Ulema Reschid Aga was a little late ill coming to his Water loo, and Sulejmann Pasha was having 8 preliminary skirmish with himself while awaiting his opponents arrival. His diversion was interrupted by the appearance on the terrace of long, gaunt, bony young stranger. The stranger strolled right up to the Pasha's table, and after making half-military salute, said so loudly that every one on | the terrace could hear: ''Pasha, challenge you to a game of chess"
 | All the officers on the terrace sat quite still and stared at the thin, pale young man who stood before their great commander. The Pasha looked him over curiously.
 stI am at your service," was his answer, after a long pause. "How high do you usually play?"
 "You fix the stakes, Pasha."
 "Well, hundred ducats will not be too much."
 The stranger nodded and sat down. The lots were cast. The game was begun. All the officers in the cafe left their coffee to crowd around the players. The first few moves convinced them that the long bony fingers of the stran- ger had moved chess many times be- fore. At the end of twenty minutes the Pasha's eyes suddenly frightened and he smiled. He had an invincible combination. He placed his queen be- fore his opponents queen. The off, cers began to grumble, for they thought their commander had lost his head. Only Reschid Aga, who in the mean time had joined the crowd of specta- tors, looked happy. He had guessed his friends combination, and he, too, was sure that it was invincible.
 s.He will take the queen." comment ed the spectators.
 "Then he will be checkmated in eight moves," whispered back Reschild Aga, his eyes fixed on the board.
 "And if he doesn't take herr"
 ssHe will lose his own," said the ex- |
 The stranger moved pawn. Sulej- mann took his queen. The officers thought it was all up with the gaunt young man, and started back to their coffee. They were called back, how. ever, by the first words the Pasha's op- ponent had spoken since he sat down to the table.
 "Pasha, in twelve moves you will be checkmated."
 The interest of the Pasha's friends became intense. They counted eact move aloud. o-three-foul and the Pasha was already hard pressed. Five-six-seven-e eight nine-and his men were hemmed in or all sides. Ten-the Pasha tried in vair to break the blockade by sacrificing his queen. Eleven-he drew back his king into corner. Twelve-"Check. mate."
 There was dead silence, all stared at the Pasha. He thought hard fol several minutes, without word Then he looked searchingly at tht stranger and said: