The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-07
NAPoLEoN'5 BATILzs.
He Is Said to Have Planned Them on
the Chessboard.
Prom the CHICAGO Tribune.

Prom the CHICAGO Tribune.
Perhaps an incident which / will tell you
may interest the lovers of chess throughout
the land. One night in the winter Of 1853
there were gathered around a red-hot stove
in the book store of John S. Bradford in
Springfield, H., a coterie Of young men,
all Of whom in after years became
more or less famous The subject
Of their conversation was the great
series Of chess games then IN
progress between the English and American
champions. The party was composed OF >.
u. CuIlon, then young attorney II SPRING
field, now United States senator; John 5.
Bradford, proprietor of the stcre, after
wards appointed by Abraham Lincoln com
miSSaFy sergeant for Illinois during the
rebellion; DIR. Merriman, who was then d
for years past had been the king bee"
among the chess players of the state; w.
l.. Gookins, young jeweler, who IS
still In the same tbusil ess, and now Nv
Ing a. Oak Park, H.. and the usual
contingent Of society ever t. be found
around a cheerful fire in a popular store.
Merriman was talking, and the subject was
chess. With open mouth and lrching ear
the crowd listened to the liking bees" ex-
position of the game, mentally banking his
money on the prophecies of Merriman as to
the outcome of the international contests.
Suddenly the door OF ened and in stepped
man whose appearance was remarkable. All
present had seen him on the streets OF
Springfield, but none knew who he was.
He was feet inches tall, straight as an ar
row, with military bearing that made his
immense hight appear even greater, saber
scars across his forehead, cheek and neck,
high cheek bones, side whiskers clipped close
after the military fashion, surrounding his
whole bearing the appearance Of great age
Notwithstanding his warlike form, and
browning all nose-wel, such nose as the
world has not seen since the days Of that old
Roman
Who had a nose both strong and stout,
With sense enough TO push it out,
HIS entrance but momentarily stopped
the speech of Merriman, who, by the way,
was fine player and deserved the reputa-
ton he enjoyed. When Norman finished
the keen eyes Of TIE old fellow twinkled,
and, rising to his full hight, he stalked over
to Norman, and. raising his long arm
toward the ceiling, he said: "Comrade,
you DO not know the first principles of
chess. To prove what | say, if you will
come over TO the American house tO-mor-
row night and come to room II | will teach
you few moves in the game
OF which you never dreamed" Adding
for Merriman to bring his friends,
Merrimau over the insult but finally
prevailed upon him to so over and meet
the mysterious soldier. Accordingly, the
next night all repaired to room No. II, and
Merrlman sat down to the game with blood
in his eye. The old fellow, however, check
mated him before he had time to collect his
thoughts, and in five consecutive games
never allowed him to make more than
seven moves. Merriman acknowledged his
total defeat, and, rising to his feet said:
Il would like to know whom | have the
honor to address," The Old fellow quietly
said: 81 am Teminoski, chief of the body
guard to Napoleon. Every battle the great
chief fought was planned on the chess
board, and | was his chosen antagonist"
/ learned these facts from an eye witness,
and can further c1rroborate them in that
my grandfather, who knew this old warrior
well, aud had entertained him at his house,
says he was in Springfield, ILL.,. in 1858.