The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-03-01
ON TIE CHEss-eoARp.
That Is Where the Great Napoleon
Planned All His Battles.

That Is Where the Great Napoleon
Planned All His Battles.
Perhaps an incident which I will tell
you may interest the lovers of chess
throughout the land. One night in the
winter of the year 1853 there was gath
cred around n red-hot stove in the book
store of John S. Bradford in Springfield,
ILL.,, q coterie of young men, all of whom
in after years became more or less
famous. The subject of their conversa-
tion was the great series of chess games
then in progress between. the English
and American champions. The party
was composed of s. M. Cullom, then a
young attorney in Springfield, now
United States Senator; John S. Brad
ford, proprietor of the store, afterward
appointed by Abraham Lincoln Commits
sary Sergeant for Illinois during the
rebellion; DIR. Merriman, who was then
and for years past had been the "lSing
bee" among those ''chess players" of
the State; w. l.. Gookins, young jew
'eler, who is still in the same busi-
ness and now living at Oak Park,
Ill, and the usual contingent of
society ever to be found around a
cheerful fire in a popular store. Merri-
man was talking, and the subject was
chess. With open mouth and itching
ear the crowd listened to the ''king
bees" exposition of the game, mentally
banking ismoney on the prophecies OF
Merriman as to the outcome of the in
ternational contests. Suddenly the door
opened and in stepped a man whose ap-
pearance was remarkable. All present
had seen him on the streets of Spring.
field, but none knew who he was. He
was six feet four inches tall, Straight as
an arrow with military bearing that
made his immense height appear even
greater, sabre-scars across the forehead,
cheek and neck, high cheek-bones, side
whiskers clipped close after the mill
tary fashion, surrounding his whole
bearing the appearance of great age not
withstanding his warlike form, and
scrowning all a aose-well, such e nose
as the world has not seen since the days
of that old Roman
"Who had nose both strong and stout,
With sense enough to push 1t out"
His entrance but tmomentarily stopped
the speech of Merriman, who, by the
way, was fine player and deserved the
reputation he enjoyed. When Merri-
man finished the keen eyes of the old
fellow twinkled, and, rising to his full
height, he stalked over to Merriman,
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 tomorrow night
and come to room II | will teach you a
few moves in the game of which you
never dreamed" Adding for Merriman
to bring his friends, he departed The
boys chafed Merriman over the 'insult,"
but finally prevailed upon him to go
over and meet the mysterious soldier.
Accordingly the next night all repaired
to room II, and Merriman sat down to
the game with blood in his eve. The
old fellow, however, checkmated 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: 81 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-wit-
ness, and can further corroborate them
in that my grandfather, who knew this
old warrior well and had entertained
him at his house, says he was in Spring
field, ILL.,, in 1S53.-Chicago Tribune.