Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-06
WILLIE AND REED CONTEST.

As our readers are aware, Mr.. A. j. Dun
lap, draughts editor of the New York It15,
gave in to Reeds claim for the 800 lodged
by Wyllie to secure q match with the Ameri-
can champion. 1t was with reluctance he
did SO, and, in our opinion-no date having
been fixed in the articles for the commence
ment of the match-Reed had no claim to
the forfeit. This view is also largely en-
tertained by American draught players, and
Mr.. R. W. Patterson. of Pittsburg, feels so
strongly on the matter that he has sent US
check for 500 to hand to Mr. Wyllie, so that
the latter may suffer no pecuniary loss by
the sharp practice of the American cham
piOn. His letter is as follows:
81 hereby send you draft for s20 Is 4d on
Brown, Shipley & Co., London, being the
proceeds of 800, to secure Mr.. Wyllie against
any loss. 1 donot intend this in any sense
to be a reflection upon the recent action of
the draughts editor of the Turf. He has al
ways been staunch friend of the veteran,
and simply did what he believed to be his
duty in the matter"
Although in no way blaming Mr.. Dunlap
who has always been good friend to the
'tHerd Laddiep-Mr. Patterson says nothing
about what he thinks of Reed. This silence
is, in a sense the most severe censure that
could be passed on the conduct of Reed,
Hefter, and the "Chicago Chess, Checker,
and Whist Club" We are content to leave
it thus.
In the meantime, on behalf of Mr.. Wyllie,
we thank Mr.. Patterson for his most gener
GUS gift, and congratulate Pittsburg on its
possession of citizen who has thus efectu-
wise have been attached to American
draught players.-Herald.
The proposed match between Wyllie and
the American champion having fallen
through, the former and his friends were
rather astonished at a claim put forth by
Reed for the stakes, on the ground that Wyl-
lie was not in Chicago and ready to start
play by April L No date was fixed in the
signed articles, and the claim was founded
on an incidental remark in one of Wyllie's
letters that the contest should begin by that
date. Reed, however, got the stakes, butnot
without some strong opposition and equally
draught players. But their sympathy with
Wyllie is not confined to words. Mr.. r. Nc
Call, Glasgow, yesterday received q check
for 500 to hand to Wyllie on his return home,
being the amount Wyllie lodged in the stake,
holders hands. Mr.. r. w. Patterson, of
Pittsburg, Pa, is the generous donor of this
sum, which removes blot that would
otherwise have attached to the whole body
of American draught players.-Gl1Sg0a0
Evening Times.
THE DISPATCH has taken the above position
all through this unpleasant controversy.
That as the dates were absent from the arti-
cles of agreement between Wyllie and Reed,
Wyllie had broken no contract and the arti-
cleS would be good for years, as the only
thing definite was that the match was to
take place 60 days after his landing
in America. Mr.. Pattersons generosity in
refunding to Mr.. Wyllie $100 does not, in our
Judgment, make Mr.. Dunlap's position any
more favorable. The money was unjustly
given away, and we are sure A. j. Dunlap
realizes it by this time; and if Mr.. Dunlap
will come forward and admit the error, and
pass round the hat, we can be counted upon
to give our one-tenth. We believe this
to be the only honorable course left for him;
and when the old man arrives there
may be no unnecessary delay in getting on
the match for the worlds championship.
CHECKER GOSSIP.
The correspondence tournament of the
Northern Leader, after fully four years. play,
has now been brought to termination The
first prize has been won by Mr.. James Lees,
Dalmellington, Scotland.
The visiting players were taken to the in
ternational foot race in the midst of heavy
rain, by Mr.. Joseph Maize, and as the
PittSburg man was not in it the visitors took
it as good omen in their favor. But, alas!
it was they who were not in it. Our con-
tributor, L. Armstrong, played in the visit
ing team, and suffered severely at the hands
of Mr.. Ellis in the match, but got some salts
faction out of the others. The following are
h