New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-14
HIS LAST GAME OF CHESS.
A TOURNAMENT IN WHICH LIVES WE'RE
AT STAKE.
NORTH JoXAI. THE EMINENT HUNGARIAN Nov
EI.IsT TELLS A THRILLING STORY FROM THE
EAsr-EIoHr DIsoBEpIENr SOLDIERS
HAD TO PLAY-SEvEN LOSERS
WERE SHOT AND THE VIC


HAD TO PLAY-sEvEN LOSERS
WERE SHOT AND THE VIC
TOR WENT MAD
Ahmanxade Mchemed. the serdar Of the troops
OF Tunis says Moritz Jokai. the eminent Hungarian
noveli.t in his tale entitled THE Last Game OF
Chess" was renowned for his extraordinarily DC
we're discipline among the soldiers rnder MS cum
mand Don't fear the enemy" Mehemed useo u
say "ony fear Ahmanzade Mehemed. your cum.
mander" and II is recorded as fact that MS BOZ
dlers did not know such n word as fear on the oa'
teneld. but that they trembled In the presence u
their general Mehemed.
The first war In which Mehemed was ensaseo
was against the insurrecting Greeks IN Apanu'.
and II In this expedition that his troops nrst
excelled. In this campaign Mehemcd ordered eish'
cavalrymen to watch the 1--WE wells OF Ar'a' >
spot which the Greeks often visited. These eigh'
soldiers had received strict orders to challenge
every passer-by, close. as the saying goes
even eye. and not TO dsmount on any consd-
Grafton
About midnigh. on the first day Of their watch.
a driver Of n wagon tried to pass by unoDserVeo'
When he saw that he could not carry out his IN
tentions. ne left the wagon and his team OF oxen.
and fed. The wagon loaded with a cask. and
without dismounting the soldiers succeeded IN re-
moving the bung, and they then soon detected from
the smell that the cask contained brandy an excel
lent beverage. most probably distilled from figs and
raslns.
Mehemeds soldiers were not forbidden to drink
conlscated liquors. They managed 10 get some
reeds. which they inserted In the bunghoe. and be-
gan to suck the delicous brandy TO their hearts
content. They never thought Of the prophets say
ing that wine in any form a wicked drink or
Satan, and Satan soon that he had the SOL
diers at his mercy. First Of all the soldiers were
asking each other why they were sitting in their
hon on Ov needed
on the lawn. Nobody would ever know II they
TO dismount and TO stretch their tired limbs
on grass They could fasten their horses to the
wagon and nobody would betray them.
And they finally did lie on the lawn; the hellish
drink persuaded them to be still more incautious
Why should eight OF them be watching when four
would do just as well? And minute later four were
fast asleep. and the rest-well they tried to keep
the watch, but not for long. Tho remaining four
soon argued that two would be enough to keep the
watch. two more went TO sleep. and Maruf and
sefer were the two left to guard the wells OF Ara
and their comrades.
Let me tell YOU" said Sefer to Maruf lone
man would DO jurt as we'll two: what do you
sayr'
Maruf. being OF the same opinion answered. let
us play a game OF chess: the loser must keep the
watch the winner may rest" Sefer accepted the
proposition.
The two drew a chessbonrd on the sand: they
made chess pieces out OF Wild pears 10 represent
the kings wild apples served queens. nuts
acorns and other things served rocks knights
and pawns. and the game began At first scfer
had an advantage. but getting rather mixed up
and being able to distinguish the pieces. he lost
his queen and about 10 resign. as he could
not prevent mate In two moves: Maruf interrupt
ed the game by excaiming. You are In pre-
carious position. Sefer.
yes. know" replied the latter. II shall be
mated In two l could not play we'll for I
almost asleep.
60 on then. and sleep" said Maruf. II shall
An instant later seven OF the eight soldiers were
fast asleep
CARELESS SENTINEL
Maruf gun In arm was now walking 70 and fro
after the fashion OF sentineis. principally TO keep
sleep away After & while he decided 10 sit down
on the lawn He next closed his eyes thinking that
ne could rely on his ears II anybody should APP
proach. and only few minutes had elapsed and the
eight soldiers were fast asleep.
The Greeks who lay in ambush came forth un-
fastened the horses and would certainly have killed
the Turks bu, for the noise made by one OF the
animals when led away. Maruf was the nrst his
legs In an instant the eight were standing In hight
ing attitude. but II useless The Greeks had
mounted the horses and laughed mt the pursuing
Turks Marufs horse however. made It hot for
the Greek who rode It. Tho rider thrown and
eight cavalrymen!
What will Mehemed have to say TO ths7" ex-
claimed the soldiers.
They knew that their lives were forfeited. but
they really were more upset about the LOGS OF the
horses than about that. Sadly and timidy they re-
turned to the camp. and. being brought before
their severe commander. they made clean breast
OF IT, They related the story In all It's details; how
they had dlsobeyei orders by dismounting how
they fell asleep in consequence OF taking too much
brandy, how the two had played n game OF
chess. and how they finally lost the seven horses.
Ahmanzade never showed his feelings when about
TO speak. From his face they could not read the
sentence which he was to announce. after he had
listened TO the story OF the disobedent soldiers At
"As there are egh, men for horse. seven OF
you are supernuous. for / have read in the
Koran or in the Azorath that eight men could
players let Tournament decide who OF you shall
be- tho one TO sit on the horse. The other seven
will be shot
THEIR LIVES THE FORFEIT
He now ordered four sets OF chessmen and boards
to be brought to a specially appointed spot in the
camp and the eight began a tournament in which
their lives we're at stake. Twelve sharpshooters
were ready to carry out the sentence of death
passed upon the losers. One or two weak players
soon surrendered to their superior opponens others
got desperate and won their games by hazardous
combinations. The four losers were at once led
away and twelve shots announced that they had
paid the loss OF the game with their lives.
The first round was over and the four surviving
players were paired for another co. The ex-
element and the seriousness OF the stakes seemed
to prolong the contest An Ill-consIdered move, a
loss of piece or even pawn meant death. After
a while the second round over two were taken
away from the boards. and few minutes later
twelve shots announced In camp that two had ended
their lives. Only Maruf and Sefer were left for tho
third and final round. Both were known to
be the best players in their regiment and when they
sat down to begin the game. the excitement in the
camp at a fever heat. big crowd OF soldiers
was standing around them. and ar the contest re-
manned for n long number OF moves as neither
side was able to gain the least advantage In posi-
tion the spectators and players alike became SO in