Evening star., 1897-05-31
CABLE CHESS MATCH
American Players in the House Com
merce Committees Boom.
bow TEE PLAYING Is CONDUCTED
Members of Parliament and Men,
bers of Congress.
T H OSE WHO LOOK ON

The chess match between the British
house OF commons and the American
| House Of Representatives is In progress
| today. The American players are located
| In the room Of the House committee on
commerce.
At 1:3O pm. Sir Julian Pauhcefote British
| ambassador and representative of the Eng
| lish players, entered. accompanied by Mr..
Ladislaus Hengelmuller, the Austrian min
lister; Speaker Reed and Mr.. HIT They
| were introduced to the players and took
| seats on the inner side of the tables. where
| tney viii have goo6 opportunity of view
| Ing the games.
Ifen followed the announcement of the
| teams ard the drawing for first move
| which created commotion in the room.
| me teams as srnounced are as follows:
a-American, Pearson; British, PIunkett.
S-American. Shafroth; British, ParnelI.
3-American, Bodine; British, Strauss T.
American, Plowman; British. Atherley-
\ Jones. a-American, Handy; British, Will
the drawing for first move was done by
| the Earl OF Westmeath, who drew a paper
marked No. 2, and under the rules the
english players have first move on boards
| l, ) and 5. This Is regarded as slightly in
FAVOR of the Englshmen 1t will be seen
that for the British Messrs Plunkett
Strauss and Wilson have first move in their
games, and for the Americans. Messrs.
Shafroth and Plowman have first move
AT few minutes before 2 o'clock Mr.
shannon, captain of the American team
called Tor order and made the announce
| ments as to who had first move, &c. He
enJoined upon the players the necessity of
taking ample time in making their moves
"A message was received at o'clock
staung that the Englislmen were waiting
Tor the arrival of the speaker of the house
of commons.
Another telegram was received at 2:1O
announcing that the speaker had not vet
a
on hand, however
The Englishmen at 2:30 sent their moves
on boards 2 and 4, P-K4 This is not in
accordance with the understanding of the
rules here and the rules were called for
according to which the English,aen had
misunderstood the drawing.
The Austrian minister. the referee sent
a message to the effect that according to
! move on boards l, 2 and 5.
Friendly Messages Exchanged.
The following messages have been ex-
changed:
''To the Speaker of the House of Rep
resentatves: 1 am glad to hear that
friendly contest is about to begin between
the two houses and trust that 1t is the
worst conflict in which they viii ever meet
wv: c. GULLY. Speaker.
London. May 81"
Speaker Reeds reply was follows:
'Thanks for your friendly message.
P'ease convey to the players my regret
that 1 Cannot send them best wishes lust
now' but hope to do SO always hereafter:
ct. B. REED, Speaker"
The E"glishmen, at 80 sent move 1 on
be ards 1. 3 and ), P-K4.
At board No. Mr.. Pearson replied with
, 1P-K4, to which the Englishman replied
2P-KB4: then follows Pearson takes P,
5B-B4, B-B4, 4P-Q4.
At board No. Mr.. Parnell plays the
French defense, 1P-K3. 2P-Q4, P-Q4, 3Kt-
OBJ
At hoard No Mr. Eodino n,.,ed ID U.
then follows 2Kt-KB3, Rt-QB3, 3B-KtB3,
4, castles, Kt. takes P.
The Scene of the Contest.
The original inteation was to use the for
eign affairs committee room but It was de-
cided to be too small. The commerce COM
mittee room is much more capacious, being
about twenty-five feet square. 1t is located
on the third floor of the Capitol. and its
windows face east. From them can be OBJ
tanned a good view Of the beautiful new
library building. The windows are COM
paratively small, out light also finds en-
trance through dome. The arrangements
for artificial lighting are quite satisfactory.
The long table used by the committee has
been removed, and in its stead are five
small tables for the five American players.
Tables have also been placed for the
scorers.
On one side Of the room. near the fire
place. is the telegraphers table. There are
two instruments, one for sending the moves
made by the American players, and the
other for receiving the moves made by the
London players.
duplex type writer machines by which
message is sent and one received at the
same time on the same wire. The wires
enter the room through the fireplace, the
cable being run down the chimney. The
Washington operators connect direct with
Hearts Content, N. F.. which is the
American end of the Anglo-American Cable
Company. From Hearts Content the mes
sages are transmitted to Valencia, Spain.
and from there to London. The entire dis
tance is over 1900 miles, and yet so prompt
is the service that a message can be sent
and the answer received In half minute.
1t was done in twenty-five seconds yester-
day.
at this end have been under the personal
supervision Of Mr.. Marean, local manager
OF the Western Union Telegraph Company.
Today Mr.. ]. A. Rodier Is in charge of the
operators, Mr.. Lawrence Parker. the re-
ceiver of the moves of the British players.
and Mr.. E. w. Smithers. the sender Of the
moves Of the congressman.
Sending the Moves.
As soon as a player makes his move the
scorer writes it down on a score sheet. and
also prepares a message for transmission
to the opposite party on slip provided for
the purpose, as follows:
Board No. l.
America-White.
Move No. 1-P-K4.
(Signature) r. PEARSON.
The moves are written on pink and yell
low paper, for the purpose of avoiding
mistakes. Pink indicates that the move
is made by a person playing the white
pieces: yellow by a person handling the
black pieces. These slips are prepared for
each board. Each operator has five files.
one for each board, on which the slips con-
tanning the moves sent are placed. so that
In case a mistake is made it can be easily
rectified.
Demand for Admission.
There has been considerable demand for
admission to the room In which the play
ers are seated. but In Justice to the play
ers, who would be disturbed should there
be q crowd in the room, they could not be
accommodated OF course. members of the
House and Senators had free entree to
the room. For special reasons some of the
members were specially invited Among
these Is Speaker Reed. who has taken q
deep interest in the match, and has assist
ed the committee in making arrangements.
Years ago Mr.. Reed gave some attention
to the game, and he yet plays with con-
siderable strength. At one time the Eng
nshmen suggested that after the regular
match a consultation game, In which all
the players participate. be played, but the
uoaffer anr>eara IN IN hoor f1rnrr,od r1a