Evening star., 1897-06-01
Cordial greetings aI}g si{cere wishes for
weil-fought game atd al righteous victory
for the best side JOHN HAY"


for the best side. JOHN HAY"
The answer follows
s'His Exceliency. the Hon. John Hay:
my sincere thanks fof your kind greet
ing. I cordially recaprecate the sentiments
expressed in your friendly message.
r "RAUNCEFoTE."
Vixen the match was Once commenced.
after forty minutes delay. the moves came
fast for a time. ara then slowed down.
Mr.. Pearson's early fah gave a discour-
aging outlook. andGsone persons were
ready to say that the fmatch was going
against the United States by decided odds.
be single game soinsi In favor Of the
American players. rs
First American Victory.
It was somewhat 5aflei o'clock before
there were signs of ian American victory.
At table No. 3. when the Englishman's
oath move, Q R-K, was received. 1t was
seen that he had overlooked the threaten
ed mate in three moves. Then there was
a discussion as to whether or not 1t was
not the KS r that was intended instead OF
the OR. When Mr. Bodine had made the
two first moves Of the mate, Mr.. Strauss
resigned. The game was fairly well play
ed I'D to the time Mr.. Strauss made his
mistake on the oath move. He had. II any
thing, an advantage by reason OF MS ad-
ping of hands when Mr.. Strauss resigna-
ton was received.
At boards 2, and stubborn contests
were going on. Probably the most inter
esting one was at No. ). where the play
was rapid and the position shifted fire.
quently. AS the play progressed, Mr.. Han
dy was seen to gain slight advantage,
which increased. till at the time of ad-
journment it looked as though with due
care he should win the game. The posi-
ton at the close Of the day was full OF
chess.
Mr.. Handy took fifteen or twenty minutes
tn kn thought
he could win by other methods but it is
believed the move chosen will insure a
victory Mr.. Handy played steadily and
with much care and thought throughout
the day.
At bosrd No 2. Mr.. Shafroth was max
ing hard fight to win from his able op-
ponent, Mr.. Parnel. Both parties lost
time by useless moves. but on the whole
the game up to adjournment was quite
creditable The position at the close of
the day was slightly in favor of the Amer
lean, but it will require great care to
Messrs. Plowman and Atherly-Jones are
playing a very interesting game On his
22d move Mr.. Plowrnan gave up bishop
for two pawns. He had an opportunity to
regain the piece for nothing on his 18th
| move, but must have overlooked 1t. He
will undoubtedly yet recover the piece.
Mr. Jones, however. has made an attack
| on the queens side, which Mr.. Plowman
will do well to study, before pushing too
vigorously on the kings side. 1t is hard
| to pick the winner in this game, as there
are pitfalls on both sides.
Interest in the Contests.
The tables at which were seated the
| American players were surrounded continu
| ally by groups Of prominent persons whe
| took deep interest In the match and talk
ed with each other about the moves. II
| frequently became necessary to caution the
| spectators. so that the players should Lo
be disturbed.
In the room of the judiciary committee
were set UP boards for the accomm 0da
| tion of those not entitled to access to The
| room in which were the players. These
| boards were in charge of members of the
! Washington Chess Club. There was M
| restriction as to noise, and every one wht
cared to do SO expressed an opinion or
the merits of the Hogss. A number o.
| flaws were quickly picked out and freel,
| commented on. Mr.. Handy's game wa.
! closely watched 1t was thought he push
| ed his pawns too rapidly, and the opinion
| at the close seemedr to be that the game
| was going against the American by rea
| son of the Britisher's queen's rocks pawn
| Mr.. Pearson's game came in for a share O
| attention, and the other games were alst
| analyzed. One of the spectators was
| lady, who seemed to Bs well posted on tn,
| game. and entered into the criticism o
| the moves The psopa. in the judiciar!
| committee room weIsf in for a good time
| and they evidently enjoyed themselves
| At the completion Of the three unfinished
| games a consultation game will be played
Players will be PluEkett,7 Shaw q resery,
man, and Wilson. and the American play
| ers will be Pearson, Bodine and Plow
| man.