The times., 1899-03-11
CHESS BY CABLE.
Opening Moves in the Great Inter-
national Contest.

Opening Moves in the Great Inter-
national Contest.
New York, March 10-Chess enthusiasts
OF the metropolis and nearby places thor
oughly enjoyed their annual treat today
in the shape OF the fourth match by cable
between American and British teams of
ten for the possession of Sir George New
ness $1,000 trophy After a days hard
fighting in the Academy of Music essen
bly, rooms, Brooklyn, the American team
emerged with the brightest chances of
victory yet had in any of the series.
Though only one game was finished. that
between Johnston, of Chicago. and Locock,
which ended in a draw after heart
rending contest, the rest of the games had
advanced TO stages where an analysis of
the adjourned positions presented a favor
able state of affairs.
ShowalteT, Barry Hodges, Voight, and
Marshall all played nsplendid style. hold
ing their opponents we'll in hand through
out and when play ceased had all the best
OF it in their respective games. Two OF
these are considered almost sure victories.
Marshall having his adversary, VAIN
wright. in tied-up position. and Voight
having far and away the better of it with
Jacobs. II will surprise no one if these
two win and Showalter, Barry, and Hodges
are all expected to follow suit Hymes
also made grand fight and stands at least
q
yet in fairly comfortable circumstances.
Champion Pillsbury again found his match
in Blackburn, and had a difficult position
TO play, but he handled ii with consum
mate skill. His work is by no means at
an end. and the struggle between the two
noted experts will doubtless develop into
a masterpiece tomorrow.
In the opinion of experts tonight the
situation was such as to warrant the be-
lief that already the much coveted cup
is half way on its return journey 10 this
country, and that. at the worst, the Brit
ishers Will be prevented from foreclosing
the mortgage now held on that particular
piece of silverware. Enthusiasts from BCs-
ton, Philadelphia. Pittsburg, Baltimore.
and Washington witnessed the game today.
At one time during the afternoon fully
100 persons were crowded into the rooms.
The strongest team that has yet striven
for the cup was presented by the Brooklyn
Chess Club. including beside the regulars
who have played right along, two experts
from Philadelphia, one from Chicago, and
another from Brooklyn. A distinct gain
had been made in strength over last years
ten, particularly at the bottom of the list,
where the accession of Noight, Newman,
Johnston and Marshall improved American s
chances greatly.
Arrangements for the match were prac-
tically the same as those of all the pre-
yious contests. and the experience the
Brooklyn officials have gained in past
years enabled them TO carry everything
through like clockwork.
London. March 10.-The Grand Hall Of
the Hotel Cecil was well filled at the COM
/ Inencemeut OF the cable chess contest Tor
the Newnes challenge trophy between
( British and American experts today, and
I the spectators heartily recprocated the
I congratulatGTy messages which the Amer
I Jeans dispatched TO their opponents
! After the exchange OF the names CT the
/ players by cable the general question
/ among the British players was, Who is
/ Newman" but nobody could answer. The
! players here know the three other fresh
I men on the American team and thought
/ that Voight and Marshall would consider
ably strengthen the American side.
The feeling was that American had a
! slight advantage. Blackburn looked in
! good health and when he adopted the In
/ dian game everybody understood that he
was preparing for a hard fight.
Only two games excited the OnloOkers to
! any extent. These were the contest be-
tween Blackburn and Pillsbury and 10y
! ock and Johnston The chameleon-like
| character of the latter threw some of the
/ spectators into great excitement When
Johnston played Q r > everybody ex-
claimed That settles the game The
! American Onlookers including Mr.. Read
ing, of San Francisco, and Mr.. Napier, OF
Brooklyn, were naturally elated at the
prospect of victory They were amazed
by the subsequent change. There was a
strong impression late tonight that the
advantage rested with the Americans