Thursday, July 11

Marshall on tour: Los Angeles

Frank J. Marshall, the United States Chess Champion, has completed his Pacific Coast tour with a three days' engagement in Los Angeles.  On the 7th inst. Marshall gave an exhibition of simultaneous play in that city, making the fine score of 21 wins against only two losses, with Messrs. Woodbury and Greer recording victories over the visitor.  We are informed that in this exhibition Marshall opened with the Danish Gambit on every board.  Another exhibition on the following day saw the Champion face 27 opponents simultaneously and score 23 wins and 3 draws against a single loss, Mr. C.H. Whipple, Jr., being the only opponent to receive Marshall's surrender.  These exhibitions are said to have attracted a large number of interested spectators.

On the 9th Marshall played a clock game against Stasch Mlotkowski, well-known for years here in the East as one of the strongest Philadelphia players.  The time limit was set for a brisk 30 moves per hour, and Marshall, again selecting the Danish Gambit, dispatched his opponent in a sharp fight in 21 moves, with the game lasting approximately 90 minutes, of which time each opponent used half.  The reader will find the score of this brief but hotly contested battle presented below.

Marshall, who by all accounts made a most favorable impression throughout his tour, composed a short Farewell Address to his hosts before his departure from California, and those fortunate enough to have the acquaintance of our American Champion will immediately recognize in it his simple and unaffected style:
Gentlemen: Now as I go away from the Pacific toward the Atlantic and perhaps beyond over the seas to other countries, there shall always be a fond thought of you, and often when the Pacific coast is mentioned my memory will fly back to my visit among you and to the many old friends with the new ones I've been so fortunate to make.
They say a prophet is without honor in his own country: but you've given me a welcome that has made me proud, and that I hope will prove an added stimulus whenever I am trying to uphold the honor of the land we hold so dear - America.
For all of the above we thank our friends at The San Francisco Call, who in turn credit Mr. W.S. Waterman of Los Angeles.

We offer herewith the Marshall-Mlotkowski clash, which we recommend most highly.  Black sacrifices a piece at his 16th turn and seems to obtain a most promising attack, but White's unexpected 19th move, in pure Marshall style, immediately turns the tables, and decides the contest.


No comments: