THE LATE W. B. HOOD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2810, 22 January 1908, Page 75

THE LATE W. B. HOOD.

Last week we mentioned the sudden deaih. of Mr W. B. Hood, which took place in his own home at Mount Somera on. New Year's Eve. . He was in the best of spirits that evening, and apparently in the best of health; but in the midst of festivity and mirth ha collapsed, and passed -quietly away. "We; have no intention of giving biographical details of the 'deceased, but rather to see him as he- appeared in relation* to the game of draughts. We may just_ briefly say that aa a player and, a gentleman he was highly ' esteemed '-by all who knew^him. As bearing this out, we give _ just two testimonies fr?m prominent , players. Mr Eobert Bosweil, Christchurch, in speaking- of Mr Hood in a letter to us, says:— "Mr HSod was a staunch friend and a goody-player. .1 went only twice to see him at Mount Somers, but in the bygone days, when L first knew him, he w6ulcf call on me when he came to town, as >my place at that time was the rendezvous for draughts, players.,.- He was never^ backward .at- showing any 'good thing he" knew about a game. ~ I remember at one of % the interprovincial matches with Otago Mr Hood and! I were both out of "form, so we practised^ and; agreed- to "play -the 'Double Corner' every time we had the Black men, as- we thought the-Dunedin players would .not be prepared' for it. Jlt turned out. .a good_ thing for -us, -,as "we only got level by beating them with the '■Double'' Corner.-'" . - -, " - Chatting with .Mr; J. A. . Boreham afte^ .the .receipt "of" the news of Mr Hood's death-* we got'this: — • \ ' '" . i - "•Did IJmow the late Mr~W ; " B. r Hood? -Yes-";, I have- played- draughts wi,th~ him— *,< Sufficient, answer! _ If -you wish 1 to know Ijt man, play,- draughts' with "him, especially iri a tournament, and the vgood or evil .in 'a man : becomes apparent. It. "was /during, th« "progress of the - -Exhibition tourney 'for tha -championship -of _ Australia - 1890 ■■that E -became-, acquainted 5 with "Mr Hood. .In the,-. first round 'he .defeated his'- opponent, as -3 did .mine, and wS met by ballot in the second round, when I was not long!: in scoring with; the ' Black -side of the "Cross," and thouglrb I had an easy _ thing onV but Mr 'Hood! thought differently,- -and he" was right, forI never got a look-in afterwards. In th« next three games <he gave », me a greae drubbing. But^here the. rnan,.was < 'reveaied^he had the -win' in the' fourth game, l an6S generously refused to score, so the scor« went to press as Hood 2, Boreham 1,- ancK a draw. In the tourney " -Mr Hood subsequently went down7.to .Messrs Warnock>andl i Hutton, whilst I battled through and- won th« losers' round; and had .to; met ;Mt; Warnook, who-"stoo"d winnerl of. the '.winners^ rounds • -' Andt-at'tKis stage.it wits 'that Mi Hood cun» to my assistance with- his superior general* ship and wider tatowledge bf-the game,' iiift useful^ advice materially assisting, me in dej> f eating Mr Warnock*>in • the first ''round. X intended to give ' Cross '• to 11 15- against Ml! Warnock,r but -knew nothing" of 'the 10-lU* line. I told Mr Hood my. difficulty, and ha -invited me to his room, and there posted ma up on the 10 14 line to sucb;godd purpose that I "scored it in/the, first game with Mr War* nock. Mr Hood was a, good 1 tutor, a superior yet 'kindly critic, a fine 'analyst: -and a clever cross-board player, and apart" from draughts he was a' trite -and '"generous friend — a mam every inch' of hini." ■-..'- >■ __ ' We have room -for" illustration of- Mr Hood'/ ability as v a player:— J- , , \aam& v 6502.^-" Maid of 'the Mill.** '„' , -„ v ■ By" the late W. B. Hood." , 1 7115 15 l&V m"~W: 11 JG 5.9 ■ -2 % £2 17 23 14 30 26 28 24 19 10 A-26 22 -« 11 9JB -4 8- B'll- v 6J5 "^ • 17 18- SB 23 - 24,20 23:19 : 18 6 - i (a) This forms the position illustrated-. If was -given in Hay's. First Edition as a draw, but Mr Hood showed' the Black win- as; bellow. 28-^23 or* 27 iS^so lose/'.btlt 25"22 "draws.' Mr Hoods- play has 'been- incorporated in thai '".British, Draughts" Player," and it\is' a'fina -illustration of his analytical skilU ' CBr.ACK.3" *■■ ' • - •'

£Whtt».3 ". Black to play and win. - , .

(b) 22 18, 31 26, 17 14, 26 22, 14 5, 22-15, B 1, 23 27, 1 10, 15 -V l6 11. 27 32,1 1..8 , 32 .27}. 8 "*, 27 34, 4 8," 1& 23, 8 11, 24 19, B. wins. (c). 22 18: 26 22, 17, 14,- 22 15, 14 -5, 27 32* 20 16, 32-27; 84, 16 10, 48, 27 24, 811 6 S 18 6, 10 1. 11 15, 3H> 12 .8,, 24 20, 15 24/ 20 4, 8.-wins. . _ *

12 16. 17 ' Hi lo Jo r il 8 jm io zz jg 27 23 1 6 22 15 23 27 20 JI 19 IS 18 27 , 25 "22 1019 8 4-C 28 23 17 I* 32 23 32 S8 29 25 JSB 23 -11 8 15 S 710 ,3126 14.18 -- 4" 8 24 27. 14 '1 "22 17 "2524 ." 21 .17 .2731 ■ 8 4 61l 15 18 26 23 18 23 - 8 11> 87 31 5 J 24 19- 1] 15 25 22 31 2tf 4 8 86 2j )8 27 23 19 27 31 .1116 - 31 28 B.win* 19 12 -24 27 lSll-B 19 24/ 811 .-, 27 32 19 16 3126 16 19 23 19