DRAUGHTS CHAMPION OF AMERICA.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 368, 15 May 1889, Page 3

DRAUGHTS CHAMPION OF AMERICA.

Mr C. F. Barker and hia brother Isaiah have again arrived home in Boston. The champion was ot course immediately "in ' tervievved " _by a representative of the " Boston Herald, "' w ho, ior his pains, got well ! 'sLulled," .as may be gathered from the facfc :hab "Barker, the Checker Wonder, was unable to ect a second match abroad." This is "news from abioad" with a vengeance — the world's champion at home ! But it would really spoil the artless tale of the American champion were he not to &peak for himself : — " L intended to stay longer," he said -to his interviewer, "but found that none of the Englishmen were anxious to meet me, and as I could get no more matches, I decided to return. Smith told me after his defeat that iii*beating him I had beaten (Jreab Britain, and ib surely looked as if 'such were the case. For two weeks after the international «mtoh not a word did I hear ihn t eo r nrd to acceptances of my challenge. ThetPl received a proposition from WVBrydon for'ti match for £25 a-side, the match to take place six weeks from signing articles. Bryden's stake was more than made up at the tirsfc meeting of his supporters — within a week of the fir9t match with Smith — and so was McKelvie's (also of Glasgow), who was ready to start play at once." We mention this here because, in the next sentence, • Barker says :—"I: — "I was 1 debating in my mind whether to accept the proposition when I was informed that Bryden's friends weie not sure that they could raise the money, but they would try". As' nothing was said about expenses, I thought it would have bren very poor business waiting for a possibility, so I set sail for home." " Well, Mr Barkei^now that the struggle is over, what is yoi>v opinion of Smith as .a player?" asked the interviewer. " Bar Wyllie, I have neveTrhet, his eriual. Ho- is a natural- player*, and- has a splended general knowledge''- of the gamo.' ? . Has Barker forgotten the bout he had some yeamago with Moir, .of Glasgow, who- beat him by four to nil, and>l6 draws in a match of 20 games ; and/still more recently, the defeat for the American championship he experienced at the hands of G. H. Freeman, of Fro-, vidence? "■ What- do you propose doing now ? Will you make any more matches ?" " I'd rather mees Wyllie now than anyone else, but'as he-is in Australia, I "suppose I'll have bo wait some time for a match, should ' I get one at all. Smith and other English* players'told me that it such, a match was> contemplated, they, would encfeav,ottr to dissuade Wyllie, from competing, as fctyey felt that thp old man would be beaten, and : [it would be hard on him ai this' late date to I

suffer defeat." Tho Scotch and English players who wished to meet Barker were no doubt somowhab to blame in nob being ready to meet the American when he finished his matoh with Smith. As to a match with "Wyllie, the majority ofdraughb players will take quite a different view from that expressed above as to the " Herd Laddie's" powers, and will look confidently as bo the result of a match with Barker or any other living player. — Glasgow ♦'Weekly Herald."