In California

American Chess Bulletin Vol. 9 No. 8 (August 1912)

From an interesting report of recent activities at Los Angeles and San Diego, Cal., the Bulletin learns of the success of the Rev. E. B. Adams, of the latter place, who will be recalled as the champion at Yale University and the captain of the varsity team. Mr. Adams was returned the winner of the chess championship of the Cabrillo Club of San Diego, after a tie with A. G. Pearsall. The tie for first place in the tournament required a supplementary series, from which the former Yale captain emerged with a score of 5 to 3 and one game drawn. His reward was the Stough trophy. The oldest chess player in the city donated this beautifully carved set of bone chess pieces on condition that the winner should make a present of it to the club. The flags flying from the turrets of the castles and the resplendent crowns and mitres and cavalry created a profound impression when first seen in the club rooms. Consequently, the honor of winning was much sought after.

Accepting an invitation of the Los Angeles Young Men's Christian Association, Mr. Adams attended a banquet given in his honor, after which he played against seventeen opponents simultaneously, making a score of six wins, six losses and five drawn games. Leon Borough, a deaf mute, keeping his own score, played against the minister and won his game. The following day Mr. Adams delivered an address before the members of the Association. His theme was, "How to win the Game," and he drew close analogies between playing the "best and cleanest game ever known" and living the life taught by the Christian religion.

Among the speakers at the banquet was J. W. De Arman of Pasadena and a reference was made to his projected book to be known as Chess Classics. According to the Los Angeles Times, the work was eulogized and requests made for its early publication.