Detroit Free Press, 1876

R:
#2+s#2 (3 pr. + 2 sp. pr.)
 
The special prizes were for best direct mate, and best self-mate, respectively.
 
J:
G. E. Carpenter
 
Problems will be judged simply on their merits—duals to have nothing to do with the matter.
 
C:
1876-04-29 (extended to 1876-05-29)
 
A:
1 pr. W. A. Shinkman (Motto: Much Ado About Nothing)
2 pr. J. Berger (Erfreut mich, Kinder!)
3 pr. R. Braune (Measure for Measure)
sp. pr. best #2  shared between 5 problems:
J. Berger (Erfreut mich, Kinder!)
W. A. Shinkman (Much Ado About Nothing and In Nuce)
R. Braune (Measure for Measure)
Marc* (Through Night to Light)
sp. pr. best s#2 T. M. Brown (Fire Light Fancies)
 
hm. W. A. Shinkman (In Nuce)
hm. best s#2 W. A. Shinkman (Much Ado About Nothing)
 
S:
Detroit Free Press:
1876-01-02: Requirements
1876-06-11: Tourney closed
1876-06-18: Carpenter is judge; additional prizes donated
1876-12-17: End of publication approaching; 33 sets entered
1876-12-31: 33rd set ruled out, and will not be published.
1877-01-07: list of competing sets (motto, composer); judge's report part I: set prizes
1877-01-14: judge's report part II: special prizes
1877-01-21: judge's report part III: best self-mate
 
N:

The closing date was changed from 1876-04-29 to 1876-05-29 on 1876-02-27.

Shortly after closing date, G. E. Carpenter was named as judge.

Publication of received sets, under motto, started on 1876-05-14. and continued with at least one set a week. The problems were also the object of a solving tourney, announced at the same time as the problem tourney itself.

33 set were received, but the last set was ruled out prior to publication. The remaining 32 sets were all examined by the judge. The number of competitors was only 21: several contestants sent in multiple sets, including one set by two authors.

A number of sets were disqualified for competing for the main prizes, but were allowed to compete for the special prizes, such as the problem that won the sp. pr. for best s#2.


* According to part 10 of F. M. Teed's series American Problem Composers (American Chess Magazine, 2/11 (May, 1899), p. 459 ) the pseuodym Marc was used by Chas. [=Charles] L. Fitch in his early career as composer. (See also Gaige: Chess Personalia, p. 120.)

Prize-Winning Problems

1 Prize: W. A. Shinkman

1

#2

2

s#2

2 Prize: J. Berger

1

#2

2

s#2

3 Prize: R. Braune

1

#2

2

s#2

Special prize: best #2:

Here, only the two problems that were not part of the prize-winning sets will be shown. For the other problems, see the #2 of the sets shown above for 1-3 Prize.

W. A. Shinkman (In Nuce)

#2

Marc (Through Night to Light)

#2

Special prize: best s#2: T. M. Brown

s#2