Phony Benoni: Not much of an excuse, but Marshall played the game blindfold. "American Chess Bulletin", December 1914, p. 258, has a listing of Marshall's tour stops. He was in Kingston, New York on November 15-16, play a 12-board simultaneous and winning one blindfold game.
"Brooklyn Daily Eagle", Novemer 16, 1914:
<:Kingston, N. Y., November 16. -- Frank J. Marshall of Brooklyn today played against twelve opponent in an exhibition of simultaneous chess given at the rooms of the Kingston Club. The United States champion won all. Yesterday he won in a blindfold game against four players in consultation.">
So the blindfold game was played on November 15, the 12-board simul on November 16. That the game on this page was the blindfold game is confirmed by a note to the score published in ACB:
<"Of this game, the Kingston Daily Freeman says:This was one of the most thrilling games of its kind ever played, because Mr. Marshall relaxed his attention for a moment and on his eleventh move made the error of giving up his Queen for a Knight, This error would have meant defeat for any ordinasry player,<even when able to see the board>, and the fact that Mr. Marshall nevertheless won is amazing.">
Maybe it was amazing -- but I can't shake the feeling that Marshall, having "seen" the first ten moves of Allies, figured he could get away with it. He was a showman -- and already a piece up, remember.