<It is strange, but nevertheless true, that once upon a time, Philadelphia possessed a great chess player. Master George H. Derrickson waa a youth who possessed the most brilliant and precocious chess talent, and upon whose shoulders it was thought the mantle of Morphy was about to fall. But soon, too soon, grim Death called him from the checkered field on which he had won so many brilliant victories, it is now nearly 50 years since he passed from earth, yet there may be found in many books examples of his great genius as a composer of fine problems and a player of beautiful games.>

<OBITUARY.

GEORGE H. DERRICKSON.

WHEN the insatiate archer, Death, enters a family circle, levels his shafts at the aged and infirm, and gathers to his grim garner those who have lived to the allotted "three score and ten," grief at their losses mingles with resignation; but when he remorselessly strikes down the young and gifted, whose budding promise gives earnest of future usefulness and distinction, the blow is indeed appalling, rending the heart-strings despite the anchor of faith and the consolations of religion. To say that young DERRICKSON was ripe beyond his years in literary acquirements and intellectual development, is but a feeble and insignificant tribute to one whose rich store of knowledge had already made him famous among his classmates. Although but seventeen, he had mastered as if by intuition the most abstruse problems in his scholastic pursuits, and had won the highest honors of his class. Above all the many talented compeers in his school, he was selected to deliver an address on the 22d Feb. last, on the occasion of raising a flag, and many will recollect the zeal and fervor and eloquence, far in advance of his years, with which he signalized his theme and the occasion.

As an instance of the precocity of his intellectual powers we may say that he stood among the flrst chessplayers of the country; and was, up to his last illness, a regular contribuor to the chess column of the CLIPPER —as successful as enthusiastic in illustrating and elaborating that attractive and scholarly game.

But George H. Derrickson, with his flne social and intellectual powers, in the full buoyancy of his young life and ardent nature has passed away from among us. "Death loves a shining mark." Not the tenderness of a fond father, the prayers of a doting mother, the gushing affection of brother and sister, the solicitude of admiring friends, nor the ministrations of medical skill could snatch that young manhood from the premature tomb. He is gone! - the "places which once knew him, shall know him no more forever."

[Event "New York"]
[Date "1861.??.??"]
[White "Leonard, James A"]
[Black "Derrickson, George H"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "41"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 d6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Qe7 6. O-O Nf6 7. Nc3 Bd7 8. Nxc6 Bxc6 9. Nd5 Bxd5 10. exd5 O-O-O 11. Re1 Qd7 12. Qd4 Qa4 13. Bd2 b5 14. b3 Qa6 15. Bd3 Qb7 16. c4 b4 17. a3 bxa3 18. Rxa3 Qb6 19. Qxb6 cxb6 20. Rxa7 Nd7 21. Bf5 1-0

Source: NIC Database

<How good was this player?>

...

The most blindfold games James A Leonard ever played simultaneously was apparently ten (+4 -4 =2) in New York on 16 November 1861. His opponents included Derrickson (see the game above).

Source: Edward Winter - Kings, Commoners and Knaves, p. 139.

<For my next trick, I will win with White in 17 moves...> G H Derrickson vs NN, 1862