...Theodore M. Avery of Poly Prep encountered a team of the Manual Training School players in a simultaneous exhitition and won every game but one, which he drew. He defeated Caffall in a Scotch Gambit, Saunders in a Ruy Lopez; Baker and Fuchs, consulting, in a Max Lange; Lehman and Stillman, consulting, in a Two Knights Defense, and Steiner and Dennett, consulting, in a Jerome Gambit.
The Poly Prep Country Day School continues to this day in Brooklyn, New York, and I emailed Mr, Malcolm Farley, Director of Communications, to see if he could direct me to other sources of information about Avery's simultaneous exhibition.
Oh, and although the name "Steiner" leaps out to the eye as one of the players defending against the Jerome Gambit, the game took place several years before either Herman or Lajos Steiner were born...
Mr. Farley's response came quickly:
Dear Mr. Kennedy:
Many thanks for your interest in Poly Prep and its history.
As you know our school—which prepares students from nursery through 12th grade for college and for life—was founded in 1854. So, we have a long and storied past in Brooklyn.
Alas, our archivist has searched Poly’s extant records for 1900 and can find no information about Mr. Avery’s chess activities. Should we come across any such information in the future, we will forward it to you.
Once again, thank you.
Cordially yours,
Malcolm G. Farley
