The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-18
So the Columbia Wins the Second
Heat Of the Race.
MISHAP OCCURRED EARLY.
ShrOud Parted and the Green Yachts
TOpmaSt Went Overheard

Tho Accident MARRIED What Would Have
Been the Second Real Contest Betwson
the Rival Flyers. and the Yankee Had
to Sail Over Two Logs of the Course
Aleno-shamrock Will Take n Day on
to Repair, SO the Next Race 10 Set for
Thursdny-Sir Thomas Upton Lannon'S
tho Mishap, But He's Not Disco uraged-
still Thinks He Has n Chance of Winning
Columbia Lead When the Crash Came.
There was wind enough yesterday, but only
one OF the colossal sea fighters. the Columbia.
got the full benefit OF 1t. While she lsisurely
covered a triangular course Of thirty miles of
Sandy Hook. the crippled challenger. Sham
rock. was heading homeward, trailing like q
wounded duck. Her topmast was carried away
when she was twenty five minutes on her course
on the windward leg OF the triangle. and her
club topsail was put out Of commission. Under
an agreement suggested by Sir Thomas
Upton and signed by him and O. Oliver
lselin. the managers OF the Yankee yacht
could honorably do nothing else than take
"walkover." This suited Sir Thomas Upton
admirably. The agreement runs as follows:
SUCH CASE PROVIDED FOR.
"Inasmuoh as we are Of the opinion that
the Americas Cup races are no less a test Of
the strength Of the construction OF the oompe-
ting vessels than OF their sailing qualities. and
as 1t 10 deemed advisable to avoid the embar-
rassment in which vessel finds herself when
called upon to decide whether to withdraw
from race upon tho occurrence OF an accident
disabling her competitor. It 10 agreed that In
the races between the Shamrock and the Co.
lumbia each yacht shall stand by the conse-
Qusnces of any accident happening to her, and
that the uninjured vessel shall sail out the
race"
Tho unsatisfactory race demonstrated at
least that the Columbia's rigging is better CON-
structed than the Shamrocks. When the mis-
hap occurred the yachts had covered about q
quarter Of the ten mile windward leg. east by
south. from Sandy Hook Lightship. They were
on the port tack. heading about southeast. in a
sun-splashed sea that spurted In glitteripg
spray from under their spoonlike bows. with
the Yankee yacht probably a tenth OF mile to
windward. The Shamrock had been footing
well and the talent aboard declare that she
was really in the lead. and that II she had
tackled she would have forced the Columbia to
60 about. This would have been her privilege
as the yacht on the port tack must always give
way to the one on the starboard. Close OBJ
servers on vessels OF the accompanying teet
were Of the opinion that ifthe Shamrock had
gone on the starboard tack the Columbia would
That 10 tho way it looked from THE SUMS tug.
Winslow.
AWAY GOES HER ToPMAsT.
Before the trio OF British shippers could
make up their minds to try forcing the Yankee
clipper about the thing happened which mado
the manGuvre impossible. The Shamrock
was plunging heavily into the long swells.
carrying No. 2 club topsail..t tho next to the
largest in her marvellous suit. and many yards
bigger than that OF the Columbia. Its club
projects twenty-one feet beyond the end OF tho
gaI and 1t is almost az voluminous az some Of
the mansails OF former Cup defenders.
Naturally. the topmast receiving tho giant
strain OF wind pressure on the lofty fabric
must be strong and we'll set UP. While nearly
all tho folks within range OF the contendinE
yachts were gazing at them. so far to wind
ward that they looked like painted craft on the
well-dsfned line Of the horizon. the club top
sail OF the Briton luttsred at tho head. Then
1t wrinklsd and collapsed. carrying with 1t the
topmast, appearing like . moro billiard cue In
the distance. Tho tangle Of wrsckage fell to
starboard.
There was no snap or crash heard by any In
the attending fleet because the fleet was kept
too far away by the Vgllant white cutters and
the black torpedo boats OF Capt. Evans's guard
squadron. 1t seemed as II the towering spar
anu sail OIL tHo HTo0C yuChI ubu doom blmply
painted out by tho vieWiess brush Of the wind.
The Columbia luffed UP moment and then
went about on the starboard tack. standing
northeast, A moment later she took down her
jib topsail
A MOMENT OF PERIL.
Tho disabled challenger came up into the
wind and her hardy and fearless crew began
clearing away the wreckage. The club OF the
club topsail held by tho gan and beat like Q
fail against tho mainsail. Tho s.aysail came
down In jiffy and was quickly gathered in.
The spirit OF the club topsai was broken when
the topmast snapped. The topsail. held by the
club. tapped against the enormous mainsail
and was revealed In outline by the sun against
the larger spread Of canvas like a shadow ona
screen.
The Shamrock squared away for home with
her club topsail dangling In the hollow OF her
malnsail. rounded by the twelve-knot breeze
A small fleet OF excursion boats and tugs fol-
lowed tho luokless Briton half way back to tbs
LlRhtship. Her attending tug gave her line
and towed her to her mooring inside
the Hook. Five minutes after the accident
Sir Thomas Lipton's steam yacht Erin hauled
down the psnnant OF the Royal Ulster Yacht
Club and her guard flag and steamed after tho
green boat. Her ensign ne she ran before the
breeze. hung limp and mourniully against the
stan over the tAHrhll.
CAUSE OF THE MIsHAP.
The trouble aboard the Shamrock was caused
by the parting OF the port topmast shroud.
About twelve feet from the deck it crosses the
masthead shroud. 1.-THE place where 1t crosses.
the shrouds are nippered or racked. that is.
seized with steel strands, so they cannot touch
and chafe each other. 1t is thought that there
was defect In the topmast shroud at the
nip where it parted. There was doubtSssa
tremendous strain on the shroud. quite enough.
In a seaway. to carry away anything but a per-
feet piece Of steel cable
The Columbia. after tho mishap simply gave
an exhibition sail for admiring patriots. who
made up in enthusiasm what they lacked in
numbers. She was in the business OF simply
looking handsome, which she did TO the finish.
where she was greeted thunderously.
The next race will be tomorrow. II there lisa
breeze. Meanwhile tho Shamrock will be
fitted with u new topmast and shroud For