The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-07
SMASH ON THE DEFENDER.
CLUE TOPSIIL CRASHES DOWN
THROUGH HER DECK.

Haliinrds Parted and Let the Club Top
sail Down with n Rush-It Went
Through the Mninsail and Deck
Yacht Goes to Bristol for Repairs.
NEWPORT. June 1.-THE yacht Defender.
winner OF the Americas Cup In 1895. mar
rowlv escaped going to the bottom Of the At
lantic Ocean to-day. and several Of her crew
had miraculous escapes 1t was her first spin
outside. and had not the accident happened
she would have made n good showing. 1t was
1880 o'clock in the morning when w. Butler
Duncan went on board. and half an hour later
the old champion headed out Of the cove under
her mainsail. When clear Of Permanent
Wharf she set her lib and etaysail. The wind
vas from the south. Inside 1t was quite light
and. with head tide. 1t was slow work for the
yacht to beat out. Notwithstanding this she
was quick in STAYS and answered her helm
finely.
Six short tacks brought her out In the open.
where che found whoesail breeze. which at
times would almost box the compass. The
wind increased in force all the time. and 1t
was very Dercept5lc that her speed was also
Increasing. She flew along like racehorse
on the starboard tack. with her port side awash
to the hatch combngs There had been littl
preparation below for such blow. and ice box.
side. There was heavy ground swell outside.
but tho Defender rode 1t gracefully. Mr..
Duncan worked at the wheel most Of the time.
Those who were watching from the shore
thought the yacht was going on the rocks on
Conanyut Island at one time. hut Mr.. Duncan
was familiar with the waters and piloted her BY
all right The sloops Queen Nab. with c. J.. F.
Robinson and party. and ZeRuiner, with Max
Agassiz and party. were out to see the big
yacht show her heels. but the wind got so stiff
for them that thew had to shorten sal by TAX
ing in their topsails.
When the Defender was about abreast OF
Beaver Tail Light she headed for Brenton's
Reef Lightship. and at Just noon. when about
half mile west Of the lightship an attempt
was made to set tho cub topsail. From the
shore II was seen that something was the mat
ter and several times tho topsail was sent aloft
only to stick at the jaws of the gatf After FIVE
miles trying the sail seemed to be going up
finely. when suddenly and without warning the
halards used IN sending the canvas up parted
There was a cry to look cut and all rushed for
a place Of safety. The big club which is about
hood OF half ton. did not stop at the deck. In
coming from aloft II went clean through the
plates. The club hi, the deck midway between
two deck beams and striking CHANGING blow
All was confusion for a moment only. when
Mr.. Duncan gave orders to clear things up
The topsail stuck up through the deck like q
tent aud the only way It could be extricated
was to saw the steel off above the deck. which
was done and the wreck cleared up. The big
mansai was slowed and lowered. Had the
club come down straight there Is no doubt but
what it would have gone clean through the
Defender, plates and all
The man that was aloft was in the most dan
gerous position and 1t is miracle that he was
not dragged from the blocks. When the whip
parted 1t rushed through the block with great
rapidlty. but the only thing IL did was to
scratch the seaman,s face. 1t Is a wonder no
one was hurt on deck Had IL fallen fiat
several would surely have been killed. The
passing through the mainsail broke the fall
and gave the men time to get out OF Its way
Tho halliard used In sending the tops Ais up
was new piece OF rope and where II parted It
was as smooth as II cut with knife: The
as II the rope got damned in a block and In
that way was cut.
Al 12:25 O'Clock. Just twenty minutes after
the accident. everything was slowed away. and
under her head sails the boat was headed
for Newport. As she passed in past the Dump
lngs nothing seemed to be the matter. She
did not come to anchor. but proceeded IN to
Bristol. where repairs will be made As quickly
as possible
here late this afternoon under trysail and lib
Carpenters and sailmakers will at once make
repairs. which will occupy probably two days
G. Oliver lsein was in town to-day. but re-
fused to say anything except that work on
Columbia was progress ing favorahly and that
she would be launched at the time set He
would not name her sponsor.