The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-08-03
FALL OF COLUMBIA'S MASTS
CUP DEFENDER n TOT4L WRECK
1BOYE DECKS.

Topmast First Fell and Then the New
Steel Mainmast-An That Remains of
the Yachts Magnificent Spread of
Canvas and Specially Made Rigging Is
Tangled Mass.
Newport, r. l., Aug. "A most un-
| fortunate accident to the Columbia to-
day marred the pleasure Of what prom
| ised to be a thorough test of the rela-
| tive speeds of that boat and Defender in
! nice topsail breeze and late this after
| noon the new boat was toWed up to her
| builders works at Bristol, a total wreck
| above decks. Her new steel manmast
was bent double, just about half way
| between the deck and the masthead,
| and all that remained OF her magnifi-
| cent spread of canvas and specially
| made rigging was piled up a in heap
about the stump of the mast, a tam
gled mass of wire shrouds, metal turn
buckles blocks and ropes. Practically
all that remained were the steel boom
| and gaff, and the bowsprlt and even the
gaff were damaged a trifle at the jaws.
How the Accident Occurred.
The dismasting of the Columbia oc-
Cured less than an hour after the new
and old cup defenders started on the
beat out to a flag boat off the north
end of Block Island, when the two con-
testants had covered about half the
distance. Columbia was leading at the
time and was steadily drawing away
from her rival, Captain Barr giving her
sails good full breeze, preferring to
hold along at an increased rate of speed
rather than outpoint Defender, as he
had done in previous races. The two
boats were holding along on a port tack
and into the Point Judith channel about
three miles off the point, the new boat
having the weather position and fairly
tearing through the water when there
was a sound of breaking spars aloft,
and in an instant the topmast went
crashing down to leeward, carrying with
it the fine new club topsail and small
jb topsail. 1t seemed to the eye wit
nesses but Lrief part of a second when
the steel mainmast buckled in the mid
die and down came the upper end Of
the spar and the huge mainsail dropped
into the water on the starboard side.
All Held Their Breath.
For an instant all on the Columbia
held their breath and then was heard
Mr.. Iselin's voice inquiring whether any
one had been hurt or swept overheard
out fortunately, all hands escaped in
jury Mr.. Iselin and Mate Allen had
the closest call of all. They were down
IL Q ato1,
ing the trim of her headsails and hear
ing the noise aloft, scrambled up to
windward and were barely in time, for
the colapsing of the spar allowed the
main boom to drop to the deck, the
steel spar brushing Aliens hat over
board.
Mrs. Iselin Calm.
Mrs Isein was below at the time, but
she came on deck Immediately after the
accident, and when the Associated Press
tug ranged alongside few minutes lat
er she was calmly taking snapshots of
the Wreokage. The discipline was ex-
cellent, not man leaving his place un-
tol Captain Barr gave orders to clear |
away the wreckage and get the canvas
abroad, and then the crew went to work
with a will, clearing up the tangle, the
Columbia drifting with the waves,
and sad looking craft.
The Defender Hovc-To.
As soon as the accident occurred the |
Defender, which was the nearest yacht |
to the Columbia, lowered her jibtopsail |
and, ranging up alongside her unfortu-
nate rival, Mr., Duncan inquired anx-
iously if any one had been hurt, and
upon receiving a reassuring answer
stood by for a time and then went on a
little jaunt out to sea.
Torpedo Boat Dupont offered Help.
The steam craft near at hand raced
up to the disabled Columbia at full
speed, the torpedo boat Dupont reach
ne the Columbia first and offering med
cal assistance if it was needed. All
kinds of yachts soon reached the boat,
and foremost among them was the%
steam yacht Augusta with John B.
Herreshoff and a party of women
aboard. Mr.. Herreshoff was deeply
,rieved when informed of the accident,
out was pleased to learn that no one
lad been hurt. Many of the yachts Of
'ered to tow the Columbia back into
Newport, but as Mr.. Iselin had pre-
y10uSly accepted the OlIeT ndue ITOHl
he Associated Press tug S. C. Hart to
stand by and take the Columbia in tow
lie was obliged to decline the offers
With thanks. The crew had the hardest
work getting the mainsail on deck, for
he canvas was weighed down with wa
er and rendered unmanageable by the
pars and rigging. i
Cause Of the Accident.
For some time no one knew just what
lad been the cause of the accident, for !
here was certainly not strong enough ,
reeze blowing to cause it, and after :
boxing the wreckage over carefully the
eporters saw that the port spreader ,
ad broken upward by the strain of ,
he topmast shroud, causing the top :
last to break off. The sudden force of I
he spar the weight of the topsail and ,
lubs coming against the starboard
lasthead shrouds was too much Tor
he steel mast and it instantly colaps-
d. The topmast shroud, which, Mr.. i
selin says, was the cause of all the
rouble, was not in just the position to
support the topmast, which fit $
ed into the masthead, telescope fash
IN, instead of being stepped forward s
it. The topmast shroud leads up f
ard through the spreaders to the head +
the topmast, and although the crew t