Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-18
COLUMBIA ENTITLED TO RACE.
Sir Thomas Upton Discusses the Ac-
cident to Shamrock.

In an interview in the New York World
this morning Sir Thomas Upton discusses
the loss Of yesterdays race and the acct
dent to the Shamrock. He says:
Il never had such a shock in my life as
when the Shamrock lost her topmast. l
felt terrible about it. | had my glasses OH
the yacht the sail went over. | asked
my captain to steam over and see if any
one was hurt, but / could see by the way
that the men Were moving about and the
fact that no signals We're set that they
We're in no need of immediate assistance.
OF course, l would like to win the cup, but
not at the price of injuring one of my men.
ut was a terrible disappointment to me.
l never felt so bad over anything in my
life.
THE Columbia is fairly entitled to the
race. 1t my suggestion that if any
thing happened to either boat the other
should sail over the course and take the
race
1T would be no compliment to me for
them to come to and say they had
sailed over the course. but did not wish to
take the race. When l made the suggestion
l thought it would be best for both boats,
and | have not changed my mind, although
l am the sufferer from it.
The Columbia has won this race as
| fairly and as squarey it won yesterday,
| although under conditions which |
are as unsatisfactory to Mr.. lselin- as to
| myself.
The ending of the race was particularly
painful to me, in view of the showing the
| Shamrock was making. The start was in
| our favor and the sport was magnificent
| | never saw finer work. The Shamrock was
| magnficently handled today, and l was
! confident that any gain the Columbia
| might have made on the beat to windward
| would have been made up on the other two
| legs. L think we had good chance to
| win
| although the Columbia has fairly won
| two races and need capture only one more
| race to make sure of the cup, L have not
| given it up by any means. l do not mean
| to boast, but | shall give up until the
| winning boat crosses the, finishing line in
! the last race. All We WANT is a good wind
| and no accidents. l. q
| Il shall stay ON board the Erin until it
| is finished. l have Been here seven weeks,
| and during that time have been ashore
but once-the day of the Dewey parade. l
| have devoted all my time and energies to
| trying to win the cup, and | shall stay by
| the ship until its fate is decided.
| I'VE shall not race tomorrow. 1t would
| be possible to get ready in time but it
would mean too much rush work. and some
OF IL at night We have an extra topmaSt,
| which Will be stepped. and We hope to have
| the work done in time to make trial spin
| tomorrow. We want to- take every possible
| precauton against another accident.
| Il have been in tighter corners than this
and gotten out of them ard won. too. They
say l have luck. hope 1t will stand by
| me IN this- Certainly fortune mas been tickle
| since we began these-races.'
| Following is the agreement which was
| signed September n: Inasmuch we are
of the opinion that the America cup races
| are no less a test of strength of construc-
| ton of the competing vessels than of their
| sailing qualities, and it is deemed advisa-
BILE to avoid the embarra ssment in which a
| vessel finds herself when called upon to
decide whether to withdraw from race
| upon the occurrence of an accident disa-
| bling her competitor, 1t is agreed that in
| the races between the Shamrock and the
| Columbia each yacht shall stand by the
| consequences of any accident happening to
| her, and that the unin Jared vessel shall sail
out the race. THOMAS J. Upton.
| c. OLIVER 1SELIN.