The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-05
big Hollow steel Mast Collapsed sud-
denly Like n Blow Pipe Through
the Breaking OF sprcnder.
wREcKAGE FELL OVERHEARD
AND THE CUP DEFENDERS HULL
THEREBY ESCAPED DAMAGE.
Second Mate swept Into the Water,
but Rescued-New Mast IN be
Fitted Soon as Possible.

NEWPORT. r. l., June i.-while dashing
along I'm a good. whole sail breeze of Bren-
tons Reef lightship this afternoon. with
three lower sails set. the big hollow steel
mast on the Belmont syndicate cup de-
fender Constitution collapsed like a blow
pipe through the sudden breaking OF the
starboard and windward spreader. The
mast broke off only foot below the
spreader. about three-fifths OF the length
OF the mast above the deck. and as the
topmast was carried away at the same
time none of the spars except the boom
struck the deck. and the latter only hit Z
light blows. which did not injure the hull
at all None of the sails was torn ani
all can be used again. Fortunately. three
seamen had just come down from the
masthead, after taking In the club topsail,
but the wreckage swept overheard Second
Mate Edward Nelson. He was promptly
hauled on board, however. without sus-
tanning anything more than few bruises.
The designer, Mr.. Nat Herreschon. wts
or the deck when the mast collapsed, and
with him were w. Butler Duncan, the
manager of the yacht; Mr.. c. oliver lse-
lin. who managed the Columbia two years
ago. when she sustained a similar accident;
Rear Commodore c. l.. +. Robinson, OF the
New York Yacht Club. and Mr.. Newbury
Thorne, and all escaped injury.
The Constitution will be taken TO Bristol
tomorrow morning. where another steel
mast is nearly finished The yacht will be
Immediately rented, but IL probably Will
be ten days or two weeks before she is In
shape to sail again, SO that the races on
this port, scheduled for June Is and IL viii
have to be postponed
Mr.. Duncan expressed great regret to-
night over the accident, but said he was
very glad that no one was injured.
WIND WAS BLOWING STRONG.
The trial to-day was the second one given
the Constitution since her arrival from
Bristol where additional backstays had
been rugged to strengthen the mast. About
noon Mr. Herreshoff came down from Bris-
| toI and looked over the two sails which
were getting gradually into shape. After
the crew had finished their dinner the
mainsail was again hoisted and prepara-
tions made for spin outside the harbor
| The wind at the time was blowing about
fifteen or eighteen knots. and as the tids
was a strong ebb there was quite lump
| % a sea in the narrow channel at the
/ mouth of the harbor The No. = club top
sail. however, was set and with the Jib and
foresail up the big white sloop started
| away from her moorings at "A lively pace
IL was practically a dead beat down tho
| channel, and in the choppy sea the yacht
pitched not a little. There WAS more wind
outside the harbor. but the sea was
smoother.
As the Constitution worked of shore she
felt the wind considerably stronger, and
suddenly the lashings on the club top
sail gave way and the big sail began Ia
| slap and swing around to the topmast. The
Yacht was sent into the wind while three
| seamen went aloft 10 clear away the wreck
age and send down the spsrs Ihls TOOK
some time, SO that 1t was about 100 wnel
the yacht was again hauled onto the WIND
and headed TO southeast on the starOoaro
tack The yacnt this time was about t~-
miles south Of Trentons Reef nghtshlp
gcing along at a tremendous pace undci
| three lower sails. well heeled over IN thu
| breeze. The wind was probably the stinesi
that the Constitution had ever encountered
Suddenly. just before o'clock. without
the slightest warning, the starbCard lowei
| spreader, over the end OF which ran TIVE
! of the masthead shrouds, made OF Incl
| steel wire rome collapsed or broke of OF
! the mast. This brought the strain on ue
| three remaining steel shrouds. whici
| promptly gave way and almost az the SAINT
instant the big steel mast began 60 fall Owe
| the port. IL went so gradually that thos'
! OIL deck saw IL coming In time 10 get =
wfndward with the exception OF Secon'
Mate Nelson. who was caught IN some rig
ginz and went overheard under the OF
mainsail. Fortunately, some OF the crev
. saw his predica ment. and by quick worl
, he was hauled aboard.
The mast collapsed or bent about three
ffths of the way above the deck or a fev
feet below the lower spreaders. whic
, broke As IL went over the topmas
, shrouds broke the wooden spar in tw
: pieces one short of At it's foot. where
enters the top of the mast and again we
: up the pole toward the top Part OF IN
, | topmast was saved. but some ten feet q
I IN went drifting out 20 sea As the mas
! ! came down shorn of it's topmast ~ va
seen that n would not strike the decl
, | and as the boom ssgged into the port IA
, | quite gently the hull was not injured ]
) | the slightest degree. Both head sails wer
svept into the water. but the bowsprit re
| nained intact. Both the upper spreader
| | were broken of when the mast went doWi
hut the topmast shrouds. which lead ove
| them. held well. and in doing so smashe
: ! the big wooden pole which they were N
tended 10 hold in place. Some Of On
| shrouds when the upper part OF the mas
| was fairly down were carried over N
| stump and remained there when the yacn
| was taken into the harbor-