Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-05-24
PLUCKY Upton,
Will Spare No Expense to
Rush Shamrock's Repairs.
Asks New York to Postpone Race to
First of October.
Work on Shamrock New Mast and Calf
Already Commenced.

Southampton, May $50 far as can
De ascertained the hull Of the cup
challenger is not injured, but she will
be locked for a thorough eXamina-
ton.
Sir Thomas Upton, George Watson,
and w. g. Jameson visited the boat.
Thursday morning, and decided that
six weeks We're sufficient to put the
crippled yacht again in racing trim.
and that it will proba bly, be. necessary
to ask for Z delay in the date of the
cup races for this length of time.
In their opinion most of the other
spars We're quite heavy enough and the
whole trouble arose from the breaking
of a bowsprit shroud and the bobstay
fasteninss.
At conference Of his constructors
and advisers. this evening. on board
the Erin. Sir Thomas Upton told the
gentlemen that he was determined to
go ahead with the Shamrock III and
left IL to them to decide how this could
best be done.
Mr.. Watson. the designer of the
Shamrock II. Mr.. Ratsey. the sailmak-
cr, Mr.. wand. manager for the Dennys,
he builders Of the yacht, Capt. Syca-
more. and Messrs. billiard and IRE,
| amateur yachtsmen who have been
sailing on board the Shamrock III. We're
present.
After a long disc ussion il was agreed
to cable the New York Yacht Club.
asking that the date of the contest lie
postponed until the first week in Oc-
tobcr in order to allow time for the
necessary repairs. This extension will
give the Dennys and Mr.. Ratsey time
10 DO their parts of the work. IT was de
c!ded to lose no time. but to 20 ahead
| under full pressure while awaiting
reply from the New York Yacht Club
| as 10 whether the postponement would
be granted.
Sir Thomas expressed himself as eX-
trcmely sorry at being forced to make
any requests upSetting the arrange
ments already made. but he was left
with only the hull of his yacht With
out this extension Of time he would be
totally unable to take over his boat
| in anything like good form and he said
he sincerely hoped his request would
| b. granted.
Speaking of the improvements in the
Shamrock /. Sir Thomas said he had
nc doubt that this yacht had much
| improved since she sailed in American
waters. and that he felt perfectly GER
| tain she was far from being as good
a boat as the challenger. The latter,
he said, had been improving daily, al
though he now had only q bare hull
without a stick over her. he was sats-
het that on her reappearance the chal-
lenser would justify his confidence in
her.
Sir Thomas has received a dozen Of
cables of sympathy from the United
States and hundreds Of similar tele-
grams from all parts of Great Britain.
Thomas w. Lawson cabled TO Sir
Thomas his deepest regret al the acct
dent and his heartfelt congratulations
that all on board had escaped He
hoped that America would not be de-
prived of seeing the Shamrocks this
season. but if it We're impossible to
bring them over. he expressed his viii
lingness to take the Independence over
to England and race either or both OF
the Shamrocks in British waters
Sir Thomas replied To this message
expressing his gratitude at Mr.. Law
sons kind telegram and generous Of
fer. which he thoroughly appreciated.
hut he said he was going over with
the new Shamrock. and if an oppor-
tunity were offered he would be de-
lighted to race the Independence in
American waters.
Commodore Ledyard of the New
York Yacht Club, and Mr.. Griscom
president of the American Line of
Steamships. are among those who sent
messages to Sir Thomas