Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-05-23
A SPARLESS WRECK,
Shamrock Il Dismasted in a
Sudden and Heavy SquaII.
King Edward on Board--AII the Party
Escape Injury.
~ Time Is Extended. will Make Herculean
Efforts to Repair Boat.


dramatic incident in the history of the
Americas cup occurred, today, when
sudden squat on the Solcnt COM
plctely wrecked the new challenger
endangering the life of King Edward
ana several distinguished persons in
Guiding Sir Thomas Upton. The re-
suits OF this disaster, which could
scarcely recur without great loss of
iIie' can best be judged by the written
statement given, late tonight, by Sir
Ihomas Upton to representative of
The Associated Press:
My deepest regret is that today's
accident prevents me from toeing the
mark at the appointed hour and COM
peis me to ask the New York Yacht
Club to grant me an extension of time.
III they will be good enough to do that.
l shall race, even if l have to build
boat between now and the date
agreed upon. l still believe the Sham
rock III boat worthy to be the chal-
lengcr and that when this unfortunate
chapter of accidents comes to an end
she Will stand a good chance of lifting
the cup. l have not single com
For the many kilograms of SYM
pathy received from America, today. l
am deeply grateful. No one is more
thankful than l am that the catastro-
pho ended without fatality, and may
perhaps say that throughout the try
ing moments His Majesty was as
brave as "A lion. His first thought was
to inquire if any one was injured.
THOMAS Upton"
circumstances have reduced the
Shamrock III to a pitiful. sparloss
wreck. She now lies off Hythc. The
story of the catastrophe is best tod by
Sir Thomas Upton himself. After
seeing his royal guests off to London,
Sir Thomas gave the following inter-
view to a representative of The Asso-
Ciated Press:
We had just begun to make for the
starting line when a fierce breeze
sprang up. King Edward, Lady Lon
donderry. Mrs. Jameson, Mr.. Watson.
Mr.. Jameson and myself were on deck.
hanging on as best we might, for the
challenger was almost at an angle of
4o degrees. The King started to go be-
low; just as he did so everything col
lapsed. A heavy block fell between
the two ladies and a wire rope struck
me on the head. The blow mOmcn-
tarily stunned me. A sudden squall,
an unexpected strain and everything
had given way.
King Edward was half in and half
out of the companion hatchway. What
happened. how all the falling spars
some one overheard is more than |
know. When l came to, l saw the
King Clambcring over the wreckage.
trying to discover the extent of the
damage and asking: Is anyone
hurt?''
The representative of The Associated
Press further learned that Sir Thomas
first uttcrancc on coming TO was this
ardent adjuration to Mr.. Watson:
Telegraph for more spars. We have
got to sail Aug. 20, ard this boat has
got to do it,
When the distinguished participator3
in the mishap had been safely trans
ferred to the Erin, the Kings first re-
mark was: when shall we sail again.
Lipton?'
Before His Majesty started for Lon
don. his last words to Sir Thomas
were: when you next sail / am going
with you
In fact. the ruler of the British en-
pirc seemed keenly to enjoy the I'M
usual spice of danger into which his
love of sport had led him.
Mr.. Watson and Mr.. Jameson. cS-
pecially the former are very downcast
and absolutely refuse to say anything.
Mr.. Watson. indeed. is so chagrincd
that he could scarcely talk to even his
most intimate friends and until after
dinner on board the Erin Sir Thomas
believed it would be impossible to con
test for the cup this year. But thanks
to his indomitable perseverance. back
ed up by King Edwards optimistic
and enthusiastic support it was de-
cided to go ahead provided tho New
York Yacht Club would grant an ex-
tension.
The question whether the New York
Yacht Club should be asked to permit
the substitution of the Shamrock / for
the Shamrock III was quickly relegat-
ed, because Sir Thomas and Mr..
Jameson, in spite of everything that
has happened. maintained that the
new boat was well worth the trouble
she had caused.
1t was be stated with no little au-
thOrity that the challenger's true mer-
its have not been displayed with too
much vigor. and that there is more In
her, according to the views OF these
most interested, than meets the eye.
Sir Thomas calculates that delay
of three weeks or a month in the date
of the contest in American waters will
enable him to come to the scratch. He
says that he is greatly handicapped by
the fact that he has no duplicate
masts for the Shamrock III, but by an
unlimited expenditure of money and
energy he believes the defects can be
rcmedied in time to provide for an
international race. this year.
Il was" he said, terribly cast
down when, ] saw what terrible
wreck that beautiful boat was. but
now I think things can be remedied.
I have cabled Mr.. Ledyard personally.
today, and tomorrow, l expect to
CONTINUED on page ~