Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-22
Edward VII Narrowly Escapes Death
on Shamrock II.
YACHT STRUCK BY A SQUALL
Her Decks Swept Clean of Mast
and All Gear.
SHAMROCK d A NJ AG E d

LONDON, May 22.-During the race be-
tween the two Shamrocks and the Sybarita
in the SOent today sudden squan struck
the yachts. The tOpmast of the Shamrock
ii carried away and then her main
mast went by the board. carrying all her
sails with it and leaving her practically
wreck. The topsail OF, the Shamrock l was
also carried away in the squall.
There was some delay in establishing a
starting line The wind freshened consid-
erably and blew twelve to thirteen knots,
with the prospect of magnificent racing.
King Edward. desiring to take more
active part in the proceedings than was
possible from the deck of the Erin. was
taken on board the challenger accompanied
by Sir Thomas Upton and two ladies. The
preliminary starting signal given from
the Erin.
struck by n Suun1.
While the yachts were m1neuvering for
The start a s,iuall came without the slight
est warning and ne bowsprit of the chal
lenge- was carried away short. The extra
strain thus thrown ON the topmast proved
too much for the spar 1t whipped, broke
and doubled off t. lceward, carrying the
whole weight of the backyard and gear
over the side in terrible tanglc. Almost
as the tOpnaSt fell the great steel main
mast, weighing more than two tons, and
carrying SparS and gear weighing an addi
tionaI three or four tons. swayed for
moment and then. almost 10y a miracle,
plunged over the side and into the water
with the ripping. tearing sound of breaking
wire and tearing gear in the air.
The members of the royal party were
seated on deck close to the conpa nfon-
way. The king was showing keen pl. asure
watching the fight which Captain SyCa-
more was making for the advantage at the
start The yacht was racing along at
formidable angle. and the Sloping deck
with 4 mere fringe Of rail. seemed a rather
perilous place for the accommodation of
the visitors.
As the wreckage swept the deck it was
most astonishing that TO one was injured.
For a moment or two the situation ap-
petred 70 be very grave The king MAIN
tanned his ComU"sUre. Most of the head
men went overheard.
shamroci. Also Suffers.
Within five seconds of the disaster. the
Shamrock l bore around to render assist
aEee, when she in turn was caught by the
squaIl and her gaff and topsan spars col
lapsed. leaving her heIplessly crippled.
The press tug following the racers
ranged alongside the helpless yachts and
4 torpedo boat which was in the vicinity
and the Sybarita sent boats to the scene.
But in answer To hail, Captain Syca-
more sent the reassuring message that all
on board had escaped without injury
As quickly as possible the king and the
royal party Were transferred to the Erin,
and later the king, accompanied by Sir
Thomas Upton. Landed at Southampton,
from which place his majesty will proceed
to London.
In the meanwhile the crews of the racers
set about clearing away the wreckage. Ow-
Ing To the unwicldy nature of the spars
and gear it found impossible To get
them on board and they were cut away and
allowed to sink. after buOys had been
placed 10 mark the places where the wreck
age sunk. The yachts were then towed
back To Hythe. there to await a decision a :
10 what should be done toward repairing
them.