Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-05-23
HOW IT HAPPENED.
Squat es..Eye Gives Way Top Gear Goes
..Ws All Over.

al TtaCn over Il triangular course SIM
liar to one of the Americas cup series
The entrance into the race of the yawl
Sybarita (about 30 feet over alp added
To the interest taken in the contest. es-
pecially as the fresh weather and
reaching course We're both in favor Of
the yawl, placing the captains of the
two Shamrocks under the necessity OF
driving their boats at full speed in
order to make any Creditable show
against the outsider and promising
King Edward an opportunity of wit
Messing what promised to be the smart
est race of the series.
There was fine. fresh easterly
breeze driving short. white tipped
sea up the channel when the three
yachts set their club topsails shortly
after noon and proceeded to the start
ing point.
There was some delay in establishing
starting line. The wind freshened
considerably and blew l. or Is knots,
with the prospect of magnificent rae
ing. King Edward. desiring to take Il
more active part in the proceedings
than was possible from the deck of the
Erin. was taken on board the challeng
er, accompanied by Sir Thomas LIP
ton and two ladies. The preliminary
starting signal was given from the
Erin.
While the yachts We're mancuverinS
for the start sudden squall came
without the slightest warning. and the
bowsprit of the challenger was carried
away short The extra strain thus
thrown on the topmast proved too
much for the spar. 1t whipped. broke
and doubled off To leeward. carrying
the whole weight of the backyard and
gear over the side in a terrible tangle
Almost as the topmast fell the great
steel mainmaSt, weighing over couple
of tons and carrying Spars and gear
weighing an additional three or four
tons. swayed for Il moment and then.
almost by a miracle, plunged over the
side and into the water. with the rip
ping. tearing sound of breaking wire
and tearing gear in the air.
The new challenger was left q prac-
teal wreck with the King on board.
The members of the royal party were
seated on deck close to the companion
way. The King was showing keen
pleasure. watching the fight which
Capt Sycamore was making for the
advantage at the start. The yacht was
racing along at formidable angle,
and the sloping deck, with mere
fringe of rail. seemed rather a perilous
place for the accommodation of the
visitors.
AS the wreckage swept the deck It
was most astonishing that 10 one was
injured For a moment or two the sit
uation appeared to be very grave The
The King maintained his composure.
Within five seconds of the disaster
the Shamrock I bore around to render
assistance. when she in turn was
caught by the squall and her Saff ana
topsail spars collapsed. leaving her
helplcssly crippled
The press tug following the racers
ran down alongside the helpless yachts
and the torpedo boat which was in the
vicinity, and the Sybarita sent boats
u the scene. In answer to han. capt.
sycamore sent the reassuring message
that all on board had escaped without
| injury.
As quickly as possible the King ana
| the royal party We're 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. Owing to the unwieldy ma
| t,lre of the spars and gear 1t was
found impossible to get them on boaro
and they were cut away and allowed
to sink. after buoys had been placed
10 mark the places where the wreckaSe
sank.
| The Yachts were then tOwcd PACK tc
IHvthe there to await q decision as to
what should be done toward repairing
them.
| The ladies on board the shamrock Ii
wore the Narchioness of Londonderry
and Mrs. w. G. Jameson. They had d
very narrow escape.
From the suddenness with which al
tho snars and canvas were ripped out
of the challenger, it looked as though
levervthipg had been blown out OF hei
with one gust. The wind was fresh a
tho time of the accident and was dow
ling occasionally in stronger gusts pu
there was nothing in the weight VI II
Ito threaten disaster.
| If is probable that the whole sea
would have stood the strain wei
IepOugh had it not been Tor Il "e'N'
lin the eye of the plate by which 1T, ,n'
lbobstay was secured to the steiii' IN.
leve was the first thing to break AM
when it gave way the unstayed DO"
snrit was unable to stand the pun :"
the lib and broke off short py .n'
stem head. AS it went the topmas' sd
was released and the spar doupieo "i
under the pull of the big topsal.
The jar of these breakages anu u''
sl.ckening of the stays weakened I'M
main mast. After tottering for a ira.
tion of a second. it crump1ed up prean
ing first just above the jaws Vi .,'
raff and then within three or 1our Zee ,
Of the deck The bobstay part, wiz,
was the first cause of all the oaiidse
had given trouble before ana WIS '"'
pected of weakness. >;,o Ed
At the time of the accident hine
ward was standing at the coinp'o'
; hatch. The first words he saiu W." W.
"Is anyone hurt?" He displayeo
p7es ence of mind. His first actioh
/ 81, l. hn