The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-05-24
Rigging.

Ryde, Island of Wight, May 22-The
yatchts We're to have been sent today
reaching over a triangular course sim
liar to one of the Americas cup series.
There was fine, fresh easterly breeze
driving a short white-tipped sea up the
channel when the three yachts set
their club topsails shortly after noon
and proceeded to the starting point.
King Edward, desiring to take a
than was possible from the deck of the
Erin, was taken on board the chal-
lenger, accompanied by Sir Thomas
Upton and two ladies. While the
yachts were manoeuvring for the start
a squall came without the slightest
warning and the bowsprit of the chal-
lenger was carried away short. The
extra strain thus thrown on the top
mast proved too much for the spar. 1t
whipped, broke and doubled off to lee
ward, earring the whole weight of the
backyard and gear over the side in q
terrible tangle. Almost as the top
mast fell, the great steel mainmaSt.
weighing more than two tons, and car
rying spars and gear weighing an ad-
ditional three or four tons, swayed for
a moment and then almost by a miracle
plunged over the side and into the wa
ter, with the ripping, tearing sound of
breaking wire and tearing gear in the
air.
The members of the royal party We're
seated on deck, close to the champion
way. The king was showing keen
pleasure, watching the fight which
Captain Sycamore was making for the
advantage at the start. The yacht was
racing along at a formidable angle, her
sloping deck, with a mere fringe of
rail, seemed a rather perilouS place for
the accommodation of the visitors.
AS the wreckage swept the deck 1t
was most astonishing that no one was
injured. For moment or two the
situation appeared to be very grave.
The king maintained his composure.
Within five seconds of the disaster,
the Shamrock / bore around to render
assistance, when she in turn was
caught by the squall and her gaff and
topsail spars collapsed, leaving her
helplessly crippled.
ranged along side the helpless yachts,
and a torpedo boat which was in the
vicinity and the Sydarita sent boats to
the scene; but in answer to a hail,
Captain Sicamore 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 South
amption, 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
ture of the spars and gear it was found
impossible to get them on board and
they were cut away and allowed to
sink, after buoyS had been placed to
mark the places where the wreckage
sank. The yachts were then towed
back to Ryde, there to await a, decision
as to what should be done towards re-
pairing them.
The results of this disaster, which
could scarcely recur without great loss
of life, can best be judge by the written
statement made late tonight by Sir
Thomas Upton to q representative OF
the Associated Press as follows:
MY deepest regret is that today's
accident prevents me from toeing the
mark at the appointed hour, and COM
pels me to ask the New York Yacht
Club to grant me an extension of time.
For the many kilograms OF SYM
pathy received from America today l
am deeply grateful. No one is more
thankful than / am that the catas-
trophe ended without fatality and l
may perhaps say that throughout the
trying moments his majesty was as
brave as a lion. His first thought was
to inquire if any one was injured
When the distinguished participators
| in the mishap had been safely trans
ferred to the Erin. the kings first re-
mark when shall we sail again, Lip
| TONI" and before his majesty started
| for London his last words to Sir Thom-
| as were: when you sail next 1 am
| going with you In fact. the ruler OF
| the British empire seemed keenly to
| enjoy the unusual spice Of danger into
| which his love Of sport had led him.
Sir Thomas calculates that a delay OF
| three weeks or a month in the date Of
| the contest in American waters will
| enable him t. come to the scratch.
We are sorry indeed that Columbus