The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-05-24
CLOSE CALL FOR KING EDWARD
Wrecked Spars Fall Close to His Majesty, Who Occu
pied a Place on Yachts Deck When
Accident Occurred.

Ryde, Isle of Wight May 22.-The
cup challenger, with King Edward
and party on board, was totally dis
masted today by a squall off Cowes.
The king, who was on deck, had a mir
aculous escape. The topmast, main
mast and bowsprit were broken short
off. The disaster occurred while prep
arations were being made for a trial
race.
There was a 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 start
ing point. There was some delay in
establishing a starting line. The
wind f%resheneu considerably and blew
II to Is knots, with prospect Of mag
nificent racing. King Edward, desir-
ing to take a 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 signal al given
from the Erin. While the yachts
were "manoevoring for the start a
squall came without the slightest
warning, and the bowsprit of the chal-
lenger was carried short away. The
extra strain thus thrown on the top
mast proved too much for the spar.
1t was whipped, broke and doubled
off to leaward, 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 more than two
tons and carrying spars and gear
weighing an additional three or four
tons, swayed for a m and then,
almost by a miracle, plunged over the
side into the water, with a ripping,
tearing sound of breaking wire and
tearing gear in the air.
Kings Narrow Escape
The members of the royal party
were seated on deck, close to the
companionway The king had been
showing keen pleasure in watching the
fight which Captain Sycamore vas
making for the advantage at the start.
The yacht vas racing along at a for
r,ai6nh1n on11n arl %h~ 1o-irr Io11,
with a mere fringe of rail, seemed
rather a perilous place for the visit
ors. AS the wreckage swept the deck
it was most astonishing that no one
was injured. For a momen or two
the situation appeared to be very
grave. The king maintained his COM
posture.
Within five seconds after the disas-
ter Shamrock |. drew around to rem
der assistance, when she in turn was
caught by a squal and her gaff top
spar collapsed, leaving her helplessly
crippled. The press tug following the
yachts ranged alongside the helpless
yachts, and a torpedo boat. which was
in the vicinity, and the Sybarita sent
boats to the scene. In answer to a
hail, Captain Sycamore sent the reas-
surfing message that all on board had
escaped without injury.
AS quickly as possible the king and
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.
Wrecked Spars Sink.
Meanwhile the crews of the racers
set about clearing away the wrack-
age. Owing to the unwieldy nature of
the spars and gear it was found i'm
possible to get them on board and
they were cut away and allowed to
sink, after buoys had been placed to
mark the places whore the wreckage
sank. The yachts were then towed
back to Hythe, there to await the de-
what should be done towards
repairing them.
Sir Thomas Upton fears it will be
to repair Shamrock II. in
time for the cup races. It looks as
IL the contest was OFF for this year.
Sir Thomas Upton will cable the
New York Yacht club an account Of
he accident with an expression OF
doubt IL he will be able to fulfil his
engagement. Nothing can be definite