The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-23
CHALLENGER
 IS A WRECK King Edward Narrowly
 Escaped Death. U DDEN SQUALL CAME UP LiptOn Momentarily Stunned by Falling Wire Rope. Doughty Irish Sportsman is Com pelled to Request an Extension
 of Time from the New
 York Yacht Cup.
U DDEN SQUALL CAME UP

dramati incident in the history of the Americas cup occurred today when a sudden .squall on the Soient completely wrecked the new challenger and en- dangered the life of King Edward and several distinguished persons, includ- ing Sir Thomas Lipton. The results of this disaster. which could scarcely recur without great loss of life. can best be judged by the written state- ment made late tonight by Sir Thomas Lipton to 8 representative of the Asso- ciated 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. If 1t will be god enough to do that, shall race, even, if have to build a boat between now and the date agreed upon. The trials show that the sham rock II was worthy to be the challenger and that when this chapter of acci- dents comes to an end, she will stand a good chance of lifting the cup. I have not a single complaint to make against my boat.
 Compliments Edward.
 For the many telegrams of sym pathy received from America, I am deeply grateful. No one Is more than thankful than I am that the eatastro- phe ended without fatality and I 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 Lipton."
 Circumstances have reduced the Shamrock II to pitiful sparless wreck. She now lies off Hythe. The story of the catastrophe Is best told by Sir Thomas himself, who gave zhe follow ing interview to the Associated Press:
 We had just begun to make for the starting line when a fierce breeze sprang up. King Edward, Lady Lon- donderry. Mrs. Jameson, MT. Watson, MT. Jameson and myself were on deck, hanging on as best we might, for the challenger was almost at an angle of forty-five degrees. The King started to go below. Just as he did so every thing collapsed. A heavy block fell between the two ladies and a wire rope struck me on the head and -momen- tarily stunned me. A sudden squall, an unexpected strain and everything had given away.
 King Barely Escaped.
 King Edward was half in and half out of the companion hatchway. Why the falling spars and sweeping sails did not kill or sweep some one over board is more than I know. When l came to I saw the King clambering over the wreckage, trying to discover the extent of the damage, and asking: 'IsAAny one hurt?
 The reporter of the Associated Press further learned that Sir Thomas's first utterance, on coming to, was this ard- ent adjuration to MT. Watson: "Tel- egraph for more spars. We have got to sail on August 12, and this boat has got to do it..
 When the distinguished participators in the mishap had been transferred was: When shall we sail again, Lip ton?" and before His Majesty started for London his last words to Sir Thomas were: When you next sail, I am going with you" In fact the ruler of the British Empire seemed keenly to enjoy the unusual danger into which his love of sport had led him.
 The Builder is Downcast.
 Mir. Watson and MT. Jameson, espe- cially the former, are very downcast ana dDSOIuLely reLuSe to say dnyLnlHB. MT. Watson, indeed, is so chagrined that he could scarcely talk to even his most intimate friends, and until after dinner on board the Erin Sir Thomas believed 1t would be impossible to con test for the cup this year. But thanks to his indomitable perseverance, back ed by King Edwards optimistic and en- thusiastic support, it was decided to go ahead provided the New York Yacht Club would grant an extension.
 It may 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 those most interested, than meets the eye.
 Sir Thomas calculates that delay of three weeks or a month Tn the date of the contest in American waters will enable him to come to the scratch. He says that he !s greatly handicapped Hy the fact that he has no duplicate masts for the Shamrock IT,, but by an un- limited expenditure of money and en- ergy he believes the defects can be remedied in time to provide for an in- ternational race this year.