Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-05-25

Southampton May 23.--'rhc most dra-
matte incident in the history Of the
Americas cup occurred yesterday, when
Sudden Squall on the Solent completely
wrecked the now challenger, Shamrock
III, endangering the life Of King Edward
and several distinguished persons. IN.
Guiding Sir Thomas Upton. The r".
suit of this disaster. which could scarce
ly rcclr without grc:;, loss of life, can
best bc judged by the written statement
given last last night by Sir Thomas
lipton TO Il representative of the AsSo.
ciatrd Press:
"My deepest regret is that today'S ac-
cldrnt prevents me from tOring tnr
mark at the appointed hour. and com.
pcls me To ask the New York Yacht club
TO grant mo IN extension of time. If
they will Dr good enough 10 do that,
shall race. even if | have to build Il boat
between now and the date agreed upon.
| still believe th" Shamrock II n boat
worthy TO he the challenger. and That.
when this unfortunate chapter Of acri
dents comes to an end Shr will stand Il
good chance Of lifting the cup. have
not single complaint 10 max" against
my boat.
"For the many tclcgrlmS of sympathy
received lron America today, am
deeply grateful. No one is more thank.
full than am that the catastrophe ended
without fatality. and | may perhaps
say that throughout the trying moments
his majesty was rs brave rs II lion. His
first thought was 10 inquire if any one
was injured
Circumstances lave ,cduccd thu.
Shamrock III to piiful, SpallrsS wreck.
The story of the catastrophe is best told
by Sir Thomas l.iplom himself. After
seeing his royal guests off to London,
Sir Thomas gave the following inter
view:
"We had just begun to make for the
starting line W Whrn Il fierce brccz"
doldrrry, Mrs. jameson. Mr.. Watson.
Mr.. Jameson ana myself were on deck.
hnnging on nS best we might for the
challenger was almost at IN angle Of
~ degrees. I he king started to 20
below: just as he did 80 everything col
lapScd. y heavy block fell between the
two ladies. ana Il wire rope struck me
on the head. The blow niomrntarily
stunned mo. 4 Sudden Su,lall, IN I'M
expected strain and everything had
given way. King Edward was half in
and half ont OF the companion hatch.
way. What happened, how all HE fall
ing SparS and sweeping sails did not
kill or sweep someone overheard. is
more than | know. When | came to.
saw the king clambcring over the wreck.
age, trying to discover the cXtcn; of tn"
damage. and asking: 'Isanyonc hurt:
1t is further learned that Sir Thomas
first uttcrance. on coming to. was this
ardent adjuraton TO Mr.. Watson: re!
eglaph for more SparS. We have got
to sail on Aug 20 and his boat has got
to do it,"
When the participators in the mSlrnp
had been safely transferred to The Erin
the kings first remark was: "Whcn
shall we sail again, Lipton:" Before
the king started for London. his last
words to Sir Thomas were: "Wh"n YOU
next sail. am going with YOU
Mr.. Watson and Mr.. JalAcSon. cs.
pcciHlly the former. are very downcnSt,
ana absolutely refuse to say anything.
Mr.. Watson. indeed is so cllaylncd that
he could scarcely talk to even his mosi
intimate friends. ana until after dinner
on board the Erin. Sir Thomas believed
1t would be impossible TO contest for the
cup this year. But it was finally dc.
cidcd to go ahead.
The question whether the Ncw York
Yacht club should br asked To ucrmt
the substitution OF the Shamrock for
the Shamrock Il was quickly rclcgatcd,
because, in spite of every thing that has
happened. ii was maintained that the
new boat was well worth the trouble
she had caused II may be stated that
the challrngrr's true merits have not
bc"n displayed with too much viyor, ana
that there Is more in her. according to
the views of those most interested, than
meets the eye.
Sir Thomas calculates that a delay of
three weeks or Il month in the dat" of the
contest in American waters will enable
him to come to the scratch. lie SAWS
that he is greatly handicapped by the
fact that he has no duplicate masts for
the Shamrock II, buI he believes the de-
fccts can he rcmrdicd in timcto provide
for an international race this year.
New York, May 21.-Thcre were n
large number of the members of the
New York Yacht club at the clubhouse
last night, and the ronccllSls of opinion
was that Sir Thomas Iiptom should he
given anything he asked for in the way
If time. one Of the topics discussed
was the action of the cup committee.
which met yesterday afternoon. No
official statement was to be had concern
ing this meeting. but from Il member of
the cub 1t was learned that the Lawson
controversy had been adjusted. and that
the Independence will participate ia
the trial races on June IL to II at Nrw-
port, ana arrangements made for Mr.
LawsOhS boat to participate in the other
races. The cup committee. il was said,
realized that the contest was IN inter.
national affair and not confined to the
New York Yacht club.