The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-05-23
SHAMROCK II UPSET.
Sudden Squat Capsiled New Chal.
Ienger and Destroyed Rigging.
KING EDWARD ABOARD.
Lives Of Several Distinguished Per.
sons Endangered by Accident.
SIR THOMAS LIPTONS STATEMENT.
Miraculous There Was No Loss of Life
Nor Anyone Hurt.
HIS MAJESTY WAS AS BRAVE ASA LION
Sir Thomas Deepest Regret Is that tio
Win Have to Ask for Time to
Repair Challenger.
SIR THOMAS LIPTONS STATEMENT.
Miraculous There Was No Loss Of Life
Nor Anyone Hurt.
HIS MAJESTY wASAS BRAVE ASA LION

Southampton. May 22.--The most dramatic
Incident in the history OF Americas cup oc-
Cured today when sudden squall com.
pletcly wrecked the new challenger aud en-.
dnngered the life OF King Edward and aev-
erol distinguished persons Including Sir
Thomas Upton The results OF this dsas.
ter. which could scarcely reour without
great loss OF life, can best be judged by the
written statement made tonight by Sin
Thomns Upton to a representative of thu
Associated Press, as follows:
MY deepest regret Is that today's acci-
dent prevents me from toelng the mark AZ
the appointed hour and compels me to ask
the New York club to grant me an exten.
sion OF time, If they viii be good enough;
Ii not | shall have to race, even IL I have
to build a boat, OH the date agreed upon
The Shamrock II was boat worthy to be
challenger. and when this unfortunate
chapter OF accidents comes TO an end she
will stand good chance of lifting the cup.
| have not n single complaint to make
against my bort
For the many kilograms OF sympathy
received from America today ! am deeply
grateful. No one Is more thankful than I
nm that the catastrophe ended without ca.
lnmity, and | might perhaps say that
through the trying moments his majesty
was as brave rs lion. His first thought
was TO Inquire II any one was Injured
Thomas Upton
The Shamrock has been reduced to a pitt
full wreck, she now lies or Hythe. The
story of the catastrophe Ia best told by Sir
Thomas himself who gave the following
Interview TO the Associated Press:
We had just begun to make for the
starting line when a fierce breeze spraug
up. King Edward, Lady Londonderry, Mrs.
Jameson, Mr.. Watson, Mr., Jameson ana
myself were on deck hanging on rs hest
| We might for the challenger was almost
at an angle of a. degrees, The king start
ed to 60 below. Just as he did So every
| thing collapsed wire rope struck me on
| the head and momontarly stunned me.
sudden squat, an unexpected strain ana
everything had given way. King Edward
WAS hRlf In and half out OF the companion
hatchway. Why the falling spars anu
sweeping did not kill or sweep some. one
overheard is more than ] know When |
came TO | saw the king clamberfng ever
the wreckage, trying 10 discover the ex-
tent Of the damage and asking is any enc
hurt p"
The reporter OF the Associated Press fur
ther learned TINT Sir Thomas nrst Mt
terance on coming TO was this ardent al.
jurstion to Mr. Mr.. Watson "relegraPs for
H. and the boat has got to do IT."
When the distinguished party had been
safely transferred to the Erin, the kings
first remark was: When shall we sail next
again, Liptong" and before his majesty
started for London his last words TO Sir
Thomas were: when you next sail, am
going with your
In fact the ruler of the British empire
seemed keeniy 10 enjoy the unusual danger
into which his love of sport had led him.
Mr.. Watson and Mr.. Jameson especially
the former, are very dowucast and abso-
lutely refuse to say anything. Mr.. Watson.
indeed, IL so chagrined that he would
scarcely talk to even his most intimate
| friends aud until after dinner on board
| the Erin Sir Thomas believed II would be
| impossible To contest for the cup this year.
! But thanks TO his indomitahlc persever-
ance, backed by King Edwards optimism
and enthusiasm In support. he said he
would 60 ahead provided the New York
| Yacht club would grant the time. The
challenger's true merit has been dis
| played with too much vigor and he thinks
| there was more In her than meets the eye.
| SIR Thomas calculates that n delay OF three
weeks or month IN the date for the con
! test In American waters win enable him
| 10 come TO the scratch, He says that he
! is greatly handicapped by the fact that ne
, has no duplicate masts for the Shamrock
| RI. hut by an unlimited expenditure OF
money and energy he believes the defects
can be remedled In time 10 prepare for the
| annual race this year.