The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-12-28

Born Asgow. of Irish parents. with
| Yankee trainings.
Is, therefore, a cosmopolitan by birth, but
| a sailor from choice.
| In England he is regarded as an English
man, in Ireland as an Irishman.
In the United States he is thought to
good enough TO be an American.
His first words were: There's many a
lip between the cup and the slip. but Wen
kiss it through yet"
These words were supposed to have some
occult reference to the tea business at
the moment they We're uttered.
Subsequent events proved the impression
| to be erroneous.
| His early infancy was passed in Glasgow
and in Ireland, in one of which he required
J the habit of persistence.
In the other he made himself u master
of Blarney.
He kissed the stone before and after each
meal six days Of every week for ten sue
| cesSive years.
His attention to the Americas Cup was
fis attracted by the story told of the
Queen. who, upon asking who was second
in the International Yacht Race. was as
sured that there was no second
IF I'd had a yacht then" cried the little
Upton when he heard this story. there
would have been q second, and a blooming
good one at that"
1t is believed that at this moment his am
bition was formed to build a yacht some
day which should cross the sea and at least
come in secord. 4 not sooner, in a cup
contest.
1t is known for q fact that very shortly
after he went into the tea business.
He did not do this through any taste for
tea, but because 1t was the one in which
he thought he might more quickly realize
profits of sufficient magnitude to pay for q
yacht.
A. Tho aga Of O SfartS rbrea small corner
groceries,. one in Dublin, another in Glas-
gov and a third in London, where he sold
Lipton's teas, picked oysters, dried ap-
pies, butter. eggs and Connecticut cigars.
So successful were these ventures that
five years later he had increased his bust
ness with Il chain of corner groceries reach
ing from Iceland out to the Himalayas,
thence southwark to Pretoria. across the
sea to Peru, and by easy stages northward
to Chicago, Ill.
To such proportions had the business
grown in 1895 that he Incorporated 1t into
the Unlimited Upton Company, dealers in
tea, yachts, high balls and other sporting
goods.
This he sold out to his shareholders. re-
tanning, however. j controlling interest for
his own use.
Being now the possessor of an income
of between s25 and $50 a week, he en-
barked in yachting as a serious pursuit.
and constructed Shamrock ].
She was a Swimming dish of considerable
speed, fitted with nickel-plated lee hatch
ways, FURNISHED copper miZzen stern posts.
gilt cardboard strakes and other speed con-
tributing factors. which were deemed in
vincible.
The New York Yacht Club. holding the
Americas Cup as trustee under the deed
of gift for Thomas w. Lawson of Boston,
was challenged, and a successful series of
races with the American yacht Columbia
was had.
The Shamrock amply fulfilled expectations
by coming in second in three successive
trial heats.
THAT'S an Improvement" said Sir Thorn
as, then just plain Mr. Upton
In the first race there was no second.
We've crept up a peg or two on that"
Returning to England, the distinguished
yachtsman was created a baronet for his
services to the Royal Ulster Yacht Club. d
reward which spurred him on to further
effort. which resulted in the Shamrock IL.
This vessel consisted of a solid silver
keel. an aluminium bowsprit. a steel mast
and a rudder, with a small platform at the
rear for the crew and guests.
She figured in history by dropping her
mast on the toes of King Edward upon
her trial trip, but as his Majesty happened
to be wearing his sea legs at the time no
harm was done.
In the autumn of 1901 the Shamrock III.
was beaten by the Columbia In three trials.
hv the Indepe ndenCe in a dice box match
held in the yacht club house at Swamp
scott. Mass, and by the Monmouth. Sandy
Hook CITY of Lowell and other Sound and
unsound steamers
challenged by the Joy line ~ short over
land dash from He'll Gate to Rye. n. Y,
SIR Thomas declined the honor and returned
to England.
Again. in honor of his achievement. he
was knishted by King Edward. thus becOm-
ing two kniehts-a fact which led Lord Dun
rayen iealously TO observe that II he kept
on long enough they'd probably make a
week of him..
since that time Sir Thomas has been en-
gagged upon the construction of Shamrock,
hi. the plans of which are not at hand.
They probably will consist merely of a
diamond studded centerboard. with Il hollow
aluminium mast set in the upper main gal
liant forecastle. in which the crew Will be
placed, there being no ether place on board
his Yacht large enough to accommodate
them.
Shamrock III. will probably come by mail
and should arrive here in August of next
year.
Unless she IS defeated by the defending
yach, she will take the cup back to England
to be replated in time for its return two
wears later. in which event Sir Thomas
will be elevated to the peerage as Lord
Ooiong OF Ceylon.
Authors of Letters of a Dead Game
Snort" The Boss Loser: or. chagriued Yet
Grirnirg' and The Confessions Of a Tea
Totaler."
TTpon his retirement from yachting will
probably succeed Andrew Carnegie as Lord
! Rector of Edinburgh University. for which