Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-04-18
DISMAsTED.
Shamrock III Wrecked by
SquaII During Trial Race.
One Man Drowned and Sir Thomas
Upton Slightly Injured.
Sir Thomas Says He Will Be on Hand,
Aug. 20.

tune winch seems TO have pursued
Shamrock Ill eliminated, today, in q
gust of wind which dismasted her and
leaves the beautiful challenger lying.
tonight, helpless wreck in Portland
harbor. The accident will necessitate
delay certainly Of a month and prob
ably of six weeks in the challenger s
sailing for America, but Sir Thomas
Upton said to The Associated Press
correspondent. tonight, that the acct
dent would not be allowed to interfere
with her presence at New York in
time for the cup races.
My INJURIES added Sir Thomas,
ARE painful. 1 was badly shaken by
the fall and have a severely smashed
hand, but everything is insignificant
compared with the loss of poor Col
lier, Ga brother in-law of Capt. Wringe,
who was killed in the Academy who
has been continuously in my service
since the time of the first Shamrock.
You can rebuild yacht, but you can't
replace a man.
Tht loss of the seaman, Collier, cast
a gloom over those on board Sir Thorn
as Lipton's steam yacht Erin, tonight,
but the sentiment of the crew was
unanimous in expressing relief that it
was not 1.-The governor
Sir Thomas Upton is the recipient
of over 200 kilograms of sympathy.
King Edward wired his regret at the
injury to Sir Thomas Upton and his
grief at the loss of life. Messages were
also received from the Prince of Wales,
Baron Knollys, c. oliver Iselin, Lewis
Cass Ledyard, Clement A. Griscom,
~ H..
Adams, Countess Shafterbury, who
christened the Shamrock III, the Amer
lean Society in London, and many
others.
The Prince of Wales telegraphed
from Sandringham that he was very
distressed by the news and hoped that
the injured were doing well. The King
sent message of cympathy to Col
lier's family.
Sir Thomas Upton informed The As
ISOLATED Press correspondent that he
had already wired orders for new sails
and they We're now under way. Ev-
erything, however, would depend upon
Designer Flies verdict. He will de-
eide what is to be done and what al
teration, if any, are necessary.
Il do not think" said Sir Thomas,
that there is anything structurally
wrong with the challenger or that it
will be necessary to change anything
or alter the trim of the boat. The
accident was due to weakness in the
minor rigging, which wrecked every
thing"
The story of the disaster shows that
when the boats started in the morn
ing there was nothing to scare the most
cautious skipper. Club topsails were
accordingly set on both. Outside the
breeze was steady, while beating in
shore it was more squally but the chal-
lenger carried it handsomely. While
making a tack on the port, hard
squat struck her. Capt. Wringe gave
her few spokes of the wheel to huff,
but finding she stood it well he paid off
and raced her at pace she had never
before attained. Shes went half mile
at this record pace and then hove about
to come to the starting line on the
starboard. A lighter squall took her
as she paid off. She filled, gathered
way and shot forward. The catastro-
rhe was so sudden that it was over
before those aboard realized that there
was the slightest danger. Spectators
whose eyes naQ Deen mOmentdTlly
turned away looked again to find, in
stead of the queen racer, helpless
wreck.
Generally speaking the yacht and gear
were quite fit to stand all racing strain.
The whole accident originated in an I'M
suspected flaw in a turnbuckle eye, piece
of steel little thicker than mans thumb.
Possibly the strains were calculated too
fine. In any case. one turnbuckle going
the others followed instantaneously, de-
priving the mast of it's chief support, the
weather shrouds. No spar ever built or
grown could stand unsupported to this
press OF canvas, much less the light steel
shell to which Mr.. Fife trusted it. The
mast snapped off and. fortunately. fell
clear or there might have been heavy
loss of life. 1t is surmised that the sea-
man. Collier, was crossing the deck at the
time. after leaving Sir Thomas Upton,
and lost his balance at the lurch of the
boat
The mast is now in four pieces. 1t will
be impossible to repair it. but most Of the
rigging was duplicated beforehand, so that
CONTINUED on pare ~