The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-04-22
LIPTQN'S SHAMROCK DAMAGED.
Struck by squalI and Sails Car:
ried AWay.

Sir Thomas Upton S new challenger
for the Americas cup was dismasted IN
a squall today, shortly after leaving
| this harbor preparatory to another
| trial spin with the Shamrock l. Her
mast, as it fell over the sides, carried
several of the crew and gear and can
vas overheard. One man was drowned
and several persons, including Sir
Thomas, who was knocked down a
hatchway, were bruised or otherwise
injured.
The yachts were manoeuvering in
the roadstead under main sails. llbs,
foresails and gaf stopsails prior to
the start. A strong northeast breeze
was blowing but there was nothing in
the nature of gale. The boats seem
ed to carry their racing sails we'll as
they fetched out from the shelter of
the breakwater, the Shamrock III
| leading on q tack out seaWard apparent
II With the intention of testing the
strength of the wind outside.
Before the start Sir Thomas Upton,
Ratzy, the sailmaker, and Col. Shar-
man Crawford, vice commodore of
the. Royal Ulster Yacht Club, boarded
the challenger, which made a magnih-
cent picture as, under her cloud of
canvas, she drove past Nothe Head.
When nearly a mile off shore, a sud
den gust Of wind sweeping out of Wey-
mouth bay struck the yacht and com
pletely dismantled her. The weather
rigging screws of her main shrouos
gave way and her mast carried away
close to the deck and with it went her
spars, sails and gearing in confused
mass of Wreckage. The yachts decks
were crowded with Sir Thomas Lip
toms guests, officers and men and 1t
seemed impossible that the disaster
was not attended by serious loss of life.
So sudden was the calamity that
the yacht lay, wrecked and helpless,
before those on board of her well
realized what had happened. For
tunately most of the tremendous
weight of the gear fell clear Of the
deck, as otherwise the disaster must
have been multiplied tenfold. AS it
was only one life was lost, that of
member of the crew named Collier,
brother-in-law of Capt. Wringe.
Collier at the moment of the accident
was handing binocular glass to Sir
Thomas Upton and still had the glass
in his hand when he was struck by
some of the tumbling gear and knock
ed overheard.
The lull which followed was broken
by a sharp order from Capt. Wringe
to get away boat. A boat was shot
| overheard, manned and started to
search for Collier. Boats were also
dropued from the Shamrock / and
Erin. Collier, however, never reap
peared. A number Of others were in
| iured by falling gear, but none was
seriously hurt. Sir Thomas was knock
ed down a hatchway and one of his
hands was injured but not seriously,
The Erin passed a line to the wreck
ed yacht and stood by her to give all
| the aid necessary. Sir Thomas, who
was extremely distressed by the fatal
ty and the injury to the yacht, said IN
an interview that the accident occurred
absolutely without warning, and much
more quickly than when the Shamrock
II vas similarly dismantled IN the
| Soleat.
The hull of tie Shamrock III was
nos damaged. The mast when 1t Went
overheard went solid. There was at
that time only one break, which was
about seven feet above the deck. AS
the big spar with its weight of canvas
became heavier owing to the water
| in it, the mast again buckled it's head
going down till it rested on the bot
| tom. It is believed it will be com
paratively easy to repair the mast but
a whole suit Of canvass is lrretrlev-
ably ruined.
Sir Thomas bad narrow escape. He
was thrown down the hatchway with
a sailor and fell with such force as to
break the board flooring covering the
tank.
Sir Tboms Upton informed the cor
repsondent of the Associated Press
| that be expects to fulfill his engage
ment of Sandy Hook on Aug. 20.