The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-03
First Accident of the Kind Re
corded in the History of Amer
lean Ninety-Footers.
CONSTITUTION HAS MlsHAP.
Reliance Sails Over the Course in
Remarkably Fast Time, he
Last Ten-Mile Leg Break
ing All the Records.

Newport Il. l., July 2.-Tor the first time
il. the history of American nincty-fuotors
fatal accident occurred to-day.
Carl Il. Olsen. n seaman on the cup de-
fender Columbia, was washed from the
bowsprit just before the yacht reached the
first turn in tu-day's race and was drowned.
When the yacht lifted from the big wave
irto which she had plunged Olsen was seen
almost under the stem, ciingins to the bow
spirit, but before assistance could be given
him the sloop dropped into another great
comber. and he was not seen afterwards.
Captain Miller of the Columbia thinks
that Olsen was struck by the overhanS of
the craft. as it came smashing down and
Knocked him inseEsible.
The Columbia came into the wind Instant
". Two life buoys we're thrown into the
water and the tender was put overheard as
quickly as possible. Two men jumped into
the tender and rowed around for twenty
minutes ready to pick Olsen up if he came
to the surface Three sailors swarmcd UP
the mast and watched closely from the
spreaders for some signs Of the unfortu-
nate man. hut without success. out of re-
spect to the dead man. the Columbia with
drew from the race.
At 3 o'clock tonight the committee posted
the following bulletin at the ciun station:
The Newport series for 9O-footers will not
be finished
There will he no more racing until the
yachts start on the New York Yacht Club
| cruise.
MISHAP TO CONSTITUTION.
To-day race was also marred 10y mis-
| hap TO the Constitution. Soon after the start
| she carried away the jaws of her gaif. and
| the great steel spar, swinging forward,
| bucked in the center.
| The mainsail was ripped clear across sew
eral times and rendered practically worth
| less. 1t was the best mainsail the boat had
spread this season. and was the third that
| had been tried this year.
The Reliance received the seyerest buff
| fet!ng she has had since being launched
| The sea was Il terrific. one for racing
| yachts. and when The yacht reached her
moorings il was noticed thai she had a biz;
dent five feet long in the plating close to
| tatiun was sirnilar to that the Constitution
| sustained two years ago.
| The Reliance sailed splHndiiiy in .o-day'S
] event. The wind blew more than twenty
| miles an hour. and all three yachts found
| that they could not even carry small work
! ing topsails TO windwlrd. SO they went off
| under the three lower sails only.
| It was the StiffeSt breeze and hardest sea
| that the boats have been out in since the
| seasons racing began. aud had there been
| triangular course would have been cut down
| considerably. As it was the Reliance with
| no craft 10 push her and wi y Only a num-
| bcr one jiAtonsal hoisted in addition to the
| three lower sails. came to the finish lire
| from the second turn in fGrty-seycs min
utcS ten seconds. the fastest ton-tnile leg
| ever sailed.
The rigging ard spars of the Reliance
| went through the test in splendid style. not
! 4 strand Of wire being started