The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1903-04-25
LOST HER BIG MAST.
Lipton's New Cup Challenger DAM
aged In Squall.
she IL Damaged and One of Her
Crew IL Drowned-sir Thorn
a. Upton 10 Slightly
Injured.

Weymouth, England, April lo.-Slr
Thomas Lipton's new challenger for
the Americas cup was dismasted in o
squall Friday, shortly after leaving this
harbor preparatory to another trial
spin with the Shamrock /. Her mast
as il fell over the side carried several
of the crew and all the gear and can
vas overheard. One man was drowned
and several persons, including Sir
Thomas, who was knocked down
hatchway, were bruised or otherwise
injured. The man who was drowned
was brother-in-law of Capt. Wringe.
The yachts were maneuvering in the
roadstead under main sails, jibs, fore
| sails and gaff topsails prior to the start.
A strong northeast breeze was blowing,
but there was nothing in the nature of
gale. The boats seemed to carry their
| racing sails well as they fetched out
| from the shelter of the breakwater,
| the Shamrock III. leading on tack out
seward apparently with the intention
of testing the strength of the wind out
side. The breeze had just weight
enough to keep her lee rail Tipping.
At about 10:40 a. m, when nearly
| mile off shore, she went about on the
| starboard tack to stand up to cross the
line, when sudden gust of wind sweep
ing out of Weymouth bay struck the
yacht and completely dismantled her.
The weather rigging screws of her
main shrouds and her mast carried
away close to the deck and with it went
her spars, sails and gearing in con-
/ -
decks were crowded with Sir Thomas
Lipton's guests, officers and men and
it 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. Fortunately most
| of the tremendous weight Of the gear
fell clear of the deck, as otherwise the
disaster must have been multiplied
threefold. AS it was only one life was
lost, that of a member of the crew
named Collier, brother-in-law of
Capt. Wringe. Collier at the moment
of the accident was landings 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 knocked overheard. The rattle of
blocks and wire ropes on the metal
deck of the boat drowned all other
sounds for the time. The lull which
followed was broken by sharp order
from Capt. Wringe to get away boat.
The captains self-possession spurred
| A.
was shot overheard manned and start
ed to search for Collier. Boats were
also dropped from the Shamrock !. and
Erin, and in couple of minutes these
were all heading for the scene of the
accident. Collier, however, never re-
appeared number of others were in
iured by falling gear. but none was seri-
ously hurt. Sir Thomas was knocked
down a hatchway and one of his hands
was injured. but not seriously.
The hull of the Shamrock III was not
damaged. The mast when il went over
board went solid. There was at that
I. time only one break, which was about
seven feet above the deck. As the big
spar with it's weight of canvas became
heavier owing to the water in it, the
mast again buckled, it's head going
down till II rested on the bottom. 1t
is believed it will be comparatively easy
to repair the mast, but whole suit of
canvas is irretrievably ruined.
VIII Not Delay Races.
Sir Thomas Upton informed CORE
spondent of the press that he expects
to be ready to fulfill his engagement
off Sandy Hook August 20. "The whole
thing" said Sir Thomas, twas so sud-
den that / have not yet had time to
realize the full extent of the damage.
/ heard only ripping sound forward
and then the whole structure wavered.
While it was still swaying l was
knocked down the hatchway and
through the flooring. When / scram-
bled on deck again the whole catastro-
phe was over. The accident will posi-
bly, delay us a month, but l cannot say
until / see Fife, who is already on his
way here"
"My INJURIES" added Sir Thomas.
"are painful. ! was badly shaken up
by the fall and have severely
smashed hand. but everything Is in
significant compared with the loss OF
poor Collier, who has been contin-
uously in my service since the time
of the first Shamrock. You can re-
build yacht, but you can't replace
man."
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 lse-
lin, Lewis Cass Ledyard, Clement ~.
Griscom, Commodore Bourne, Com
modore Adams, Countess of Shaftes-
bury. who christened the Shamrock
ILL.,, the American society in London.
and many others.
Agree on Wage Scale.
Huntington, W. Va, April 1S.-The