Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-04-18
WRECKED BY A sQuAll
,,oroN,s NEW CUP CHALLENGED
pisMAsTEO AND OTHER
WISE DAMAGED.
ONE OF THE CREW BROWNS

Broken Mast and One Of Them Per.
;shes Before Assistance Reaches
uim-sir Thomas 10 Knocked Down
Hatchway and Narrowly Escapes
Serious Injury.
WEYMOUTH, April 1S.-Sir Thomas
1ipton's new challenger for the Amer
ica's cup was dlsmasted In q squall
duriug the day, shortly after leaving
this harbor preparatory to another
trial spin with the Shamrock l. Her
mast as it fell over the side carried
several of the crew and all the gear
and canvas overheard. One man was
drowned and several persons. includ.
ing Sir Thomas, who was knocked
down a hatchway, were bruised or
otherwise injured. The man who was
drowned was brother-in-law of Cap
tain Wringe. He was handing a
binocular glass to Sir Thomas at the
time he was swept overheard. One
Of Sir Thomas hands was injured, but
not seriously.
The yachts were maneuvering In the
roadstead under mainsails. jibs, fore
sails and gaff topsails prior to the
start strong northeast breeze was
blowing but it was not OF the nature
OF a gale The boats seemed to carry
their racing sails well as they fetched
out from the shelter of the break
water, the Shamrock Ill. leading on a
tack out seaward, apparently with the
intention OF testing the strength Of
the wind outside. The breeze had just
weight enough to keep her lee rail
Tipping.
AT about 10: 40 a. m, when nearly a
mile of shore, she went about on the
starboard tack to stand up to cross the
lire, when sudden gust of wind
sweeping out Of Weymouth bay struck
the yacht and completely dismantled
her The weather rigging screws Of
her main shrouds and her mast car
red 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 Lipton's guests, officers and
men. and 1t seemed impossible that
the disaster was not attended by seri-
Gus loss of life. Deprived of its chief
support the immense steel tubular
mast swayed for a fraction of sec
ond and went overheard. creating gen
eral havoc as 1t fell
Calamity Sudden and Unexpected.
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
iell clear of the deck. as otherwise the
disaster must have been multiplied
threefold.
Clearing away the wreckage was
quite difficult task. owing to the ma
lure OF the spars and gear.
The Erin passed q line to the
wrecked yacht and stood by her to give
all the aid necessary. Sir Thomas
who was extremely distressed by the
fatality and the injury to the yacht
SAID IN an interview that the accident
occurred absolutely without warning
ana much more quicker than when the
shamrock II. was similarly dismantlet
IN the Solent.
The hull Of the Shamrock Ill. was
to' damaged. The mast. when it wen'
overheard, went solid. There was al
mat time only one break. which was
Spout several feet above the deck. A
!ne big spar with its weight Of canvas
became heavier owing to the water il
II The mast again buckled its head
gong down till it rested on the bot
.om. 1t Is believed 1t will be com
paratively easy to repair the mast, bu
whole suit Of canvas is irretrievabl!
ruined.
Barges with Q crane were soon OF
tae spot to raise the broken mast
.l,er which the Shamrock III. will b
taken to her m00rings inside the break
water
Sir Thomas Upton had q narrow es
cape He was thrown into the hatct
way with . sailor and fell with sue
force as to break the board fOorin
covering the tank.
Later In the day Sir Thomas Lii
ION Informed the correspondent 4
.ne Associated Press that he expect
70 De ready to fulfill his engagement
on SANDY un~A A.