The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-17
Disaster Occurred Just as
the New and Old Chal-~
Iengers Were Starting Out
for a Trial Spin at Sea.
Nothing But the Mere Hulk
ofthe Pride ofIreIand Now
RemainS-DateS for Races
May Be Postponed.

WEYMOUTH. England. april lip
/ tons luck, which is fast becoming
proverbial, overlook the Irish baronet's
new challenger of here this morning,
and the yacht was badly damaged. She
was practically dismasted and disman-
tied. Sir Thomas was aboard when the
accident occurred and sustained several
bruises. though his injuries are not in
any way serious. Collier, the yachts
ste17ard. was drowned.
The two yachts, Shamrock and Sham
rock III. had started out for trial
spin in Weymouth Bay They were
scudding along at good pace. with a
strong northerIy wind blowing The new
I challenger was fast showing her heels
to the old boat. and had put half a mile
Of clear water behind her.
The shippers OF the two yachts had
/ confidence in the wea her and both had
+. up their number two backyard topsafis.
/ and in tacking out OF the harbor the
challenger had her headsails and main
/ sail Up. the Shamrock waiting TO break
out her sJaysai until she reached the
open.
a marked Improvement was shown in
i the setting OF the cIiaIIenger's mainsaf,
which lay sweetly along the foo5. and
7 lad Iost the baggy slaekness up the
leach At about 1895 both yachts were
shet into the wind to take the last or
The party aboard Then they continued
/ on short tacks toward the Erin with the
+ view o. making an opening OF the trial.
Everybody was convinced thar the con-
( 81
| breeze. while Of a heavy texture. was NOT
/ 50 free or variable as that of yesterday.
/ As in the case of the accident 10 he
Shamrock Il. Two years ago. the specta-
] tcrs somehow were filed with a sense OF
impending disaster
Mast Snaps on.
+ The new challenger had Just gone
about on port tack. when a sudden
/ squan swept down on her. kneeling her
/ over until from the shore ii looked IS
! tnough she was going to capsize. as her
+ entire deck was visible from Weymouth
/ EspIanade Before she could right her
/ self another pun caught her and her
/ weather rigging and the screws o. TIE
main shrouds gave way under the strain.
I Her mast toppIed over. breaking Oft six
+ feet above the deck Several OF the
/ crew were working on the mast when It
fell
The v-reckage vas not torn or sepa-
rated 1t all hung over the port side
+ Without delay a barge was ordered 70
/ Iut the masthead and TOW The entangled
heap into the harbor as soon as urae-
ticable The port where the challenger
viii be ro-aired has no. yet been de-
iermincd
The Drowned Sailor.
The drowned sailor was man by ths--
name Of Collier He was brother-fn-
law OF Captain Wringe. the skipper Of
+ the Shamrock III
/ Several gentlemen vine were aboard
the challenger when the accident hap
pened were interviewed as 10 the de-
tails OF The mishap, They said, in eE-
+ feet that Il terrific squau broke with
. suddenness that literally swept every
one on board OF his balance The col
lapse o. the yachts rigging, and The
mast vas all bat instantaneous II
was all over within an amazingly short
period of Fime.
The accident was caused by the wealth
er rigging screws OF tire main shrouds
giving away
ST. Thomas Kealsd Over.
Sir Thomas L.3tou was standing near
the gauswav. and Collier. the sailor who
s,as drowned vas handing him a binocu-
lar as The mast Ieu Collier was swept
clean overheard Sir Thomas Upton was
Knocked down the hatehvaT. and was
considerable bruised Vice Commodore