Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-17
SHAMROCK HARD HIT
New Challenger's Decks
Swept Clean.
OUT IN A SQUALL
GEAR, MAST AND SAILS CARRIED
AWAY.
Sir Thomas Upton Knocked DowA
Hatchway and Slightly Injured
One Man Drowned.

WEYMOUTH. England, April 17.-sir
Thomas Lipton'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 /. Her mast. as 1t 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 In
jured. The man who was drowned was q
brother-in-law of Capt. 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 tho
roadstead under mainsails jibs, foresails
and gan topsails prior to the start. A
strong northeast breeze was blowing but
there was nothing in the nature of a 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 a tack out seaward ap-
parently with the intention of testing the
strength Of the wind outside.
The breeze had just weight enough to
keep her lee rail dipping.
Details of the Accident
Before the start Sir Thomas Upton, Rat
sey, the sailmaker, and Col. Sharman CraW-
ford, vice commodore Of the Royal Ulster
Yacht Club. boarded the challenger. which
made a magnificent picture as, under her
cloud Of canvas, she drove past Nothe
Head. The Erin had taken UP a position to
send the boats away, round a triangular
course, and everything seemed to promise q
fine race. The Shamrock Ill then made q
short board on the port tack, dragging
through heavy squau with her lee decks
awash. ,.-s--
At about 1O:40 am. when nearly a mile
off shore, she went about on the starboard
tack to stand up to cross the line, when
sudden gust Of wind sweeping out OF Wey-
mouth bay struck the yacht and completely
dismantled her. The weather rigging
screws Of her main shrouds gave way ana
her mast carried away close to the deck.
and with 1t went her spars, sails and gear
ing in a confused mass of wreckage. The
yachts decks were crowded with 1ir
Thomas LiptOns guests, officers and men,
and 1t seemed almost impossible that the
disaster was not attended by serious loss OF
Hfe = - -.
The hull Of the Shamrock HI was not
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 tts
weight of canvas became heavier owing to
the water in 1t, the mast again buckled it9
head going down till 1t rested on the bot
tom. 1t is believed 1t will be comparatively
easy to repair the mast, but a whole suit
of canvas is trretrievably ruined.
BargeS with a crane were soon on the
spot to raise the broken mast, after which
the Shamrock III will be taken to her moor
ings inside the breakwater.
Sir Thomas had narrow escape. He was
thrown down the hatchway with sailor,
and fell with such force as to break the
board flooring covering the tank.
Calamity Came Suddenly.
So sudden was the calamity that the
yacht lay wrecked and helpless before those
on board of her well realized what had hap
pened. Fortunately most of the tremendous
weight of the gear fell clear Of the deck, as
otherwise the disaster must have been null
ti2lied tenfold
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 selfpossession
boat was shot overheard. manned and
started to search for Collier. Boats were also
dropped from the Shamrock I and Erin
and in a couple of minutes these were ali
heading for the scene of the accident. Col
lfer. however, never reappeared. A num-
Der of others were injured by falling gear,
but none was seriously hurt.
Clearing away the wreckage was quite a
d1fncult task, owing to the nature of the
spars and gear. The Erin passed line to
the wrecked yacht, and stood by her to
give ali the alQ necessary. Sir ThomaS,
who was extremely distressed by the ia
tality 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
was similarly dismantled in the Solent
"The whole thing" said Sir Thomas to
the correspondent of the Associated Press.
was 80 sudden that 1 have not yet had
time to req lize the full extent of the dam
age. l heard only ripping sound forward
and then the whole structure wavered
While 1t was still swaying I was knocked
down the hatchway and through the floor
Ing. When scrambled on deck again the
whole catastrophe was over. The accident
will possibly delay us month, but can
not say until see Fife, who is already on
his way here"
Col. D. F. Neill. the representative of Sir
Thomas on board the Shamrock I, attrib-
uted the accident solely to the unsuspected
weakness Of one of the rigging screws. He
did not think there was any evidence Of in
sufficient strength in the mast. The Erins
doctor reported that the injuries of the men
were slight.
81