The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-17
THE CHALLENGER
IS DISMASlED
Shamrock III. Struck a Sudden
squall Of Wind To-day and
Dismasted.
s.: Thomas Upton Knocked Down
a Hatchway but Not Badly
Hurt.
One Man Drowned-But the Sham
rock Will Be Ready for
the Race.

Weymouth Eng, April 17.--sir Thomas |
Upton informed the correspondent or the |
Associated Press that he expects to be |
ready to fulfil his engagement off Sandy |
Hook, Aug. 20.
Weymouth, Eng, April 17.-Sir Thomas
Lipton's new challenger for the America S |
cup was dismasted in squall to-day
shortly after leaving this harbor prepara
tory to another trial spin with Sham
rock I.
Her mast as it fell over the side, car
red several of the crew and all the gear
and canvas overheard.
| One man was drowned and several per-
sons, including Sir Thomas, who was
! knocked down a hatchway, were bruised
or otherwise injured. The man who was
drowned was a brother law of Captain
Wrnge. He was handing binocular glass
to Sir Thomas at the time he was swept
overheard. One of Sir Thomass hands
was injured, but not seriously:
The yachts were maneuvering in the
roa dstead under mainsails, jbs, foresails
and gaff topsails prior to the start.
strong northeast breeze was blowing but
! it was not of the nature of a gale. The
boat seemed to carry the sails we'll, as
they fetched out from the shelter of the
breakwater Shamrock III. 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.
Before the start, Sir Thomas Upton,
Ratsey the sailnaker and Colonel Shar-
man Crawford vice-commodore OF the
Royal Ulster Yacht club, boarded the chal-
enger. She made a magnificent picture
as, under her cloud OF canvas, sne droVe
past Nothead.
A Sudden squali Of Wind.
The Erin had taken up position to
send the boats away, round a triangular
course, and everything seemed to promise
a fine race The Shamrock III. then made
a. short run on the port tack dragging
through a heavy squall with her lee decks
aWash.
At about 1O:4O a. M, when nearly a
mile off shore, she went about on the star
board tack to stand up to cross the line
when a sudden gust OF wind sweeping out
=" of Weymouth bay struck the yacht and
completely dismantled her. The weather
rigging screws of her main shrouds We're
carried away, and with the spar sails and
gearing fell in confused mass OF wreck
1 age The yachts decks We're 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.
Deprived of it's chief support the i'm
: mense steel, tubular mast swayed Tor a
fraction Of a second and went overheard,
creating general havoc as 1t fell.
Man Named Collier Drowned.
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, a brother-in-
! law Of Captain Wringe.
s Collier at the moment Of the accident
$ was handing a binocular glass to Sir
i Thomas Liptcn and still had the glass in
: : his hand when he was struck by some OF
Il the tumbling gear and knocked overheard
The rattle Of blocks and wire rope on
8 the metal deck Of the boat drowned al
e other sounds for the time. The lul
u which followed was broken by sharp or
:, der from Captain Wrlnge to get away 8
IL boat. The captains self possession spur.
y red the crew to instant action and boat
:: was shot overheard, manned and started
y to search for Collier. Boats were also
" dropped from the Shamrock I. and Erir
s and in couple Of minutes these were al
" heading for the scene of the accident
" Collier, however, never reappeared.
" Clearing away the wreckase was quite
r. a difficult task owing to the nature Of thu
spars and gear.
The Erin passed a line to the wrecked
yacht and steadied her to give all the
| aid necessary. Sir Thomas, who was ex
y tremely distressed by the fatality and the
injury to the yacht, said in an Interview
- that the accident occurred absolutely
without warning and much more quickly
y than when the Shamrock II. was similarl!
:, dismantled in the Solent.
~ Just as a race between the Shanrocl
Al II, and the Shamrock I. and the Sybarits
~ was being started in the Solent off South
81 ampton, England, May %, 1901, sudde1
.e squall struck the yachts broadside on
D The topmast Of the Shamrock H. was car
l. ried away and then her mainmast went b.
= the board, carrying all her sails with
and leaving her practically a wreck. TIL
Shamrock I. was also considerably dam
aged No one was injured on board eithe
Of the yachts, but King Edward, who wa
on the Shamrock H., had narrow escape
The Hull Not Damaged.
The hull of the Shamrock III. was nc
damaged. The mast when 1t went over
board went solid. There was at tha
= time only one break which was abou
seven feet above the deck. AS the bi
spar with it's weight of canvas becam
e. heavier owing to the water in it the mas
again buckled it's head going down till
rested ON the bottom. It is believed
will be comparatively easy to repair tt
mast but a whole suit Of canvas Is il
retrievably ruined. ", ~. ....,
Barges with crane were soon on tt
! spot to raise the broken mast after whic
I'll the Shamrock III. will be taken to HI
moorings inside the breakwater. -.
Sir Thomas had a narrow escape. +
was thrown down the hatchWay with
sailor and fell with such force as to bres
a.. rSpep 10 1T