The Sun and the New York herald., 1920-07-25
Upton REGRETS
DELAY IN RACE
Changes His Views Later
When Told There Might Have
Been Loss of Life.
CONFERS WITH ADVISERS
Skipper Of Challenger Leaves
Wife AshOre-Jersey Pilot
Has Row and Quits.

BIZ staff Correspondent Of THE Sun ASD
NEw YoRK HEHALp,
Ok BOARD STEAM YACHT VICTORIA,
July 24.--Shamrock missed a golden
opportunity to lift the Cup to-day, in
the opinion Of Sir Thomas Liptons
friends on the Victoria. Sir Thomas
himself shared this view until he was
persuaded by his skipper, Capt will
lam p. Burton, that 1t would be
matter of life and death to race in
such weather. .
Immediately after the postponement
Cir Thomas called a conference of his
board of racing strategy in a private
cabin on his steam yacht, which had
run down to Shanrock's anchorage In
side the Horseshoe. For two hours he
was closeted with his advisers, Skipper
Burton, Charles f. Nicholson, Col.
Duncan Neill and Capt. Diaper Of the
2S-meter trial Shamrock.
After the conference broke up Sham
rocks owner seemed in better humor.
He made the following statement to the
newspapermen:
When the committee boat signalled
DO you want the race called Off? Sham
rock and Resolute at once agreed. I
have asked Shamrock's captain and 9TH
ers about IL and they said they con-
Isidered 1t perfectly right. 1t was not
matter of spars and sails, but OF loss
Of life. They said there was certain
danger Of losing life If the race went on.
They told me the wind was blowing
80 knot gale out there and the seas
were sweeping the decks. Both Capt
Burton and Col. Nelll said they thought
said 1t would have been n mistake on
the part OF the New York Yacht Club
not to postpone the race.
II thought they should have sailed and
so did Commodore Jarvis. Shamrock
encountered far worse weather in her
trip across, but, of course, that is no
comparison. because she crossed the
ocean under her working sails. Jarvis
and l were the only two who didn't
agree. and believe now we were wrong.
There will be race Monday and we
are still hopeful. l was disappointed, be-
cause to-day looked like Shamrocks
day; but Sir John Ferguson tells me the
box he is making to put the Cup In won't
be finished until Monday, anyway
Sir Thomas as usual forgot his
troubles and said smilingly; That Cup
is going to be on exhibition In the Brit
ish Museum for a month or two after l.
get It home"
To-day for the first time Skipper Bur-
ton left Mrs Burton behind when the
Shamrock started for the stake boat. 1t
was so rough that 1t was necessary to
take a man In her place. Mrs. Burton
remained on the house boat Kilkenny.
She wanted to go, but every member of
the crew had to be heavy and strong on
such a day. 1t Is the first time Mr..
Burton ever started on a race without
his wife, who acts as his timekeeper.
Another absent member OF Shamrock's
crew was Capt Jack" Applegate, the
Jersey fisherman. whose knowledge of
The tides and currents of the Hook was
utilized by Capt. Burton in the preceding
races. What happened was not dis !
closed. but II seems Capt. Jack and the !
shamrocks skipper could not agree on
low the challenger should be sailed
After a dispute Capt. Jack took his !
BOAT and left. according to the report |
Fishermen have been much perturbed !
over the AFFAIR. some taking the view
hat 1t was unpatrlotlc OF him to help |
he British skipper, and others arguing |!
i was Just q matter OF business.
There was another large party on the |
which grew smaller and smaller (
with the size OF the waves |
When the yacht lay outside near the !
Ambrose Channel lightship. wallowlng in ,
he heavy sea. there were sudden and !
requent disappearance.
Once within the shelter OF the Hook /
he company recovered suffltiently to eat /
luncheon on the after deck. Among Sir .
Thomas's guests were Sir Thomas
)ewar, Sir John and Lady Ferguson,
'ol s. Seymour Bulloch. Police Com
missioner Richard e. Enright. Ralph
Pulitzer, Charles Fleming Day, Misses
agnes and Eunice Fitzgerald and Miss
1ugenie Whitmore.
An anonymous letter was received
rom a person who evidently took in
arnest Sir Thomass joke about the
silent Ford motor on Shamrock.
"Why not play fair gamer" wrote
his correspondent. We hear this yal hit
Z yours IL equipped with a motor, and
re should call this a pretty mean game
he letter was posted in Boston. |!