The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-10-02
SIR THOMAS
 UPTON DIES,
 LONDON HOME
f a nous Yachtsman and Tea Merchant Passes
 Away Suddenly

LONDON, Oct. 2-Sir Thomas Llpton, yachtsman and tea merch- ant, died late today. This morning a bulletin was issued that Sil Thomas seemed improved and chills were fewer. He contracted a severe cold ten days ago while mo- toring.
 Physicians said heart failure end ed Sir Thomas life. He died in peaceful sleep with several friends at his bedside
 Internationally famous a h ts- man and tea merchant, Sir Thomas Upton spent many years of his life and nearly $10,000, 900 of his vast fortune nursing a hobby to win back for England the Ameri- ca's Cup-a silver yachting trophy actually worth a hundred guineas.
 In 1851 the little clipper yacht America, an unknown contender crossed the Atlantic under her own sail, took her place on the start ing line with a field of 18 illus trious "thoroughbreds of the aris- tocracy' and astounde every sportsman in Britain by hugging to herself the victory and the cup in race around the Isle of Wight. Six years later the cup became an international trophy, dubbed the cup of all nations"
 Makes Five. Attempts n. Sir Thomas, Lpton made five attempts to assuage this blow. which carried gloom to the heart of every British yachting enthusiast from Queens palace to peasants cottage, but try as he might. spend as he would, the battered old mug never budged from it's pedestal in the New York Yacht Club.
 Several notable attempts to re- capture the cup had been made before Upton took up the quest in 1899, but all of them were fail ures. Just a year before the 20th century rolled around, Sir Thomas appeared off Sandy Hook with his yacht Shamrock T., first of the five famous Shamrock sisters that al- ways proved a mite too slow for the American-built defenders.
 Columbia was chosen by the New York Yacht Club to beat the Shamrock and proved herself wor- thy of the confidence.
 "Will Try Again"
 ''The best boat won. but I'll try again." were the words of Sir Thomas as he sailed away, and try again he did.
 His second challenge was issued and accepted in 1900, when Sham rock II was ready for the fray The yacht Constitution was select ed by the New York Yacht Club as defender, but owing to an acci- dent to- her mast during practice, it was necessary to again bring out Columbia. Her pc O rmance was even better than in the first race, whereupon Sir Thomas. his optim- ism unshaken, began thinking of Shamrock III.
 This craft was brought to Amer ica in 1903. Sir Thomas recruit ed an auxiliary fleet of 33 vessels to tender his beloved Shamrock, and employed more than 200 men to handle this miniature navy. The friendly invasion, said to have cost Upton more than $l,000,000, was no more successful than It's predeces- sors had been. The New York Yacht Club had built the Swift Re- lance to defend it's honored tro- phy. and the defense was perfect.
 Rules Modification
 Nothing was heard from Sir Thomas until 1907, when he again challenged but asked for a modi- fication of the rules and measure ment stipulations gover ing the previous contests. This challenge was declined by the Americans on seven grounds. chief of which was the contention that the cup stood pre-eminently for speed and should be contested for by the fastest and most powerful vessels that could be built. Upton had sought to compete with little 68-foot sloop, while American racing officials de- sired 90-footer, holding that yacht racing, as every other sport, should progress.
 Seven years of controversy fol- lowed this announcement during which Lipton made numerous at tempts to procure modification of the ruling. Finally. in 1913, the New York officials agreed to com- promise on a 75-foot vessel and Upton issued a challenge under
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