Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-08


ahead Of the gun, and Don, apparently
fearful that the American defender
might get too much Of an advantage,
streaSed after him. The British boat
was more than seven seconds ahead of
the gun.
Prior to the race Wood had re-
quested a 45-minute postponement TO
repair a newly discovered gasoline tank
leak. This was refused by Don. who ex-
planned that it would neceSsitate his
taking his boat back to the boat well,
emptying its oil tanks and relocating
the lubricating OIL
Decides to Show Tricks.
Wood pointed out that he had sew
eral times in past races agreed TO post
ponements requested by foreign chal-
lengerS.
it, Wood said, Il made up my mind
l would show Don a trick or two. We
Soldered up the spot hurriedly, but one
of my mechanics was hauled out of the
hull unconscious doing so.
Il planned the start 1 said would
be over that line first If were a minute
ahead of the gun and if Don wanted to
follow me that was his business. Every
thing went off just as we had planned. "
Don did not discuss the start. His
American manager. William Sturm
however, commented that Gar Wood
evidently knows lots of the tricks in the
racing game"
Work Of raising Miss England II
which sank in 20 feet of water miles
from the premature start, was started
this morning.
Under Harmsworth rules the con-
tenders may anticipate the starting gun
by not more than seconds. Yester-
days start disqualified both Miss Eng
land II and Miss America TX, and al
| though Woods second boat, Miss Amer
! lea VIII. finished the 30-mile heat, the
Racing Committee ruled there had been
no contest"
Refuses to Discuss Start.
Don today refused to discuss the star
of the race.
He did not learn Of the Race Com.
mittees action until two hours after he
and his mechanics, Dick Garner anc
Roy Platford, had been removed from
the Detroit River and taken to theil
! apartments.
Questioned regarding the strategy Of
Wood in leading him over the line tx
disqualification, Don remained firm il
his refusal to answer comments Oh
questions regarding that phase of the
race. He discussed freely the accident
that resulted in the sinking of the
challenging boat.
When we hit Cars wash I don't
know ~1ust how many times the boat
turned over; whether it pitched forward
and dived or settled back and sank stern
| first" he said. But I do remember
| two separate sensations. The first time
felt I was terribly far under water
| and that was going farther down.
| thought of my life jacket and said tC
myself But I'll be coming up ano
up in moment wonder whether I'm
still in the boat That must have beer
when we first rolled. over.
The second time D went down must
have been when the boat sank sterr
| first. Again l felt myself going down
down. down, and I remember the
thought passing through my mind that
I'd soon be coming up. up, up.
When my head broke through the
water, there was the boat so feet aheac
of me. Her propeller was still turning
but it soon passed. out Of sight as she
was sinking Ast.'
A dock from which more than 10C
persons we're watching the Harmswortf
trophy race collapsed yesterday, throw.
ing them into the water. One of thu
NUMBER 3-year-old boy, Nelson Pat
IlSOH@Slll 10 mlSSluS, ana IL Ii AedIet
he drowned. Others who were on tn,
dock, which was at the foot Of Motol
Boat lane, were accounted for.
The spectators were thrown int
water from to 10 feet deep, and were
rescued by patrol boats. A dozen Of
more required first aid treatment from
members of the fire department.
Policemen, flremen and persons from
| boats joined in the rescue work.
The missing boy had been held In the
arms of his father F. N. Pattison, anc
apparently was thrown out during the
confusion.