SHAMROCK ILL.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 889, 12 May 1903, Page 3

SHAMROCK ILL.

THE RECENT ACCIDENT.

(Per R.M.S. Sierra at Auckland.) Weymouth (England), April 19. The two Shamrocks loft hero to-day at noon for Southampton. The challengers was towed by the Erin. Sir Thomas Lipton was interviewed this morning before tho doparturo of tho yachts. Describing tho accident of last week ho said : “ When tho ehallouger lost her mast there wero certainly six feet of water over her deck. My first impression when tho mast went was that- tho boat was sinking. Later, when I was able to scramble up on deck, I found everything gone, aud the boats out doing rescue work. I never saw the seaman Collier in the water.” 1

Sir Thomas was bewildered at tho suddenness of the accident, and said tho scene that immediately followed seemed to him like a confused remembranco of a dream. Questioned as to his future course, ho said ho meant to work day and night to get tho yacht fitted in time for further trials before sailing for New York. His desire was to avoid a postponement of tho races. Mr Ward, Designer Fife, aud Captain Wringo have held a consultation, and have promised to put the challenger in racing trim again in three weeks. It will bo a big job. Mr Fife has condemned tho boom, mast, and topsail spars of the yacht, and they will all bo removed, as well as tho sails. The decision against the postponement of tho races was reached last night, after a long consultation, and this morning Sir Thomas sent the following cablegram to Mr G A. Connack, Secretary of tho Now York rM.vU • “T atu yi lon and t.n inffUMYl

Yacht Club 1 am pleased to mtoun you that the damage to Shamrock 111. will bo righted in three or four weeks. There will bo no necessity of considering tho question of a postponement. Please communicate; this to your committee, and also convey my warmest thanks for their expressions of sympathy, ’ Sir Thcs. Lipton said that ho saw nothin'’ in the. recent accident to lessen the great confidence he felt in Shamrock 111. It racing vachtsj are to bo built, ho said, there must he some risk. If we built, a vessel as safe as a liner, wo might as well keep her at home for any chance she would have of winning the Gup. Designer File took the same view. lie has never appeared so confident as he is

Mr Ward said bo was surpised and disappointed at tho accident. The screws were the same as those used on Shamrock TL ITe explained that every precaution had been taken. Over 200 tests had been made of the fittings, and lie had the utmost confidence in every detail of this part of thccmiipment. The body of Collier has not been recovered. Sir Thus. Lipton has o tiered n reward for its recovery, and has made pro vision for Collier’s widow and children. The wrecked spars of the challenge) were lifted to the quay to-day. Want

sightseers were present to view the wreck* a“ c Tlio shell oi the insist is of extraordinary thinness, being of three-sixteentbs of an inch nickel steel. The length of the mast was 105 feet, ami its greatest diameter twenty-seven inches. Thau tho ma'al was very tough is evidenced by the fact that it had bent and rcbent in various daces without breaking. It is believed that the next trial races will take place on the Clyde in a month’s time.