The Accident to the Shamrock.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 155, 28 May 1901, Page 3

The Accident to the Shamrock.

London-, Uv.y 23,

Tim Slmmrock I. risked everything to get alongside her consort, but her gait buckled, the topmast blew away, and she wa« ".inable lo assist. The Bybarita's was first alongrii'le the iL'in, and the destroyets then raced up. His Majesty the King, Sir T. Diuton, Mr Watson ot the yacht), the Marchioness oi' Lotidoiiderrv, Mrs Derek Keppel, atnl Mrs Jamieson were seated on the \v -alher side, and had a very narrow escape. A heavy block fell between the Marchioness and Airs .J ami (--so n. The King displayed gteat nerve. After a reassurance thai ivhe'kdies -were bk.l£ he lighted a cigar, entered a launch and examined the wreckage. The bursting bubstay gave warning of danger. Had the accident occurred ten secou is later the boom would have been right on board and fallen on deck instead of clear of the yacht. The K.iug landed at Cowes and telegraphed to the Queen. Afterwards Hi-5 Majesty dined on board the Erin and returned to London in the evening. I The canvas oil the Shamrock 11. was 15JlL high. Just before rounding the captain propose 1 to shorten sail, but '.v\ns ove.- ml d. The weakness or the bowsprit rigging l-.;!10..",' i'u•collapso. Surprise is expressed that in > fragile hull was able to resist th • pressure of the leverage. Several of the crew wet 1 '- 1 earri.;.! overboard amid the cloud oi canvas. Three who were aloft shinned down at the moment of tiie accident. I'he. damage is 'estimated at £400: J. Sir Thomas Lipton has asked for some weeks' postponement of the race, and mu-di sympathy is displaced£cr him in May 2-1. Interviewed by a representative of the Daily Mail, Sir T. Lipton stated that wit en th" accident occurred the boom, coming inward, f-.1l wit-bin a few feet of" the Hi ng. Had the accident occurred a moment later His Majesty would have been iirectiy underneath the boom. Captain Sycamore was lying on one side of the deck, and only just jumped clear. The King"'3 only remark after the accident was " Wiu.t a pity." A. piece of iron si ruck Sir T. Lipton stunning him for half a j minute. The bravery of the ladies, Sir I. Lipton states, v;as ■■•■.icnspicuons. The hull was not hurt, and within an hour repairs to the vessel were ordered, the yacht to be ready to iac-3 before the first week in October, though Sir T. Lipton is prepared to take over imamrock I, if postponement of the race is impossible. He gratefully declined '.the offer of Mr Lawson to race the yacht Independence against the two Shamrocks in England. Eyery head of State departments congratulated the King on his escape. Much sympathy is expressed in France. May 25. At Sir T. Lipton's request the race for the America Gup has been postponed for a month. YVelijngton, May 24. '"The Deputy-Governor has sent a cablegram to the Secretary of State for the Colonies offering congratulations on behalf of the people of New Zealand to his Majesty the ou his providential escape.