One can imagine the terrified excitement of those who from the shore and other boats witnessed the serious mishap to Shamrock LI on Wednesday. The evening newspapers of course always make the most of an incident which puts a crowned head in danger; and when one first saw the evening paper bills bearing such lines as: "Wreck of the Shamrock—Miraculous escape of the King" one was inclined to suspect exaggeration. But one has only many cameras which were directed upon to to look at the photographs taken by the
Cup Challenger at the time of the accident to realise that it was indeed a marvel that no one was killed or injured. A great deal of sympathy is felt for Sir Thomas Lipton on both sides of the Atlantic in this fresh piece of ill-luck, which will render it quite impossible for the challenger to race for the cup on the date fixed—the 20th of August. Already Sir 'Thomas had been disappointed with the sailing powers of his new yacht, which was evidently out~ classed by her predecessor, Shamrock I That yacht has, however,' improved remarkably in speed since her defeat in the last Cup contest; and it may possibly be that the mew challenger will sail better with her uew gear, and that the disaster, by which some £4,000 worth of damage was done, may thus prove a blessing in ise. The King is said to have displayed excellent nerve and perfect cool-hess throughout the episode. There were two or three ladies on board at the time, one of them being the Marchioness of Londonderry.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.