25 MAY 1901, Page 3

The King has had a happy escape from what might

have been serious or even fatal injury. On Wednesday his Majesty had gone on board Sir T. Lipton's racing yacht, `Shamrock II.,' at dowes, and the vessel was just start- ing on a trial trip when the bowsprit snapped, the main- mast "buckled," and all sails and spars went over the side. The King was standing in the companion-way, and but that the wreckage cleared the side, the vessel having a strong list, he might have been struck, or, as one correspondent reports, 'Shamrock might herself have capsized. The King, who was perfectly cool, was imme- diately taken off by another yacht, and returned to London, where a report of the accident, for once not exaggerated, had created great excitement.