Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-12-28
IT is LAUGHABLE.
Dunraven's Pitiable Attempt
to Prove His Charges.
Has No Evidence, But Makes Bluff
With "What He Believes
How Mis- Ears Will Jingle Before Investigation
Is finished.

| New York, Dec 27.-The special com
mittee appointed by the New York Yacht
Club to investigate the charges brought
by the Earl OF DuDraven. part owner Of
the Valkyrie III. against the people In
charge of the Defender in the races for the
Americas cup, last September, com
menced its inquiry, this morning at the
New York Yacht Club house, 81 Madison
avenue.
The members Of the investigating com.
mttee are: J. Pierpont Morgan, George
l. Rives, eB Secretary VIM. G. Whitney,
Hon Il. j. Phelps aud Captain A. r.
Slasau, T.. 5. n. j. Pierpont Morgan acted
a. chairman, and George l. Rives, secre-
tary. The mem bcrs of the committee sat
rs judges at one end of the room.
George K. ASK with opened the proceed
Jugs by presenting Lord DunFavens case.
He stated that no charge was made against
any ind ,vidual member of the Defender
syndicate.
Lord Dunraven did not claim that Mr..
I5sltn or any of the gentlemen having
general charge of the boat were guilty Of
improper Int tn0ds, but from his own Oh
servations ana from what he learned of
Others, he was convinced that the load
water liue Of the American beat was in
creased after she was officially measured,
just prior to the first race.
This, he believed, was done by sur
rep'itiously adding to her ballast to sink
her four iDchcs deeper III the water than
when she was measured for the determine
ton of Der racing length.
Mr.. Askwith Icf5rred to the positions
If the two yachts, the night of Sept. 6,
preceding the first race. He said that they
were both in the Horse shoe inside Sandy
Hook, and the Defenders tender, the Hat
tie Palmer lay alongside the American
boat and her crew was at work on her IN
til in the morning. The next day those
on board the Valkyrie and on the City OF
Bridgeport, noticed that the Defender was
visibIy deeper in the water than the day
before
After the first race Lord Dunraven
spoke to Mr. Fish, the representative of
the cup committee, and asked for u re
measurement of the Defender and mark
ing of the load water line on hull Before
this was done, Mr.. Askwlth said that the
Defender lay off Bay Ridge, all night, with
the Hattie Palmer beside her, and there
was ample opportunity to remove the ex-
ira ballast.
On the Sunday following the first races,
when both yachts were measured, their
water line was found substantially the
same as when first measured
While Mr. Askwith was talking. j.
Pierpont Morgan was called down town
IN important business, and minister
E. J. Phelps took his place as chairman.
Lord Dunraven was the first witness
He told in detail the movements of the
yachts before and after the first race. He
stated all he knew of his personal knowl
elge about the alleged change in the water
line.
Lawyer Choate objected to any hearsay
evidence being introduced and the proceed
ngs were kept within legal lines. MI
Choate put his lordship through rigid
CT lss examination and the earl had a very
uncomfortable time of it for over an hour.
Mr.. Glcnnis was the next witness. He
went over much the same ground as Lord
Dunraven, aud was also cross examined by
Mr.. Choate.
After that Mr.. Askwith presented de
positions made by Captain Cranfield and
Sycamore and members of the Valkyrie' $
crew, and then announced that Lord Dun
ravens case was closed =
Mr.. Choate called Nat Herrshoff as the
first witness foe the defence. Mr.. Her
reshoff, who built the Defender. stated
that between 10 and Il tons-of lead would
be required to sink her four inches after
he had been measured. He said that it
vas not possible to add that quantity of
lead to the yachts ballast and remove it
without being seen by many persons.
He had not finished his testimony when
the committee adjourned the hearing till
tomorrow.