The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-26
earl OF DUNRAVEN IS here
Nill Substa ntiate Charges Concern
ing the Defender.
THEN THE WAR CAN PROCEED
Duuravcn Says the Defender Carried
Extra Ballast-A Matter That Must Be
Settled Before the Venezuelan
Question Is Fart her debated On.

New York, Dec. -Windham-Q Quinn
| Earl of Dunraven, owner of Valkyrie
Ill, accompanied by his legal adviser,
MIR. George Asquith. noted London
barrister, and Mr.. Arthur Glennie, ex-
commodore of the Royal Portsmouth
Yacht club, arrived in American waters
ON board the Teutonic this evening.
Lord Dunraven's visit is for the pur-
pose of doing what he can to substanti-
ate the charge of fraud which he made
against Defender after he returned to
England, and which set yachtsmen of
two continents by the ears and caused
nearly as much talk as President Cleve-
lands n" recent remarks on the
Venez ian difficulty. The owner of the
Nalkyrie brings with him a number of
dispositions of members of his crew and
Arthur Glennie, who sailed on the
Nalkyrie during the races and Is ex-
pectcd to testify. Lord Dunraven's $
legal adviser, Mr.. Asquith, will prob
ably be permitted to appear before the
committee and conduct the earls case.
The preparations for Dunraven's re-
ception We're in marked contrast to
those upon his former visits. When he
came here in 1893 with Valkyrie III and
again last year with Valkyrie Ill, he
was welcomed by yachtsmen and people
of prominence generally. The men who
were his most hospitable entertainers
then are the ones whom he has now ac
cused of conduct, which, if true, would
debar them from the society of gentle
men. When his charges, as published
in London Field of November 3. first
reached the ears of c. Oliver 1seln, the
managing director of the Defender. he
said ANY man who makes such a
charge is a liar and a-blackguard."
This remark. though somewhat vio-
lent. expressed the sentiment of most
yachtsmen on this side of the Atlantic.
Lord DUnravcn's Allega tiOns.
Lord Dunraven's charge was that the
Defender after being measured for the
cup races. was surreptitiOusly loaded
so as to sink her four inches deeper in
the water and that she sailed that way
i'm the first days race and that immedl-
ately after the race the additional bal
last was secretly removed, so that when
re-measured next day no discrepancy
was found to exist between the two
measurements. Lord Dunraven does
not accuse Mr.. Iselin or any one of the
owners of the Defender of being per-
sonally cogniZant of the fraud. but as
they were responsible for the boat. and
as the removal of ten to twelve tons of
lead could scarcely take place without
their knowing 1t. the charge amounts
TO the same tn1ng.
Upon the publication of the charge a
special meeting of the New York club
was called, and a committee composed
of ]. Pierpont Morgan. William C.
Whitney and George l.. Rives was ap-
pointed to investigate and take such
action in the matter as they deemed fit.
Joseph II. Choate has been engaged as
counsel to the committee. The first
hearing is now set for Friday next and
will be private.
The committee will probably call Cap
tains Haff and Terry, who were on the
Defender, and some members of the
crew, as well as of officers of the Hattie
Palmer and City of Bridgeport. the ten
ders of the two yachts, and dock Off
Gals tug boat captains and others who
were in position to know what was GO
ing on in the Defender. besides a num-
Der of others, to testify.