Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-09-13
Americas cup. The following reply has

Owing to the excessive crowding by
steamers Mt the first two races, especially
at the start OF and on the last ten miles of
the second race, notified the cup commit
zee on the 18th inst.-requesting that the
letter be not opened until after n decision
lad been reached with regard to the foul
at the start of the second race-that owing
to the danger of n serious accident by
collision with the excursion steamers and
otherwise, and owing to the absolute alb
surdity of carrying on races under such
conditions, l should decline to start unless
some arrangement were made to race in
clear water.
Il requested postponement of today's
race with view Of arriving at such an
arrangement. The committee found it
impossible to concede this then noti-
fed them that should be 1T Sandy Hook
lightship this morning for the purpose of
giving the Defender a start
'DUNRAvEN."
The situation cleared last night as to the
cause of the ''fuke." The cup committee
posted a letter received from Lord Dun
raven in which he said that he had re-
ceived n note from the committee agreeing
to postpone the start until the course was
clear, but that concession met only one of
his objections, because n clear start did
not involve clear course. He wanted
the committee to do one of two things
either agree TO called the race of il ut any
time during the same either yacht was in
tcrfered with in any way by the excursion
steamers, or to postpone the race in order
to consider the question of finishing the
series on some course away from New
York harbor.
He was sure the committee would do
and had done all in its power TO keep the
course clear but it seemed impossible. II
the propositions above were not &C.
cepted he would take the Valkyrie TO the
lightship yesterday morning and cross the
line to give the Defender start.
The committee could not concede what
Dunravcn desired and so the result was
the fuke of yesterday. Later last night
Dunravcn made the following statement:
81 am quite satisfied that / cannot, OFF
New York, sail FACE for the America $
cup under satisfactory conditions. The
situation is this-I do not believe that
have a superior boat. 1 do not believe
that should be subjected to an insult
from the regatta committee of any yacht
club, or from the representative of any
challenging syndicate. 1t was not my
way; was forced to it. There is no diff
ference of opinion aboard our boat. 1t is
simple matter of refusal to sail under
existing conditions and rules. l know
that cannot get show.
II saw Half put up his helm-or thought
that / saw it. l have no criticism to make
upon Watson. He turned out n good
boat. She crossed the Atlantic ocean, and
if she could not win it is not the fruit OF
Watson. Watson is not responsible and,
of course, you know it, from my actions.
| Nalkyrie is my yacht
The Atlantic club contemplates an at
| tempt to arrange n race, or series, be-
tween the Valkyric and THO Defender for
a special cup to cost about 5000. The
| members of the club will propose either
one race or two out of three, and several
| of them are anxious 10 wager Dunaven
from $1,000 to $50 900 that the cup will be
| wor by the Defender.
/ Dunraven will be allowed to arrange
details il tho plan ,natoriarizes, to choose
the waters between Sandy%Iook and Mar
blehead, ard the date within the limit Of
Got. l; to ap.amge that the public bc kept
in Ignorance of the dates, and to select
rules of either the New York, Atlantic or
Larchm6nt club, the three leading clubs
| of the country, to govern the race.
| One thing Is ccrtain-the cup committee
has rcligiously lived up TO the conditions
of the race, and it is authofitativcly stated
that Isclin wrote n note to Dunravan offer.
ing to run Tuesdays race over, bus that
Dunraven declined. The struggle is over
for the cup this year and probably for
many years to come.