The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-11
WILLIAM CRANFIELD.

Captain Cranfeld and Captain Sycamore
showed a disposition to be little more
communicative when they were hailed on
board the Valkyrie later. Replying to
question as to whether the Valkyrie was
to blame for the accident Captain Cranfeld
said:
"Emphatically no; the fault was all on
the Defenders side"
evil you explain in what way?"
ayes; the mishap happened in this
manner: We were standing straight for
the line when the Defender came. along in
the same direction and suddenly showed
her helm down hard and stood toward US.
At that time we were abreast the commit
tee boat, the Luckenbach, and it was i'm
possible for US to give way, because if we
had luffed we should have been forced
against the Dig tug. We kept on our way
as we were compelled to do, and the De-
fender keeping on hers struck our boom
with her back stay, which was broken from
the contact Wewerein advance and had the
right of way most certainly as the commit
tee can testify, and the Defender has only
herself to blame for the accident. How
any one could pretend to put the fault on
us, when the position of the boats at the
time of the accident occurred is consid-
cred I cannot see. The very fact that the
Defender hit her back stay on our boom
while we were keeping on straight
course speaks for itself"
"Ther you do not think the Defenders
protest will be sustainedP"
81 cannot see how it fairly can be-"
"Shall you object to run the race over
again if the committee decides against
"Wel, I don't know" replied.Captain
Cranf1eld, and added with just the shadow
of smile:
~ rather think that if the protest is up
held we shall make our way home again
and call it one win EACH"
"Were you satisfied with the Valkyrie's
performance to-day?"
ayes, pretty well. The wind was
steadier to-day and our boat showed up
much better than IN Saturdays funky
winds. think she will behave splendidly
in blow and I believe we shall get more
pace out of her yet"
During the conversation Captain Syca-
more came on deck from below and took
stand beside his colleague. He practi-
cally corroborated the version of
the accident given by Captain Gran
field and added: ''The fault was
in every way the Defenders. Why, after
putting down her helm she continued to
make deliberately for US. If that is the
kind of tactics the American boat is going
to indulge in l shall be glad when the
races are over. l value my life more than
l do yacht race, and it was close thing
to-day that bad collision did not occur"
Captain Sycamore was unable to say
what the Valkyrie's plans for tomorrow
were.
II. c. Leeds was the first man seen on
the Defender when the Tribune man was
rowed alongside. He was unwilling to
tell the Defenders side of the story
or describe the positions OF the boats
at the start, but said that the fouling pre-
vented the American yacht from wearing
her jibtopsail when going to windward
and kept her from carrying her balloon
| jibtopsail on the starboard tack In the sec
ond leg of the race.
How do you think your misfortune
affected the race, Mr.. Leeds?"
why, it lost it. We have the races sure
enough if we are not interfered with"
Captain Half came out fairly and said:
81 wanted to keep away from him (the
Valkyrie) but he would not let me; he
would persist in following me up all the
time in spite of all that l could
do to keep out of his way. He bore right
square off. He had the liehtship to steer
by and l kept right on by that. He got so
close to it that he got ratified. 1t was all
piece of foolishness on his part. No, Twas
not bothered much to-day by excursion
boats.o
Just after the conversation with the
shippers Mr.. Iselin came alongside in the
naphtha launch. He declined to make