The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-09
TO BE INVESTIGATED
DISTINGUISHED MEN WILL PROBE
LORD DUNRAvEN's CHARGES.
Ex-Minister Phelps and Capt. Mnhnn
Added tn the Committee of Inquiry
The Latest Correspondence.

NEW YORK, Dec. S.-George l.. Rives,
member of the committee appointed by the
New York Yacht Club TO investigate the
charges made by Lord Dunraven against
the management of the yacht Denfender.
made public the following correspondence
to-day:
The committee, on careful consideration
OF the subject referred TO 1t. decided to send
the following communication TO Mr. h
Maitland Kersey, Lord Dunraven's repre-
sentative in America. and to the secretary
of the Royal Yacht squadron:
ITO H. Maitland Kersey, Esq:
Dear Sir-Your letter of the 18th inst
by him before the meeting of the New York
Yacht Club held the same evening. AT the
same meeting the undersigned were appoint
ed committee to represent the eIun IN tne
matter of the charges purporting TO have
been made by the Earl of Dunraven We
have to request that, in accordance with the
offer contained In your letter. you will CON-
municate with Lord Dunraven and inform
him that IL is the desire of the New YORK
Yacht Club and our intention to begin I'M
mediately an Investigation of the. facts con-
nected with the race of Sept. Z, and the
charges made against the representatives OF
the yacht club We will be prepared 10 en-
ter upon this investigation Immediately
upon the arrival of Lord Dunraven, of the
probable date of which we would be glad
to be advised
The above is signed by j. Pierpont Nor
gan. w. c. Whitney and G. L. Rives. The
next letter. dated Nov. %, is addressed ITO
Richard Grant. ESQ.,, secretary Royal Yacht
Squadron. Cowes." It follows:
"Sir-At a special meeting of the New
York Yacht Club. held on Monday. Nov. Is.
tee to represent the club in the matter OF
certain charges made by the Earl of Dun
raven in reference to the recent America 8
cup races, and published in the London
Field of Nov. g. This article in question
expressly charges that after being measured
for the cup races in September last the
yacht Defender was surreptitously loaded
so as to sink her four inches deeper in the
water that she sailed in that condition on
the first days race, and that Immediately
after the race the ballast so loaded was Sc
next day Sunday no discrepancy was found
to exist between the two measurements.
owners of the yacht were not personally
cognizant of the fraud, the charge is none
the less explicit. 1t appears from Lord
Dunraven's article that this statement. as
punished In the Field. is mainly extracted
from letter which he sent to the secretary
or the Royal Yacht Squadron on Sept. "a
last. We therefore, beg to inquire whether
the charges last mentioned have been laid
before the Royal Yacht Squadron, and
whether any and what action has been
taken by the squadron upon the subject:
In view or the grave imputatiOns thus
made by the representative of the Royal
Yacht Squadron in an international race
between the two great yacht clubs, the New
York Yacht Club feels that the most search
ing and complete investigation of the facts
and of the charges against the representa-
tives OF the New York Yacht Club should
be promptly begun. 1t is our purpose to
conduct such investigation so as to satisfy
every fai.-minded man on either side Of the
Atlantic, and to that end we have already
communicated with the Earl of Dunraven
and requested his presence in accordance
with the offer made by him. The result of
the investigation, with ali testimony taken,
will be transmitted to you"
On Tuesday, Dec g. the committee re-
ceived the following cable from Mr.. Grant
The committee thanks you for your cable
The squadron has not taken and can take
no action, 1T being purely a personal mat
ter. Lord Dunraven does not request the
squadron to interfere. Am writing
On the folloing day the committee re-
ceived through Mr. Kersey two messages
from Lord Dunraven sent by cable and dat
ed respectively. Dec. and 4. The first of
inform committee / will sail at the earliest
possible moment. 7th or 18th, probably
former. Regret delay, but must have state
ments OF shippers. ETC.. now scattered.
The second message read thus: 81 shall
come by Germanic on the 18th, certain.
Kindly inform committee"
The committee after receiving the fore
going replies from Lord Dunraven and the
secretary Of the Royal Yacht Squadron,
decided to add to it's number as ii has
power to do so, and accordingly invited
Hon. E. J. Phelps. late United States min
lister in England. and Capt. A. T. Mahan,
of the United States navy, to act with them.
Both Of these gentlemen have consented to