San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-09-12

~ EN lOhh, hDOpts iN - VI
aid says: Immediately after the
race on Tuesday last Lord Dun
raven sent the following letter to
the Americas cup committee. 1t
was made public last night:
Gentlemen 1T is with great re-
luctance that write to inform you
that decline to sail Valkyrie any
more under the circumstances that
have prevailed in the last two
races, and for the following rea-
sons:
First. To attempt to start two
such large vessels in such confined
space and among moving steamers
and tug boats is, in my opinion,
exceedingly dangerous, and will
no further risk the lives of my men
or the ship.
Second. At the start of the first
race, the crowding was so great
that we could not see the mark
boat and could not tell when we
were near the line, and we were
much hampered by steamers,
especially in the race home. To-
day, on the home stretch, for nine
tenths of the way, they had the
wind off me, and, what was worse,
block of steamers were steaming
level with me and close under my
lee. Sailed nearly the whole dis
lance in tumbling, broken water,
in the heavy wash of the steamers.
To race under these conditions
is, in my opinion, absurd, and L
decline to submit myself to them
again. / would remind you that
forseeing the trouble that might
occur, l urged upon them the de-
STABILITY of sailing of Marble
Head or some locality other than
New York bay, and that they re-
fused to do so. At the same time
/ would testify to my full belief
that your committee have done
everything in their power to pre-
vent overcrowding. The fact is
that when the contest between the
representatives of two yachts has
excited so much popular interest
and attracts such crowds of people,
if the races are sailed in the i'm
mediate neighborhood of a great
city and the dates of races and
times of starting are known and
advertised, it is impossible to keep
course free from causes of eXcep-
tional danger and clear enough to
assure the probability that the re-
suit of the match will be decided
according to the relative merits of
the competing vessels. l have the
honor to remain your obed1ent SER
want. DUNRAVEN.
To the American Cup Committee.
The cup committee had busy
day when they went into session
early in the day, Lord Dunraven's
letter was the first and most i'm
portant matter to come up for con-
sideration. There was long and
serious discussion. Mr.. Iselin
visited the club and at once APP
peared before them. He had
learned of the decision of the COM
mittee awarding the race to the
Defender and his mind vas quick
ly made what course he would
take. He formally asked the cup
committee whether they. would OBJ
ject should he propose to Lord
Dunraven to resail the race. They
replied that no objection would
come from them and Mr.. Iselin
departed. The work of the COM
mittee, however, did not end there.
The matter before the committee
was of more serious character
and demanded careful elaboration.
They were still in conference when
evening came and members began
to throng the club quarters for in
formation. There was much specu-
lation as to whether there would be
another race, but no official state
ment regarding the matter was
made. Rumor had it that Lord
Dunraven would refuse to sail his
boat again, but it was no more
than a rumor. Members, never
theless, secured tickets for friends
and spoke of the prospects for good
sport on the morrow. Many of
them thought that it would be
thoroughly sportsmanlike of Mr..
Iselin to offer to resail the race,