New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-09
DUNRAVEN SPEAKS AT LAST.
IMPLIES THAT THE DEFENDER WAS
LOADED AFTER BEING MEASURED.

OUT TO RACE NOT TO TAKE PART IN A
sHow"-wHy HE WOULD NOT REsAu.
THE PROTESTED coNTEST-worLD
HAVE ACCEPTED MIR. IsE-
rLN's PROPOSAL.
London Nov s--''The Field" will Tomorrow pub
ush a four-coumn statement from Lord Dunraven
relative the contest for the Americas Cup. Lord
Dunravcn opens by saying that as so much has been
written and said loosely concerning the races and
he has received so many requests for fuller in
formation. he thinks IT due to the yachting and
general public and himself that he mako state
ment He would he adds confne himself to the
cause of his withdrawal OF the ValkyTie from the
races namely overcrowding. but that other matters
had been mentioned in the Cup Committees report
to the NewYork Yacht Club. lie relates what &C.
Cured at the meeting OF the committee held for
settling the conditions Of the contest and says nc
disapproved of the method of marking the load
water-ine with copper tacks deck; instead OF the
Yacht Racing Associations method of visible marks
on stem and stern. but he made no protest few
days later he wrote to Mr. Garfield in regard to this
matter and received an oral answer that the COM
mittee did not the object OF reconsdering the
matter. Lord Dunraven did not press the matter.
but signed the agreement The following day the
first race sailed. Continuing he says:
II am Of the opinion that the Defender did not
sail on her measured load water-ne length 10 the
race"
He remarks that nobody Interested in the De-
fender lived on her her tender. the Hattie
Palmer but such material the crews cots. etc.
were transferred backward and forward from the
Defender to the Hattie Palmer and vice versa.
: Those on board the Valkyrie were well able TO
observe the Defender when they were alongside OF
her in the Erie Basin. After her first trial with the
Vigilant. when the Defender went to the Erie
Basn to be measured, on September 6. 1t was OBJ
vious to everybody on board the City OF Bridge
port the Vakyre's tender. that she was floating
materially higher than on a former occasion. This.
of course was unobjectionable The Hattie Palmer
was alongside the Defender all night Her crew
were at work from dark until O'Clock In the morn
| ing.
SHARP PRACTICE IMPLIED.
Early Saturday those aboard the City OF Bridge
mort noticed that the Defender vlsbly deeper In
the water than when she measured When he
nut Mr. Henderson aboard at o'clock Lord Dun
raven was perfectly certain that she four inches
deeper than she when she was measured. He
was reluctant TO formally complain. as 1t was I'M
possible for him to verify his belief. Anyhow.
nothing could have been done before the race. but
when Mr. Fish went on board the Valkyrie Lord
Dunraven told him the whole case and asserted his
belief that the Defender sailing fully foot be-
yond her proper length He asked Mr.. Fish 10 in
duce the committee to send member aboard OF
each boat Immediately after the race and have both
measured forthwith, and II that was Impossible. to
have the member stay in charge until the yachts
were measured. He aso asked that the load water
line be marked vsiby externally. No action was
taken that evening beyond ordering that the boats
be rerneasured and marked the following day.
Nobody was paced in charge. The Defender lay all
night with the Hattie Palmer alongside of her The
result was that Sundays remeasurIng Obviously
afforded no proof that either both yachts had not
exceeded their measured length In Saturdays
Lord Dunraven then says:
"My action in making this complaint has been
verely criticised. Will only say that considered
it my duty to act l did did not ask anything
that was not ready and willing to submit to my
self"
THE EXCURSION NUISANCE
He then proceeds to discuss the crowdng at the
starting line, which rendered so dangerous
by the many steamers that it was impossible for
the yachts to manOeuvre properly or safely YES
sells were constantly passing in front OF the marx
boat making 1t impossible to pick up the line ac-
curately. When the Valkyrie came near the line
the markboat was completely hidden from view.
Not knowing where the line ives. and fearing that
she might DC too soon, the Valkyre bore away, and
thus spoiled her start.
He gives the details OF steamers washing and
blanketing the racers the reach home. The De-
fender he says, was doubtless nterfered witn but
nothing like to the same extent as was the val
kyrie This WIS In accordance with his former ex-
perence that the vessel astern got much the "ors"
of the wash Lord Dunraven gives a similar ac-
count OF the start In the second race, ana mentions
the foul here without remark. He says mat on
the reach from the second mark home the steamers
,nterfered with the Vakyrie TO an extent that
was unprecedented on this occasion or In 1873.
Eigrt or nine vessels crossed the Nakyres bo"s'
A number were 10 wlndward. and a long, Closely
packed line steamng at high speed to ieewar b
The Nalkyrie sailed the whole way In the bon OF the
wash from these vessels, and was L.anketeu OF
both sides 1t dficut to steer ana Inc ,I racing
reduced to an absolute farce l-ord DuniaiS.H
declares that he makes no accusation OF parua''S'
He then says: ,.,. ..so,o.e
TO san under such conditions, and communicates
my d HtSpd he Wha course 10
had been merely personally interestea i 90 no. iS
ternational race / had no hesitation in declining to
sal under conditions precuding the posspnlty Oh d
out out TO race not to take part in show. 1t has
been stated that my decision was influenced by the
This is untrue. / was not aware OF the protest
until the vakyr!e had been taken UP to Bay Ridge
Then follows the letter written on the city Of
plains why i, was not handed TO the committee,
and relates the subsequent known cncumsiances
field as regards the foul. Lord Dunraven then
Il do not for a moment impugn the motives OF
the Regatta Committee. but think myself entitled
to call attention 10 the protest and to my written
and to the terms Of the committees decision on
the protest
4 statement OF the decision follows. after which
Lord Dunraven says there is little TO add The
statement aGheres to placing the b.amc the De
fender but Lord Dunraven says thai, assuming the
Valkyre to have been In the wrong Re fails 20
what rule was broken. He argues this whle
cepting the verdict OF the Regatta Committee as
final and. of course, having been given perfect
good faith. He adds. howevsA that ne is bound 10
say that he thinks their Judgment founded a
mistaken estimate OF the circumstances and relative
courses and positions Of the vessels IN respect OF
the direction OF the wind ana the starting line.
SAW no PROTEST FLAG.
He declares that he protest flag the
| Defender did Mr. Henderson. and adds that II
| he had Fnown the Defender had protested he would
certainly have done the same His declining to
cede Mr. Iselins proposal 10 resaii the race h
| says. was much commented upon. 1t quite i'm