The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-19
REPLY TO DUNRAVEN.
VERY Plain Talk to the Sulking
English Yachtsman.
HIS EVERY STATEMENT DENIED
Except That Steamers Hampered Him
The Contest Dexenerates Into
War OF Words.

New York. Sept p.-Ex-Comfnodore
James d Smith made public the suoyo'n-
ed letter tonight, with the statement th aa
the letter OF the Americas cup commit
tee. dated September II, was mailed 70
Lord DtInraven at Newport, Tuesday
noon September II.
The New York Yacht Club. New York.
Sept l.. 1ss.-My Lord: we have the
honor 10 acknowledge the receipt OF your
letter dated September f3. We would be
glad 20 limit our reply to acknowledging
its receipt but as this whole matter VIII
probably come before the public. we feei
we should correct certain misarprehen-
sions which we fear may arise.
You say. The request that Mr.. Can
field should not open my letter OF the 10th
was unnecessary. as the cup committee
was not hearing the protest You inform
ed MIR Garfield that you had learned that
the cup committee had nothing 20 do with
the protest. and at the same time you re
ouested him 10 keep the letter (of the i0th)
unopened until the protest had been decid-
ed. You did not inform him II was un-
necessary 10 refrain from opening your
letter. II the details you give as 10 the
time Of delivery. etc, imply any neglect
or discourtesy on the part OF the commit
tee. we must deny that there has been
any such neglect and must disclaim any
lhttHkigH OF pelfE AicAohthFohH- Ct'AN-
wise we agree with you that these facts
are OF minor Importance.
Your assertion that you named no new
conditions in your letter OF the 10th is alb
solutely exact. We should have said in
your letter of the 18th. In your letter or
the 10th you only declined to continue the
contest under the existing circumstances,
and gave your reason for declining.
In the interview at the Waldorf at
p. m, September TO- you stated on what
conditions you would continue. and you
repeated substantially the same conditions
IN your letter of the 18th. In the inter
view at the Waldorf the two representa-
tives of the committee pledged the COM
mittee TO one condition, namely, to secure
q clear course, and obtained your permis-
sion 10 propose the time of starting for
that purpose. The representatives de-
clined absolutely 10 agree 10 the condi-
ton that the committee would assume the
grave responsibility OF declaring the race
void if in their judgment either vessel
was interfered with by the attending YES
sells In our opinion il would be impossi-
bile 10 secure a race. absolutely free from
interference, and the amount of inteEfer-
ence would be much too delicate a point
for US 10 decide. The representatives de-
clined TO agree to postpone the race fixed
for the next day. Thursday. The repre-
sentatives informed you that the question
OF not announcing the dates and times of
starting any future races must be submit
ted to the committees. The representa-
tives assured you of renewed efforts to Sc
cure a clear course. You finally declined
To say whether you would sail the next
days race Crhursdayl or not. and said that
i'm any event the Eaikyrie would cross the
starting line. In view of the replies given
by them, we cannot understand how you
could doubt that the representatives were
acting for and with the authority of the
committee. AS 10 postponing Thursday
race in order TO consider your letter or
the 10th. the committee felt that the point
had been fully covered in the conference
at the Waldorf and did not require more
time for reconsideration of the answers
given by the representatives at that tine
The committee did not consider practica BILE
your suggestion TO keep secret the dates
and the times of starting of future races.
You raise the question as to whether
your complaint Of the steamers was Justi-
fable o. not. The steamers undoubtedly
interfered with the Nalkyrie and the De
fender as well, and there seems to be no
reason WIN you should not have .oul-
,lained of such interference. but we Ger
ta!niy d. muir to your conclusion. and
there ore the cup committee. having ad-
mittedly done all in its power. was bound
TO give redress before the next race WAS
sailed.
YOU fully knew the objections % "a
course of New York two years ago. 1nd
nearly ono year ago you suggested an
other local ". This proposition we de-
cIned at that time There was the hest
OF evidence at the start on Thursday that
the course, as we'll as the start. would be
KEEP; clear II seems TO us that the ques-
ton before everyone is not whether vCur
complaint ras 5ust.nable, but whether
your action I'm withdrawing from tile con-
test on the grounds of your complaint
was iUstihabs
~ n sI1wrRStinu that the p
committee might have ordered Tuesdays
race resa!led. we reply that we must dc
cline 10 discuss the action Of our fellow
committee.
''In conclusion we would express our
profound regret and chagrin that a friend
Is contest in a noble sport between fwo
great nations should have degenerated
into a war or words. We have the honor
60 remain Your obedient servants. James
T. Smith. chairman. A. Cass Garfield.
secretary. for the Americas cup commit
tee
New York. Sept Is.-Lord Dunraven's
representative Il NJ. Kersey. called upon
Commodore Smith. chairman Of the Amer
iCas cup committee. today and took with
him the letter in which &. Oliver Iselin
offered 10 resau the race in which tho
Naikyrie foued the Defender. The letter
is rs follows:
"On hoard the Defender. Sept. u. 1896
Dear Lord Dunraven; Although the re-
gatta committee gives the Defender yes
terday's race under the circumstances I
should much prefer calling the race off
and resailng IL tomorrow. I trust this
will meet with your views II so kindly
answer at once. Very truly yours,
g. OLIVER ISELIN"
Kerscy gave gut the following state
nent. lord Dunrave1 would like Il
clearly understood that the offer con-
tanned jn AR lselins letter Of September
Is which appeared in this mornings ra-
per<. 70 resail either the last two races
or ne u hole series. has never been made
known 20 him. either by Mr., IseIin Or by
the members of the cup or regatta com
rrittec.' Mr. Eersev VAS seen at the
White star dock this afternoon Re
rarfiuE his statement ne said.
n was merely sneakinE for Lord Dun
raven lie SAYS that he never received
letter from AR. Iselin Offering to resan
the races"
on the steamship Majestic. which sailed
for Liverpool this afternoon were Conn
gnodore Glennie. Sailmaker Thomas Rat
sev ana twenty-five Of the Valkyrie's