The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-11-09
THE AMERICAS CUP.
statement From Dunraven Concerning
the Contest.

the Contest.
LONDON, Nov. 8.-The Field will to-
morrow publish four-column state
ment from Lord Dunraven relative to the
contest for the Americas cup.
Lord Dunraven opens by saying that
so much has been written and said
loosely concerning the races, and as be
has received so many requests for fuller
information, he thinks it due to the
yachting and general public and himself
that he make a statement. He would
not, ne adds. confine himself to the cause
OF his withdrawal of the Nalkyrie from
the races, namely, oyer-crowding. but
other matters had been mentioned in the
Cup Committees report to the New York
| Yacht Club.
He relates what occurred at the meet
ing of the committee held for settling the
conditions OF the contest, and says he
disapprOved OF the method of making the
load water line with copper tacks on
deck instead OF the yacht racing assOcia-
tion's method OF visible marks on stem
and stern, but he made no protest. 4 few
days later he wrote 10 Mr.. Canfield in re-
gard to this matter, and received yer bal
answer that the committee did not see the
object of recOnsldering the matter. Lord
Dunraven dld not press the matter, but
signed the agreement. The following
day the first race was sailed.
Continuing, he says: II am Of the
opinion that The Defender did not sail on
her measured load water-liue length in
the race" He remarked that nobody in
terested in the Defender lived on her, or
her tender, the Hattie Palmer: but much
material, the crews cots, etc., was trans
ferred back ward aud forward from the
Defender to the Hattie Palmer, and vice
versa. Those on board the Valkyrie were
ali able TO observe the Defender when
they were alongside OF her in the Erie
Basin. After her first trial with the Vigl-
liant, when the Defender went 10 the Erie
Basin TO be measured on Septem ber 9th,
IL was obvious to everybody on board the
City OF Bridgeport, the Nalkyrie's tender
that she was floating materially higher
than on a former occasion. This, OF
course, was nobjectionable. The Hattie
Palmer WAS alongside the Defender all
night. Her crew was at work from dark
until l o'clock in the morning.
Early saturday those aboard the City
of Bridgeport noticed that the Defender
was yisibly deeper in the water than
when she was measured. When he put
Mr.. Henderson aboard at 8 O'Clock, Lord
Dunraven was perfectly certain that she
was four inches deeper than she was
when she was measured. He was re-
luctanJ 10 formally complain, as it was
imp0ssi bic for him TO verify his belief.
Anyhow, nothing could have been done
before the race, but when Mr.. Fish went
on board the Nalkyrie Lord Dunraven
told him the whole case, and assorted his
belief that the Defender was sailing fully
a foot beyond her proper length. lie
asked Mr.. Fish to induce the committee
to send a member aboard of each boat
Immediately after the race, and have both
measurod Orthwlth, and II that was i'm
possible, to have the member stay in
charge until the yachts We're measured.
lie also asked that the load water line be
marked yisibly externally. No action
was taken that evening, beyond ordering
that the boats be reineasured aud mark ed
on The following day. Nobody was
placed in charge. The Defender lay all
night with the Hattie Palmer alongside OF
her. The result was that Sundays re-
measurement obviously afforded no
proof that either or both yachts had not
exceeded their measured lengths in Sat
urday's race.
lie says: My action in making this
complaint has been severely criticised.
viii only say that l consider it my duty
20 act as | did. I.did not ask anything
that was not ready and willing to sub
nit TO myself"
lie then proceeds to discuss the crowd
Ing al the starting line, which was rem
ASe' 81 N"i- gus ~ tHo ilaby sLSdAi-
ers that it was impossible for the yachts
To mauuever safe. Vessels were con-
stantly passing in front OF the mark boat,
making II impossible to pick up the line
accurately. When the Nalkyrie came
near The limo the mark boat was com
pletely hidden from view. Not knowing
where the line was, and fearing that she
might be too soon. the Valkyrie bore
away, and thus spoiled her start. He
gives the details of steamers washing and
Dianketing the racers on the reach home.
he Defender, he says, was doubtless in
terfered with, but nothing like to the
AZ lon oil