New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-11
NEW INTEREST ~ THE CHARGES.
YACHTsMEN DISCUSS THE TRIBUNES FORE
CAST OF THE REPORT on DUNRAVEN.

YACHTsMEN DISCUSS THE TRIBUNE's FORE
CAST OF THE REPORT on DUNRAVEN.
The forecas: Of the Inquiry Committees re-
port as published in The Tribune yesterday
has furnished new food for discussion in the
Dunraven matter. 1t seems to be taken for
granted generally that the report will show
that the evidence was taken in about the order
Indicated, and that the points on both sides
will not vary much from The Tribune's fore
cast 1t has been suggested by one who is well
versed in the yachting incident that the claims
OF Lord Dunraven were brought out more fully
at the hearing than people generally know at
this time. Lord Dunraven's statement before
the committee" said the knowing one, was,
doubtless, to the effect that there was a change
In the line of immersion. He probably made
that statement fiat and unreservedy, and said
that the statement was made on the strength
Of his own observations. He told the commit
tee also | believe, that he did not come here
as the prosecutor Of any person, but merely as
a witness to aid the committee In ascertaining
how the additional immersion of the Defender
was brought about. | have doubt" con-
tinued the speaker. that Dunrave1 laid great
stress on the fact that he mentioned his susp-
cions 10 Latham \. Fish. and he believed that
the fact would carry much weight at the In
vestgation For that reason the testimony or
Mr. Fish will form an important chapter In
the history OF the case. WHAT did DunraVen
say TO him about tho changed water-line?
When did he report the Earls suspicion 10 the
Gun Committee? and what did the committee
say to Mr.. Fish the subject? These are
Questions which cannot be answered until the
report Of the committee has been made public
We know. since the Cup Committees report
has been published. that he did complain. and
that he wanted the Defender remeasured inn
mediately after the race. He wanted the cup
Committee to lake possession Of the Defender
as soon as she returned from the race, and
wanted the yacht ST. guarded that If extra bal
last had been struggled aboard II could not
be taken off again unless the committee knew
IT, on the plea that II was too dark. the cup
Committee did nothing more with Dunravens
complaint than treat Ii as a mere request Tor
measurement And when the yacht was re-
measured the next day IL was found that the
load water-llne was practically the same as
when Captain Hyslop made the hrst measure
ment.
Now. Dunraven undoubtedly endeavored to
show To- the committee that between the time Of
her return from the race and the second measure
ment the additional ballast could easily nave
been disposed of An intimate friend OF DUN,
raven said To me to-day: 'lf TINS ballast hau
been pig lead and If II had 10 be carried over the
side il might have been discovered; but why
could 1t not have been water just as we'll when.
when il had served its purpose, could be allowed
t. run back INTO the Day uoH tHiuh '"ii-
raven ever hoped to prove that the load water
line of the Defender was lengthened-he said as
much In his Cardiff speech-but he had made the
charge and he felt bound TO come over and face
the people whom II affected most, although he
never once either in THE Field" or at Cardn. in
situated that the owners of the Defender mad any
knowledge of the alleged fraud | believe that
the Dunraven testimony will also put his charges
at long range in new light. He probably told
the committee that. being unable to prove What
he thought was so. he would have remained
silent on the subject II the Cup Committee had
not referred to his complaint 10 Mr.. FISH. ana
that after that he felt justified in saying publicly
what he had spoken Of only in private to his
friends "
The renort of the committee. which Will stop
all speculation to the testimony, is still either
in the hands Of the printer or with the COM
mittee where it Is guarded and protected against
the nquisitive public The meeting at which the
long document is to be laid before the New-York
Yacht Club has not yet been called.