The herald., 1896-02-28
From Membership in New York's
Yacht Club
OPPORTUNITY WAS OFFERED
Bnt His Lordship Declined to Make Due
Apology
1t Is the Most Satisfactory Decision Ever
Arrived At by Any Yacht Club In
the World

Associated Press Special Wire.
New YORK, Feb. 27.-At an adjourned
meeting of the annual meetings Of the
New York Yacht club, with forty yacht
owners present and about 500 members
crowding the club house, Lord Dunraven
was expelled from membership in the club
by vote of 80 to l, the one being the
sloop yacht Oriva, owned by Chester
Munroe.
The following is the preamble and reso-
luton read by Captain Ledyard and
adopted:
The earl of Dunraven, an honorary men,
ber of this club, has publicly charged foul
play on the part of the Defender in the re-
cent races for the Americas cup, of such a
nature as necessarily implicate the man
aging owners of the vessel.
The charge has been investigated by a
commission of the highest character, which
has proceeded judcially, and before which
Lord Dunraven has appeared and given
his own and other testimony, and has
been heard in person and by counsel.
The committee has unanimously de-
cided that the charge was false; that it was
not merely unprovoked, but was afiirma-
lively disproved by competent and uncon-
Trajectory evidence, leaving no possibility
of doubt.
The committee has also found that the
facts upon which Lord Dunraven acted. ac-
cording to his own statement, furnished no
justification for making such a charge.
We deem it to be among the unques-
toned rules which regulate the course OF
gentlemen that when one finds he has been
led by mistake to cast unjust imputations
upon the character of another. he should
promptly make such reparation as remains
in his power by acknowledging his error,
Withdrawing the imputations and express
ing his regret. Such reparation to Mr..
Iselin and his associates, the Earl of Dun
raven, after full opportunity, has failed
to make.
1t further appears from the evidence, i'm
Guiding Lord Dunraven's own admissions,
that at the time of the cup races he inten-
tionally refrained from making the charge
formally or making any protest, as re-
qured by the rules, because it was inn
possible for him to verify the charge and
he was unwilling to take the responsibility
of entering that.
1t is not open to discussion that when
gentlemen are engaged in any sport and
one suspects another of foul play, he is
bound to make the charge then, in such
form and manner as to assume full re-
sponsibility therefor, or thereafter to re-
main silent.
1t further appears that in print and in
public speech Lord Dunraven has sought to
Justify the making of the charge by numer-
GUS misrepresentation OF facts. He has
been forced himself to admit the untruth
of most of these, yet he stubbornly refuses
from them.
The representatives of this club engaged
in the International yacht races with Lord
Dunraven, as the representative of English
yachtsmen, upon the footing of mutual
confidence and honor. He has requitted
their courtesy and confidence and distrust.
by suspicion, unfounded imputations OF
fraud and refusal of reparation.
Lord Dunraven, by his course. has for
feited the high esteem which led to his
election as an honorary member OF this
club. Therefore,
Resolved, That the privileges of honor
ary membership heretofore extended to the
earl of Dunraven are hereby withdrawn,
and that his name be removed from the
list of honorary members OF the club.
In offering the resolution Captain Led
yard asked permission to withdraw reso-
luton, offered at the last meeting demand
ing Lord Dunraven's resignation. He said:
II think the communications we have re-
ceived since the last meeting show Lord
Dunraven has not accepted the result of
this inquiry. He is still carping, still hedg-
ing, still evading and still insisting he saw
with his eyes what we know he never did
see, and it has been conclusively proved.
IL think his course has been such shat it
is due to the dignity and self-respect of
this club that action should be taken which
will leave no room for doubt as to the atti-
tude of the club.'
When the result of the vote was an
nounced the yells of the club members
could be heard blocks away, and when it
was understood that Lord Dunraven's
name was no longer on the roll of the club
every member, with the one exception
noted, expressed himself as being per-
fectly satisfied that the rule OF the major
ity was in every way right and deserved.
Ex-Commodore James X. Smith said:
SIT is the most just and satisfactory decis-
the world, against man who violated the
honorable rules of sport and impuaned the
integrity of men who are his peers"
The club house of the New York Yacht
club was absolutely packed tonight with
members and yacht owners who were anX-
ious to testify by aheir presence that the
Dunraven- Defender case shonld be settled
at once and for all. Up to the time of the
meeting Is 80 o'clock this evening" no di-
rect apology or notification OF intended
resignation had been received by any club
officer from Lord Dunraven.
AS soon as the meeting was called to
order by Commodore e. M. Brown, Captain
Lewis Cass Ledyard requested that his
motion calling for the resignation of Lord
Dunraven from the New York Yacht club,
which he proposed two weeks ago. should
be withdrawn. The request was granted
unanimously. Captain Ledyard then Of
fered the preamble and resolution appear
ing above.
LONDON COMMENT
LONDON, Feb. 2S.-In an editorial on
Lord Dunraven's resignation from the New
York Yacht club the Graphic says:
Lord Dunraven's resignation is not
satisfactory close of the incident, but it is
the only course he could take with dignity.
The Chronicle editorial says:
We are astonished and grieved that Lord
Dunrayen has not taken the course that
most gentlemen would have taken. His
whole case collapsed utterly, yet he has
not word of regret in his letter to Mr..
Phelps. We thought the Prince of Wales
advice would have directed to different
ends.
The action of the New York Yacht club
was not reported in London in tinie to be
commented on by the morning papers.
Reached Monaco
Ir.l~ No. <l,,1x 4 !.