The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-02-28
DUNRAvEN IN DEFENSE
Writes Several Letters to Members Of
the New York Yacht Club.
DOES NOT DESIRE TO REMAIN A AMEMBER
Writes to The Honorable r. j. Phelps
Ina Justification of His Action
Snys His Complaint WINS Ira Good
Faith-Had strong Rcnsons-sInde
No Charge Against Isclin.

New York, Feb. 27.-The following are
the letters received from Lord Dunra-
ven, which Will be considered by the
New York Yacht Club ut its meeting
this evening":
London, q Norfolk street. Park lane.
Feb. ~.
TO J. V. S. oddic. Esq. secretary:
Dear Sir:-ln supplcmentlng my ca
biegram and letter of Feb. IA. wish to
emphasize the fact that my letters to
McSsrs. Rives and Phelps were written
and dispatched before had heard of
the motion of Cnptain Ledyard
without commenting upon the
grounds or terms of the motion, as to
the justice OF which l do not agree. 1
wish to say that If IL motion or such ma
ture has been made and Is matter of
record do not desire to remain a mem
Der of the club whatever may be the re-
suit OF the motion.
therefore beg that you will lay my
resignation before the club. course
which VIII probably be approved by Il
majority of the members. I remain,
Yours faithfully
DUNRAvEN.
On Feb. 12 Lord Dunraven addressed
letter to Hon. r. j. Phelps as follows.
Dear Mr.. Phelps:-Thc attitude OF AS
sisting the inquiry as Il witness and not
as prosecutor which In the nature OF
the case ] had TO adopt and which l
have consistently maintained prevents
Inc from presuminE to accept or reject
or To criticise affirma lively or mega
lively the committees report officially
But In view of the many misunderstand.
fnEs which have occurred. | have felt
myself justified In writing briefly to
you, as | should be sorry II you or the
committee misunderstood my silence
and In saying few words to which you
may give such publicity as you may
think fit or necessary. MY compla int
was made In good fHith on the direct
evidence OF the eyesight OF my own nnd
competent men. as to the effects, the
cause of which they did not know or
attempt to define
II Will. in my opinion. be impossible
to find stronger reasons upon which ac-
tion could be taken. or as Justification
for Il complaint OF a like nature to that
which ! most reluctantly made, and
am unable therefore to agree that the
complaint was unreasonably originated
cannot admit that there was Il mistake
I'm the observed facts. as suggested by
the employment Of calculations, which
were accepted by the committee as
mathmaticaliy proving that we did not
see the actual objects. which we did
see.
The only time for absolute proof or
fender did not sail the race on Septem-
Der 7th under her measured load water
line length must have been on the
day Of the race. My conduct after the
first race and my attitude towards the
inquiry when offered TO go to New
York, and before the inquiry when /
was present at New York. all show my
belief in that proposition. one which
in my cDin!3n. was self evident. and |
think admitted in evidence by members
of the Cup Committee.
Feeling as do upon this point ! was
unable TO adopt toward the judgment
OF your committee the attitude which I
should unhcsttatngly have taken had
the inquiry been conducted at the proper
timc by the authority under which l
sailed. to which ! made my complaint.
and whose decision l was bound to ac-
cept | fully realized the difficulty of
the situation which had arisen ! think.
largely through mutual mlsunderstan nd
ing and on the evidence before them. I
most willingly accept the main conclu-
sons Of your committee and am only
too glad 10 consider the dispute closed
! cave throughout frequently stated
that ] had no charge TO make against |
Mr.. Iseiin Or the other owners of the |
Defender. and do not agree that he
and his friends, and all connected with |
the vessel must have been aware OF IL |
deeper thau when she was measured. |
AS this is a matter personal to them l |
have written to those gentlemen 10
make the point perfectly clear.
There are TWO less important matters |
to which may briefly refer. l believed |
and fcr the reasons given In evidence |
| think ] was justified In believing that |
the owners CT the Defender knew Of |
my complaint at the time ii was made |
but fully accept Mr.. Iselin's statement |
that he only became ognizant OF 1t |
on October 24th.
have also written TO Messrs Garfield |
and Rogers, admitting the error in my |
belief that the vessels were ordered |
marked in Difference to my request |
made to the Cup Committee on Sept |
Ith, though neither nor anyone c0nnec-
ted with the Valkyrie III. understood |
that the yachts would be marked on |
September Sth. fully accept tlnc state
men;s of Messrs. Garfield and Rogers. |
that they believed they had explained |
the intentions OF the committee to me- |
I remain, my dear Mr.. Phelps. yours
truly. DUNHAVEN.
on February Sth D:r,d Dunraven
wrote to Mr.. George l.. Rives, honorary
secretary Of the special committee, as |
follows.
II beg to acknowledge the RECENT |
Of copy OF the report OF the proceed
lngs of the special committee CT in
quiry, OF the New York Yacht Club, and |
trust that you Will express to the MEM