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Jim Thorpe at the 1912 Olympics....
Jim Thorpe at the 1912 Olympics....
Item # 640046
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July 19, 1912
VALLEY SENTINEL, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, July 19, 1912 Although legendary athlete Jim Thorpe was born & grew up in Oklahoma, he has very close ties with the city of Carlisle. It was in 1904 when Thorpe attended the Carlisle Indian Industrial School that his incredible athletic prowess was discovered by "Pop" Warner, one of the most influential coaches in early football history. Three year later while still at Carlisle Thorpe walked on to the track and made an impromptu high jump in street clothes, beating the school's high jumpers. He also competed in football, baseball, lacrosse, and even won the 1912 inter-collegiate ballroom dancing championship.
Thorpe came to national attention during the 1911 football season as a running back, defensive back, placekicker, and punter, leading his team to the national collegiate championship in 1912, the year in which Carlisle's victory over Army included an injury by future President Dwight Eisenhower while attempting to tackle Thorpe.
But it was in track and field where he won Olympic gold at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden, for both the pentathlon and decathlon.
This Carlisle newspaper reports on page 5 America's victories at the Sweden Olympics. The one column heads read: "AMERICA WINS THE OLYMPIAD" "Victorious Athletes Receive Prizes From King""Sweden In Second Place" "James Thorpe, the Carlisle Indian, Again Carries Old Glory to Victory In the Decathlon" This article seen in the photos mentions Thorpe's victory in part: "...the feature of the last events was the winning of the Decathlon by James Thorpe, a 'real American'. Thorpe is an American Indian and wears the colors of the Carlisle Indian School. Thorpe had previously won the Pentathlon, and when he swept the Star Spangled Banner to victory again the great stadium rang with cheers...".
The top of the last column on the back page has coverage of Jim
Thorpe winning the decathlon, with heads: "Carlisle Indian Again Wins In Olympiad" "Thorpe Proves His Ability As All-Around Athlete" (see). Of special significance is a nice full-figure photo of "James Thorpe" at the Olympics (see).
Truly terrific to not only have these reports in a newspaper from the city where he lived as he gained both Olympic and international fame, but to also have mention of the Carlisle Indian School within the text of the article.
Complete in 8 pages, light browning with minor margin wear, otherwise good condition. Should be handled with care.
Category: The 20th Century
No Longer Available
