Path lit by lightning, p.68
Path Lit by Lightning, page 68
When the one-year anniversary: Pratt papers, box 22, folder 716, Beinecke.
Two of the original group were not alive: Depiction of the first two student deaths and the alarming rate of death in early years drawn from cemetery information and mortuary documents related to Abraham Lincoln, member of the Cheyenne nation, and Amos LaFramboise, member of the Sioux nation, CISDRC; Natalia Flores, “Life and Death in the Carlisle Indian Industrial School,” St. Mary’s University Research Scholars, March 8, 2018. Jacqueline Fear-Segal, “Institutional Death and Ceremonial Healing Far From Home,” Museum Anthropology Volume 33, Issue 2, Fall 2010; also interview with Barbara Landis, CCHS.
Luther Standing Bear… would become: Standing Bear, My People, the Sioux; box 8, Momaday files, Beinecke.
He was a believer in using the media: Pratt papers, box 30, files 813–833, Beinecke.
That some would go back: “Breaking Away from the Reservation,” April 21 1894, address to students, Pratt papers, folder 650, Beinecke.
The early months of 1904: Cemetery information and mortuary documents related to Cooki Glook from Point Barrow, Alaska, and Wade Ayers from the Catawba nation in South Carolina; Carlisle Arrow, January 1904.
Pop Warner took his leave: Red Man, Feb. 5, 1904. “Announcement that Mr. G.S. Warner, our able football coach for five years, has been recalled to his Alma Mater, Cornell, to resume his former place as coach with ample powers…. Our loss is Cornell’s gain.”
Pratt… was also on his way out: “Report of School at Carlisle, Pa.,” Department of the Interior, Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1904; Pratt papers, folder 654, Beinecke, CISDRC. Pratt said of Leupp: “I doubt if there is one Indian in the United States who will say that Mr. Leupp took him by the hand and encouraged and materially aided him to enter the avenues of higher education and usefulness looking to citizenship.”
On the first two days of April: Red Man, April 1, 1904.
The Outing system had been run: History of Outing system in Carlisle Arrow and Red Man, June 7, 1918.
“I was anxious to go”: “Red Son of Carlisle,” 17–19; James Thorpe Student File, James Thorpe Progress Card, CISDRC.
CHAPTER 4: HIGH JUMP
the truck farm of Harley Bozarth: Red Son of Carlisle, 18–19; 1905 New Jersey State Census for Hamilton Township; James Thorpe Progress Card, CISDRC; A Narrative History of Hamilton Township, Mercer County, NJ (Written by People Who Live Here) Historical Society of Hamilton, N.J., January 1990; interviews with Barbara Landis, CCHS, and Tom Salva, local researcher Robbinsville, N.J.; Outing Reports of Cleveland Schuyler, Leonard Lester, and James Pino at Bozarth Farm, CISDRC.
“James Thorpe is in the guardhouse”: Newcombe, The Best of the Athletic Boys, 65.
“rankled in my heart for many years”: “Red Son of Carlisle,” 19.
The tale was refashioned: Account of Thorpe at the high jump pit drawn from Warner, Pop Warner: Football’s Greatest Teacher, 30–31; “Red Son of Carlisle,” 20; Miller, Pop Warner, 78–79: Pop Warner, “Red Menace,” Collier’s, October 1931.
Warner saw enough promise in Jim: Wheeler, Jim Thorpe: World’s Greatest Athlete, 52; Buford, Native American Son, 42.
The spring was unusually wet: Carlisle Arrow, April 19 and April 26, 1907, account of Field Day competition. “Saturday afternoon will long linger in the memory of the student body as one of the most successful Class-contest days in the history of the school.”
President Roosevelt had established Arbor Day: Carlisle Arrow, Feb. 11, 1907; April 27, 1907; and April 19, 1912.
Jim had success that track season: Carlisle Arrow, May 3, May 10, May 17, May 24, May 31, 1907.
The three were well-known: Account of three Carlisle players in Sunset League from Carlisle Arrow, Aug. 23 and Sept. 20, 1907; Student Files Michael Balenti, William Newashe, and William Garlow, CISDRC; Baltimore Sun, July 21, 1907; Washington Post, Aug. 8, 1907; Frederick Magazine (Md.), April 29, 2013; Class D Blue Ridge League History: “The Sunset League, which got its name because the games were played in the late afternoon and lasted until the sun had set into darkness, lasted until 1911.”
Jim remained at Carlisle: Carlisle Arrow, July 12, July 19, and Aug. 23, 1907; Newcombe, 98–99.
Pratt’s successor: Personnel File of William A. Mercer, Superintendent, July 1, 1904–Feb. 1, 1908; Carlisle Arrow, April 20, 1904; Army and Navy Journal, July 9, 1904; Joseph Cress, “Tour Through Time,” Carlisle Sentinel, July 9, 2021.
The arts program was run: Depiction of De Cora and Lone Star Dietz drawn from Linda Waggoner, “On Trial,” Montana Spring 2013; Angel De Cora Personnel File, De Cora Reports on the Condition of the Art Department at Carlisle, CISDRC; Indian Craftsman, February 1909.
All money from ticket sales: Carlisle Indian School Hearings before the Joint Commission of the Congress of the United States to Investigate Indian Affairs, Part II, Feb. 6, 7, 8, and March 25, 1914.
That freedom was the main reason: Miller, Pop Warner, 73–75; Warner, Pop Warner, 115–16.
The game seemed a case: Depiction of injury reports and early football drawn from Spokane Press, Nov. 30, 1905; Oriard, Reading Football, 164–165, 170–171; “How Teddy Roosevelt Saved Football,” Washington Post, May 29, 2014; Peterson, Pigskin, 17–20, 45–47.
Warner encountered the Indians: Depiction of Warner drawn from Warner, Pop Warner: Football’s Greatest Teacher, 37–57; Jenkins, The Real All Americans, 165–166, 247–251; Indian Craftsman, vol. 1, no. 2; Newcombe, 83–86; Buford, 62; Warner documents in CISDRC.
In that fall of 1907: Carlisle Arrow, Sept. 6 and 13, 1907.
The first football practice: (Special to) Minneapolis Tribune, Sept. 1, 1907; Harrisburg Telegraph, Sept. 3, 1907; Carlisle Arrow, Sept. 6, 1907. Of the move to new quarters, the student paper reported: “They like the move very much, especially the training tables.”
As Thorpe later told the story: Depiction of Thorpe joining football team and being mentored by Exendine drawn from “Red Son of Carlisle,” 21; Newcombe, 107–109; Carlisle Arrow, Sept. 6, 1907; Wheeler, 52–54; Anderson, Carlisle vs. Army, 139–40.
The Lebanon Valley opener: Account of first five games of 1907 drawn from Philadelphia Inquirer, Boston Globe, Pittsburgh Press, Sept. 22, 1907; York (PA) Gazette, Philadelphia Inquirer, Sept. 29, 1907; Pittsburgh Daily Post, Oct. 3, 1907; Pittsburgh Press, Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct. 6, 1907; Buffalo Times, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Oct. 13, 1907; Carlisle Arrow, Sept. 27, Oct. 4, and Oct. 11, 1907.
Now came Bucknell: Philadelphia Ledger, Philadelphia Press, Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct. 20, 1907; Carlisle Arrow, Oct. 25, 1907.
The game illuminated: Account of Carlisle game against Penn drawn from Philadelphia Inquirer, New York Times, Chicago Inter Ocean, Harrisburg Courier, Oct. 27, 1907.
Thorpe’s memories of the Penn game: “Red Son of Carlisle,” 22.
The teams played in a steady downpour: Account of Princeton game drawn from New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Nov. 3, 1907; Carlisle Arrow, Nov. 8, 1907; “Red Son of Carlisle,” 23.
Jim was promoted: Carlisle Arrow, Oct. 18, 1907.
“We had a private car”: “Red Son of Carlisle,” 24; Minneapolis Tribune, Nov. 14, 1907: “The Carlisle football team, composed of 20 redskin players… left here at noon yesterday in the private car ‘Youngstown’ on their Western football trip.”
That game… was an all-star: Account of game against Chicago and football injuries drawn from Chicago Tribune, Nov. 24, 1907.
CHAPTER 5: ATHLETIC DUTIES ABOVE EVERYTHING
It came in the form of a guest article: Chicago Tribune, Nov. 24, 1907.
Wassaja was Montezuma’s birth name: Description of Montezuma’s early life from Maurice Crandall, “Wassaja Comes Home,” Journal of Arizona History, Spring 2014; Peter Iverson, Carlos Montezuma and the Changing World of American Indians (University of New Mexico Press, 1984), 1–15.
He arrived at Carlisle: Iverson, Carlos Montezuma, 24; Carlos Montezuma Collection, letters to Richard Henry Pratt, Newberry Library. Pratt and Montezuma corresponded over many decades and most of the letters have been digitized by Newberry.
There was “no such thing as Indian art”: Draft of article on Carlisle and the art studio, undated, Montezuma Collection, Newberry Library.
Thompson wrote Montezuma: CCHS copy of letter; also Jenkins, The Real All Americans, 242.
Montezuma took up the cause with fervor: Chicago Tribune, Nov. 24, 1907.
Montezuma’s complaint was soon amplified: Minneapolis Tribune, Dec. 5, 1907, from “Accusations of Professionalism on the Carlisle Football Team” file, CISDRC.
the first return volley: Tomahawk, Nov. 28, 1907, republished by Star Tribune and Carlisle Arrow later, archived by CISDRC, along with Little Boy personal file.
His mission was to save: New York Times, Dec. 7, 1907. The Times simply republished Warner’s response under the headline “Indians’ Famous Coach Answers Critics of Successful Football Team.”
Superintendent Mercer… called the controversy: “Accusations of Professionalism on the Carlisle Football Team,” CISDRC. Mercer claimed, without substantiating evidence, that Montezuma’s story in the Tribune “was prepared and held with the intention of not publishing it in case Carlisle lost the game.”
Left unsaid was the fact: Account of Carlisle football financial situation drawn from “Accusations of Professionalism on the Carlisle Football Team” file, CISDRC; also Carlisle Indian School Hearings before the Joint Commission of the Congress of the United States to Investigate Indian Affairs, Part II, Feb. 6, 7, 8, and March 25, 1914.
“You and I know that no one”: Montezuma letter to Thompson, Montezuma files, Jan. 12, 1907, CISDRC.
On the Monday of Christmas week: Carlisle Arrow, Dec. 27, 1907.
Among those celebrating: Richard Kesetta Progress Card, CISDRC.
Her Lipan name: Account of Kisetta Roosevelt drawn from Kisetta Roosevelt Student Information Cards, Cover Letter Concerning Receipt of Two Lipan Children, Correspondence Concerning Richard Kesetta, CISDRC; also interview with Barbara Landis, CCHS.
Superintendent Mercer’s gift: Letter from Secretary of the Interior to the Secretary of War, Dec. 26, 1907, Mercer Personnel File, CISDRC. In his resignation letter, Mercer also wrote: “Though in good physical health, I have, for the past several months, experienced at frequent intervals severe pains in my head with consequent temporary loss of brain power.”
CHAPTER 6: THE NEWEST STAR
One mid-February night in 1908: Carlisle Arrow, Feb. 21, 1908.
Two weeks later, on February 27: Carlisle Arrow, Feb. 28, 1908; New York Evening World, Feb. 24, 1908.
He was the star of the spring: Account of Thorpe’s 1908 track season drawn from Carlisle Arrow, May 1, 8, 15, and 22, 1908; “Red Son of Carlisle,” 25; Elmira Star-Gazette, May 14–15, 1908: “Two thousand people shivered in the grandstand or stood in the drizzling rain on the field and at the track side from 2 in the afternoon until after 6 and never for a minute lost their interest or enthusiasm.”
“he makes a fine teacher”: Carlisle Arrow, May 22, 1908.
“James Thorpe… went to his house”: Account of Thorpe in Oklahoma drawn from Carlisle Arrow, June 19, 1908; “Red Son of Carlisle,” 26–27; Newcombe, The Best of the Athletic Boys, 129–132; Mike Koehler unpublished manuscript.
The first attempt… came in November 1876: Account of early football organization and rules drawn from Peterson, Pigskin, 15; Oriard, Reading Football, 164; Danzig, The History of American Football, 70–71; Minneapolis Tribune, Nov. 22, 1908.
The team Pop Warner fielded: Lineup from Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct. 24, 1908; “Red Son of Carlisle,” 29; player information from student information files, CISDRC.
what was the national landscape: “1908 College Football National Championship,” Tiptop25.com; Spalding’s Football Guide, 1909; “1908 College Football Schedule and Results,” Sports Reference website.
When Chicago played Wisconsin: Chicago Inter Ocean, Chicago Tribune, Nov. 22, 1908.
Thorpe seized national attention: Wilmington News Journal, Sept. 24, 1908; Philadelphia Inquirer, Sept. 27, Oct. 4, 1908; Wilkes-Barre News, Oct. 5, 1908; Buffalo Times, Oct. 11, 1908; Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Oct. 11, 1908; Carlisle Arrow, Sept. 25, Oct. 2, Oct. 9, Oct. 16, 1908.
At the Wednesday practice: Account of week of rivalry Penn game drawn from Carlisle Arrow, Oct. 30, 1908; Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct. 22–25, 1908; Washington Star, Oct. 25, 1908; Buffalo Enquirer, Nov. 3, 1908; “Red Son of Carlisle,” 27–28.
One of the losses was to Harvard: New York Sun, Nov. 8, 1908; St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Nov. 9, 1908; Boston Globe, Nov. 8, 1908; Carlisle Arrow, Nov. 13, 1908.
Friedman was the third superintendent: Carlisle Arrow, March 6, 1908; Rabbi Charles J. Freund, “Moses Friedman an Apostate—An Interesting Communication,” American Israelite, July 1915; Buford, Native American Son, 74; Crawford, All American, 89–90.
The first stop: Pittsburgh Daily Post and St. Louis Globe-Democrat, Nov. 15, 1908; Carlisle Arrow, Nov. 20, 1908.
Minnesota threw the ball: Account of game and postgame celebration in Minneapolis Tribune, Nov. 22, 1908; Carlisle Arrow, Nov. 27, 1908.
For Carlisle, the long road trip continued: Official Guide of the Railways, 1908–1910.
On the day before Thanksgiving: Account of unveiling of Sheridan statue drawn from Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, et al., Nov. 2, 1908. The event was front-page news in papers from Bemidji, Minnesota, to Emporia, Kansas.
The coming of the Indians thrilled: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Nov. 26–27, 1908.
The Carlisle squad had five days: Account of Carlisle team in Nebraska drawn from Lincoln Star Journal, Nov. 28–Dec. 4, 1908; Nebraska State Journal, Nov. 29–Dec. 3, 1908.
It was George Flippen: Lincoln Star Journal, Dec. 4, 1908; Jon Johnston, “Nebraska’s George Flippin and a History of Black Football Players in the Big Ten,” June 23, 2011, Corn Nation (website).
Denver was Carlisle’s last stop: Account of Denver game and controversy of whether the game would be played drawn from Butte Daily Post, Dec. 1, 1908; San Francisco Examiner, New-York Tribune, Chicago Inter Ocean, Denver Post, Dec. 6, 1908; Carlisle Arrow, Dec. 11, 1908; CISDRC file on Denver controversy including letters and telegrams to and from the White House from Nov. 17 to Dec. 1, 1908.
Joseph Twin was a Winnebago: Depiction of the elopement drawn from Joseph W. Twin Student Information File, CISDRC; exchange of letters between Supt. Friedman and Dept. of Interior, CISDRC; “This Indian Couple Eloped from Carlisle,” Altoona Tribune, Dec. 3, 1908.
Thorpe returned to Carlisle in time: Hartford Courant, Dec. 17, 1908; Kansas City Times, Dec. 23, 1908; Carlisle Arrow, Nov. 13, 1908. In account of Little Boy being denied captaincy, reporter added: “Fritz Hendricks will also be prevented from playing again on account of the four-year eligibility rule.”
Twice that winter: Student Information Cards, Thorpe and Burd, CISDRC; Carlisle Arrow, Feb. 12 and 19, March 26, April 16, 23, and 30, May 7 and, 14, 1908; Harrisburg Daily Independent and, Philadelphia Inquirer, May 30, 1909.
During much of April and May: Philadelphia Inquirer, April 4, 1909; Washington Post, April 19, 1909; Carlisle Arrow, April 23 and 30, May 7, 14, 21, and 28, 1909; Crawford, 93–94.
CHAPTER 7: RAILROADED
The publisher of the Rocky Mount Record: Rocky Mount Telegram, July 12, 1959, reprinting recollections of Sam Mallison, cub reporter in 1910. Also recalled in Mallison’s memoir, Let’s Set a Spell, Education Foundation, Inc., January 1962.
The most important lie: Warner, Pop Warner: Football’s Greatest Coach, 127.
Wrong in every respect: Thorpe Student Information Card and Progress Card, CISDRC; Crawford, All American, 119; Newcombe, The Best of the Athletic Boys, 139.
By Thorpe’s own account: “Red Son of Carlisle,” 30.
Bender was an Ojibwe: Albert Bender Student File, CISDRC. Like Thorpe’s, Bender’s file at Carlisle includes biographical clippings from national newspapers and the Carlisle Arrow.
One among the hundreds: Sporting News, June 28, 1945; Associated Press, June 28, 1945; Kansas State League records; Finn quoted in article ghosted for Christy Mathewson, McClure Newspaper Syndicate, Feb. 3, 1912.
“Few Rocky Mount citizens”: Mallison story recounted in Rocky Mount Telegram, Oct. 10, 2010; also in Mallison, Let’s Set a Spell.
Just being a ballplayer: Newcombe, The Best of the Athletic Boys, 141; more detail in interview with Tom McMillan Sr., Jack Newcombe personal papers; Rocky Mount Telegram, Dec. 12, 1951.
Rocky Mount was mostly flat: Rocky Mount Record, Jan. 30, 1909; Roger Biles, “Tobacco Towns,” North Carolina Historical Review, April 2007; National Register of Historic Places, Dept. of the Interior, Rocky Mount Central Historic District report; Elijah Gaddis, “The June Germans,” NCpedia (website), 2013; Charles Dunn, “Taking a Walk Down the Streets of Old Rocky Mount,” oldrockymount.pbworks.com.
The Railroaders were on the road: Raleigh News & Observer, Raleigh Times, June 15–17, 1909.
That promising start: Leverett T. Smith, “Minor League Baseball in Rocky Mount,” Society for American Baseball Research/SABR (website); “Jim Thorpe Register Batting and Pitching.” Baseball Reference (website).
The year Thorpe came: Account of North Carolina prohibition and its connection to white supremacy drawn from Ben Steelman, “North Carolina Has Complex History with Liquor,” Wilmington Star News, Mar. 6, 2010; Charlotte Observer, Aug. 10, 1909; Raleigh News and Observer, Sept. 7, 1910; Richard L. Watson Jr., “Furnifold Simmons and the Politics of White Supremacy,” Dictionary of North Carolina Biography.
“But when something was unfair”: Libby interview in Mike Koehler unpublished manuscript.
That was but one of many stories: Interview with E. G. Johnston Sr., Rocky Mount Telegram, Oct. 31, 1960.
“Big Chief Goes on Warpath”: Raleigh Times, Raleigh News & Observer, Aug. 26, 1909.
