St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-27
NORsENG THE SKATER.
He Did Not Treat the Normanna
Cluh In a Snuara Manner

He Did Not Treat the Normanna
Club In a Square Manner.
The disappearance of Norseng, the
Norwegian skater, from Minneapolis,
and consequent breaking of his contract
with the Normanna Skating club, has
Occasioned considerable comment in the
winter cities. He attempted to explain
his conduct in letter written from Mil
waukee. He placed the Normanna club
in rather bad light. The club is out
with letter to the GLOBE, III which the
facts of its dealing with the Norwegian
skater are set forth. 1t is signed by L.
Asbjornson, the president; A. II. OPP
Sahl, vice president, and o. II. Jules,
secretary. 1t is as follows:
"Adolph Norseng, the noted skater.
who demonstrated his ingratitude to his
friends of the Normanna club, has
caused to be published under his sig
nature a statement III which he seeks to
defend his conduct by inslnuating that
if he chose to detail the treatment ac-
corded him" it would reflect discredit
upon the club. The statement as pub
lished in the newspapers Of Wednesday
bears the imprint of the fine Italian
thumb of H. r. Mcclellan, Hagan's
manager, who inspired Norseng with
the hope of "big profits and large
gains" by deserving those through
whose efforts his coming to America
was made possible. By his conduct in
running away Norseng has placed him
self outside the pale of friendship OF
those of his countrymen VINO admire
honest sport. If Mr.. Norseng had con-
sidered at the time of his going away
that he was not doing dishonest act,
why did he conceal his intention of de-
sorting the club and shame-facedly con-
ceal himself from those who visited the
traid to bid Hagan God-speed?
"When Norseng arrived in Mime
apOliS, we took him Immediately to the
West hotel, and spared no eXertion or
expense to secure his perfect comfort
and every want. At his own request
we gave him the privilege OF selecting a
boarding place near his practice
ground, the rink. He did not secure
such place as fully suited his esthetic
tastes for three or four days, and now
charges the club members with being
responsible for his delay in getting set
tied.
'In the presence of Messrs. Opsahl,
Asbjornson, TorStenson. his brother,
NJ. Norseng and several others, Nor
seng verbally agreed to desert the ANA
teur ranks and skate DonOghue for a
stake, if the latter would race. While
in the midst of our negotiations with
the American champion, NOrseng de-
serted us without word or token of
his intention, Just as the time that ar
engagements with Donoghue for race
seemed brightest of settlement. Now
NoIseng asks why we do not attempt to
bring him back under our contract
He knows that no written contract is III
existence. We depended upon his word
as a man, but have found to our sorrow
and expense that his simple word is not
of the value formerly credited to it by
his fellow cOGntrymen.
"'These affairs make athletics I'M
popular he writes from the cover OF
several hundred of miles distant. Such
conduct as that of Norseng tends to
make not only athletics unpopular, but
surrounds the athlete who is guilty of
such gross ingratitude, not to say dis
honesty. with an unpleasant odor that
intenSitieS and thlckenS as he nearS
his home.
"Many of us are of the belief that
Norscng's belittling conduct was bene-
fetal to the Normanna club. The argu-
ment is that man guilty of deliberate
ly breaking his word as Norseng, would
not hesitate to sell out race and his
friends if the proper inducements were
offered him.
1--WE are not only disguised with Nor
seng's reprehensible conduct that has
done so much to humiliate sport. but
are ashamed because he is everywhere
credited with being our fellow country
man."