The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-02-13
FOUR PAGES
Thorpe Loses
Amateur Rank
Worlds Best Athlete Confesses
to Professionalism of Long
Standing and Loses
His Medals

who follow athletic events-has ad-
mitted that he is professional. That
means that he has accepted money
for his services in athletic compe-
tition. That means that he is for
ever barred from taking part in track
meets, football games or baseball
games in which amateurs figure, and,
most especially, that he may not
again show his wonderful prowess in
the Olympic games, that great inter
national congress of athletes. Thorpe
is, undoubtedly, the greatest all
around athlete in the world. He is a
Sac and Fox Indian, student at the
Carlisle school for Indians. Within
a little more than half year Thorpe,
at Stockholm and in competition
against the world, established new
record and showed his supremacy. He
was recently charged with having
played professional baseball with the
Winston Salem team in North Caro-.
lima. When the charge was brought
home to him Thorpe confessed that
he had been, professional since 1910;
that, technically, at least, he had
taken Olympic honors under false
pretenses. His confession was con
tanned in a letter to the registra-
ton committee of the Amateur Ath-
letic Union, which organization has
general supervision over the eligibil
ity of all athletes who are not in
sports for livelihood. This board
was in session in New York City at
the time, converting to decide
Thorpe's case; In sxte staa.
the Indian stated that he did not play
for the money offered him, but be-
cause he loved the game.
His record is remarkable. His WIN
p;no of the pentathlon and decathloh
events at the Olympic games in Swe'
den and later his wonderful perform
ance in winning the all-around cnam-
n;onship of the Amateur Athletic
/ Union at Celtic Park, New York, last
September, stamped him as the most
marvellous athlete of modern times
In addition, his prowess as a tootoai,
nlayer during the season OF 1917
hroupht to him the honor OF BENG
y GIVEN a place on the All-American
football eleven, "paper Team
n;cked by leading sporting experts
l. from among the best in the great col
lege game. .,.,
J. al, of the medals and insignia O
honor that he has won in competitiol
With amateurs since the time
n,aved baseball for hire. Foreig
sporting men, however, are reporte
a. believing that Thorpe should
allowed to retain his medals. oven
he won them under pretenses OF oein
an amateur. This, too, means TN
the points won by Thorpe for Amer''
NAV not be counted for this countr
Their loss. however, does not tai
victory from Uncle Sam. The &C
rected score gives the United 01a:
70 points. with Finland second WI
20.
In the pentathlon in StocKho
Thorpe finished first in the runnl
broad jump. first in the 2oo'met'
RIM first in the 1500-meters n
first and third in the javelin eve
Tn the decathlon, which consisted
the 1OO-meters dash, running brt
lump. shotput, running high Jul
4OO.meters run, 110-meters hurd
discus throwing, pole vaulting, JaV'
throwing and 1500meters run, Iho
had a percentage of s412.95o, agal
7724495 by Wieslander OF Swee
h;s paarest OppOnent.
Thorpe first was heard OF sew
Years ago as a football player
: the Carlisle team. Later ne spec
lied in ht-throwing, Jumping
running. He also became noted u
lacrosse and baseball player and
- the latter branch OF sport sew
of the major league teams trieo
> procure his services. Only last
Pittsburg and Washington endeav
( to secure him, but the lnoian
r. fused to sign a contract, decl'
that he wished to remain an anna
After the Olympic games in
den last year King Gustave sent
Thorpe to congratulate him on
= nrowess. At first the Indian TIL
declined to meet the monarch
later. when several Of the Anne
= committeeman insisted that ne q
Thorpe went to the palace Iner
king took the Indian by the
and smilingly said: "You are
! greatest athlete in the "ofio'