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THE EVENING SENTINEL, CARLISLE, PA., MONDAY, MAY 12, 1969

Thorpe Remembered RD4 "Farmer" Who Floored Him

By. James M. Bryant
Sentinel Staff Writer

[[photo with caption]]
WELL REMEMBERS THORPE - S. Blain Lehman, 84, a farmer or RD4, recalls the one time he met famed Jim Thorpe, and the consequences was something never forgotten by either man.
Sentinel Staff Photo
[[/photo with caption]]

S. Blaine Lehman, now 84, and living on his 165-acre farm in RD4 has good reason to remember Jim Thorpe.
On the other hand, if Jim Thorpe were still living, he would have equally good reason to remember Lehman.
...Yet the men only actually met once, a nd this was in a football game at Carlisle when the Indian School defeated Lebanon Valley by a score somewhere around 40 -0.
Lehman, still active and erect, has a vivid memory of this encounter, but he is not certain of the exact year. The results of this brief meeting, which was actually for only one quarter of a one-side gootball game, will remain in his mind as long as he shall live.
It was the last play of the first period. Lehman, a 195-lean five-foot-eleven inch youth was at his favorite spot, left end. Thorpe was in the backfield for the rampaging Indians, and Lehman's post possibly could be considered to be a call above and beyond duty.
But Lehman, contrary to some of the other members of his team, had come to play football - Indians or no Indians. Thorpe came his way, and Lehman went for the tackle. All he got was the "big boy's" foot in his mouth, and he spit out three of his front teeth.

Knocked Him Cold

"This not only put blood in my mouth, but in my eyes," he told this reporter. "We kicked off as Thorpe had scored on that play around me. I went for him. Thorpe had the ball, and I left my feet and used my head as a battering ram right into his stomach. Out he went...out cold."
Lehman Glenn "Pop" School coach, rushed on the field, and directed a manager slush a bucket of water on his unconscious star. After making sure Jim would respond, he turned his attention to Lehman.
"Open your mouth," he requested. Lehman did. "I thought I saw blood.  Now you both will go out of the game."
It was just as well for Lehman's future health he left the game, as he learned later the Indians really wanted him back. What they had in mind was not pleasant.

"...That Farmer"

Thorpe remembered the incident, as it was one of the very few times whe was put out of the game. On his last visit a couple of years before his death, he asked for, "That farmer that knocked me out."
Lehman has lived on his present farm for 29 years. He makes his home with his third wife, the former Mrs. Christine Deal a widow from Everette, Bedford County whom he married in 1966. He was widowed two times prior to his present marriage, and is childless.
He was born to Mr. nad Mrs. John E. Lehman July 22, 1818 in Chambersburg. He went to "country school," and later to the now-defunct Chambersburg Academy, and from there to Lebanon Valley College. He did not complete his college work, as his father became ill, and he had to work on the 190 acre farm.

Enjoyed Game

He always enjoyed playing the rugged game of football, and his weight and height coupled with speed made him a good end.
"I was nowhere near as fast Thorpe," he hastened to add. This is really a tough comparison as Thorpe was one of the fastest men ever to play.
Football was a really rough game a half century plus ago. "We played for blood," he said, and said only 15 to 20 players would make up a squad, and usually the starters played the entire game.
Lebanon Valley met the best of its era. The schedule included Penn State, Steelton YMCA ("a really tought team," he said), Gettysburg, Ursinus, Franklin and Marshall, Bucknell.
…. And then there was the game with the Indians as Carlisle.
"Our college got about $500 or $600 to play them, so the schedule was set," he said.

Cites Fear

He remembers actual fear gripped the players on his team. There was Lester Appenseller, captain from Chambersburg who Lebanon characterized as, "..a great big man six-foot-three who played in the back." 
"....He actually cried like a baby when he learned we were to play the Indians," je said later.
The day of the game was rainey, cold and mean. The Lebanon Valley boys were assigned to a barn to dress, and this was an opportunity for the big Indians to parade around the barn, and throw more fear in the smaller Lebanon County organization. "...We were beaten before we got out on the field," he said.

last Survivor

Next game the game, and the benching of the two players. "We shook hands after the game and Thorpe said, 'You really gave it to me boy, but I see what I did to you,'" Lehman believes he is the last survivor of his team.
This was really the last Lehman ever saw of Thorpe, but he admired this super-star of super-stars, and followed his varied career.
"Taking those medals away was a dirty deal," he said. "It was politics. They didn't want an Indian to have all those honors." He was referring to the action after the 1912 Olympics.
Just a few years ago he ran into a former teammate of Thorpe. This man was, "...A five-by-five who played center," Lehman said. "He would powerful, and would pass the ball back, and just stand there, and nobody could move him."
In the 1960's Lehman made a trip to Alaska, and near Juno met another teammate of Thorpe. "He was know as 'skipper,'" Lehman said.
Lehman delayed the departure of the tourist ship as he talked with this man about Carlisle. "Skipper" asked for several deceased local people including Samuel Hertzler, John Hoy, and John Corman.
"I came to Carlisle as a youngster and couldn't read or write. I left with a high school education," Skipper, still tall and straight, said.
Maybe this is the entire point. Possible the exploits of Thorpe may overshadow the really fine role the school played at that time bringing elucation to a people not equipped for the world even then.

Indians "Powerful"


How does Lehman think the Indians would go today against them modern teams?
"They'd (the Indians) would right over them. They played as one man."
He watches and knows football today, but doesn't like the modern game. Maybe its because there are no Jim Thorpes 
….They come along maybe once every hundred years.

Transcription Notes:
Several typos in the newspaper text - typed as printed.