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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Jim Kershner’s This day in history

From our archives, 50 years ago

Imagine the surprise of sisters Theresa and Elizabeth Kubas when their kitchen door swung open and an Indonesian spider monkey named Chongo came sauntering in.

Chongo, owned by a family on West Indiana Avenue, had been tied to an apple tree. He managed to unhook his chain and go on a walkabout. Police and neighbors were searching for him but didn’t realize that Chongo had made it over to Walnut Street and Nora Avenue.

Theresa and Elizabeth were doing dishes when Chongo came chattering in. Elizabeth fled into a bedroom but Theresa defended herself with a dish towel.

“He just sat there and looked at me while I waved the dish towel at him,” Theresa said. “He managed to stick his hand into our butter dish, though.”

A neighbor boy, alerted to Chongo’s escapades, rushed in and slipped a rope around the monkey’s neck. The police were not far behind. Chongo was escorted back home in a police car.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1938: The Civil Aeronautics Authority was established. … 1947: The Senate joined the House in overriding President Harry S. Truman’s veto of the Taft-Hartley Act, designed to limit the power of organized labor. … 1961: The Antarctic Treaty, intended to ensure that the continent would be used only for peaceful purposes, came into force.