Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

A portrait of Long Elk, “the oldest Indian of the Colville Tribe,” graced the front page of the Spokane Daily Chronicle.

Long Elk was visiting Spokane, a place he remembered from before there were any buildings whatsoever. 

“All around, nobody here,” he was quoted as saying.

When asked how old he was, he said that, when he was a boy, “the big pines were little bushes and the Columbia River was a creek.”

More seriously, he said he has counted 83 “snows,” or winters, but he didn’t start counting until he was a young man. He said he traveled all over this area when white people were just coming into the country.

He was nearly 100 years old, by the best estimate. He had several sons who were old men. Long Elk was described as “spry and fairly healthy.” 

He said he intended to return to his ranch outside of Curlew and remain there until he died.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1890: The Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in Washington, D.C.

1932: The first American political telecast took place as the Democratic National Committee sponsored a program from a CBS television studio in New York.