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

Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

High water in the Spokane River reached its highest stage in 19 years, and the Howard Street Bridge was in trouble.

A logjam slammed into three of the bridge piers and was tangled under the bridge. A crew of loggers from the Phoenix Mill “struggled all afternoon in vain in the swift water trying to untangle the logjam.” 

The Washington Water Power Co.’s streetcars were ordered to “run its cars so that but one car at a time can go over the bridge.”

High water also flooded the sawmill at McGoldrick Lumber Co., throwing 150 men out of employment.

From the circus beat: The Al G. Barnes Wild Animal Show arrived in Spokane, bringing an array of “denizens of the sea, strange deer species from Asiatic mountains, animals from the Arctic, animals from the tropics and many kinds of four-footed beasts.” 

A photo depicted famed heavyweight pugilist Luther McCarthy riding “one of his favorite camels.”

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1911: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Standard Oil Co. was a monopoly in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act and ordered its breakup.

1942: Wartime gasoline rationing went into effect in 17 Eastern states, limiting sales to 3 gallons a week for nonessential vehicles.