Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

One member of the Spokane Tribe was dead and another under arrest after a fight turned bloody in a camp above the Spokane River near Fairmount Cemetery.

The Spokane Daily Chronicle said a number of tribal members had come to Spokane to buy spring supplies and were camped in tepees near the river. Obed Williams and John Alexander had apparently been quarreling for a long time for unknown reasons.

Both returned to camp from downtown about 11 p.m. and began arguing. Williams later told police that Alexander pinioned him to the ground, held a knife to his throat and said, “I could cut your throat now if I wanted to.” Then Alexander turned the knife around and “struck me on the forehead with the handle.”

Williams claimed that he blacked out and remembered nothing after that. However, it was Alexander who ended up dead and Williams was under arrest. Alexander’s body was taken away in a wagon by two women, so police were still trying to determine the cause of death.

From the business beat: A large new woolen mill, owned by Portland Woolen Mills, was ready to begin production near Parkwater on the east side of Spokane. A photo showed two large buildings nearly complete. The Spokane Daily Chronicle said the mill’s capacity would be 15,000 yards of material a day and that it would run 24 hours a day.