Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

A huge fire in a Ritzville warehouse destroyed an estimated $100,000 worth of wheat and cordwood. 

The volunteer firemen fought the blaze all night in what was apparently a successful attempt to confine the fire to the Ritzville Warehouse Co.’s warehouse.

However, thousands of bushels of wheat were consumed, along with a giant pile of wood containing 300 cords. Few of the destroyed goods were insured.

It was described as “the largest fire in the history of the town.”

From the drowning beat: A mournful scene played out at the First United Presbyterian Church, where a double funeral was held for two boys, 8 and 10, who had drowned in Hangman Creek.

The boys were swimming in a deep hole created by a railroad trestle. There were no witnesses to the drowning, but authorities surmised that one of the boys died while trying to save the other. 

The pastor issued a plea for the city to provide lifeguards at this and other popular swimming holes in Spokane.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

2014: The U.S. unleashed its first airstrikes against the Islamic State group in northern Iraq amid a worsening humanitarian crisis.