100 years ago in Spokane: Girl nearly frightened to death

From our archives, 100 years ago

A bizarre medical case had Spokane doctors baffled: Margaret Heine, 8, was frightened almost to death.

Margaret was in serious condition at Sacred Heart Hospital with a case of fright and “hysteria.” A doctor said the child’s fright was “the most complete he ever witnessed.”

It all began when Margaret and her two sisters were walking home from Cooper School. They were in an uninhabited stretch of woods when a man, about 30 and roughly dressed, jumped out of the bushes and began running after them.

The girls screamed and ran until they ran into the park “keeper” at Minnehaha Park. Margaret “fell fainting into the arms” of the keeper.

The effects of her fright wore off that night and she was in good spirits the next day. However, the day after that she became upset and “hysteria in its most violent form” commenced.

“By night she was almost uncontrollable and yesterday it was decided take her to the hospital,” the paper said.

An older sister stayed at her hospital bedside holding her hand and trying to comfort her. However, “fears are felt for her reason.”

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1906: A devastating earthquake struck San Francisco, followed by raging fires; estimates of the final death toll range between 3,000 and 6,000.

1966: “The Sound of Music” won the Oscar for best picture of 1965 at the 38th Academy Awards.