100 years ago in Spokane: Bulldog attacks spectators at basketball game at North Central High School

From our archives,

100 years ago

A snarling bulldog swaggered into a basketball game at North Central High School and committed a series of flagrant fouls.

The Harrington and Davenport high school teams were playing in the league championship tournament at NC when a “Boston bulldog” somehow clambered up into the balcony.

The dog proceeded to take on a few spectators. One Harrington student was bitten in the back of the thigh and taken to the hospital for treatment. “He will be disabled for at least a week,” said doctors.

Officials halted the game while spectators corralled the aggressive dog and ejected it. The dog was “thought to be disposed of.”

It wasn’t.

A few minutes later, the dog rumbled back into the building. This time, it ran directly onto the court, and “started after the ball while it was in action.”

“The players began to leap and scatter and dash for safety,” said the paper.

One “nervy” Davenport player named Olsen ran after the dog and tried to kick it in the head. The dog snapped viciously at Olsen, seized the player’s stocking in his teeth, and tore it off.

Finally, another player grabbed the bulldog from behind and “pitched it from the room.” The game resumed and Harrington won.