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

100 years ago in Spokane: James Hill, namesake of Hillyard, dies

From our archives, 100 years ago

James J. Hill, 77, known as the “Empire Builder,” died at his home in St. Paul.

This was front page news in Spokane because Hill was the founder of the Great Northern railroad, one of the cornerstones of Spokane’s history and prosperity. The town of Hillyard — not yet annexed into Spokane — was named for Hill.

Flags were flying at half-staff at Spokane’s railroad depot, the Washington Water Power building and at the Davenport Hotel. The Spokane chamber of commerce issued a statement saying that the “Northwest had lost its best friend and the world one of its greatest leaders.”

From the divorce beat: Judge Kenneth Mackintosh denied Spokane tycoon R. Lewis Rutter a divorce, and instead granted Rutter’s wife a separate maintenance allowance of $500 per month.

The judge compared Rutter to the captain of a ship, who should be not allowed “to take to the lifeboat alone.” Pursuing this metaphor, the judge said that there had been “no mutiny” amongst the crew (Mrs. Rutter). The crew, he said, was “only seasick.”