100 years ago: Spokane man reported to have died in World War I says reports of his demise ‘greatly exaggerated’

Lt. L.S. “Babe” Wilson, a well-known Spokane man, had been reported dead in France.

Yet he was happy to report that he was alive and well and “enjoying the hospitality of the French people in Paris.”

His family, now residing in Portland, had been mourning him after they had received a report of his death.

His friend, Cliff MacDonald of Spokane, received a letter from Wilson in which he said reports of his death had been greatly exaggerated. Wilson had been a star high school athlete in Spokane before going into the Army.

From the club beat: A group called the Spokane Business Girls’ Club was planning a big club outing to either Glacier National Park or Yellowstone National Park. Arrangements were being made.

In addition, the club organized a camera and hiking club, which was planning weekly hikes during the summer.

From the fur beat: Spokane’s fur dealers predicted a shortage of supply in the summer.

The reason: The flu epidemic had devastated the trappers, “both white and Indian,” of Canada and Alaska.