Jim Kershner’s This day in history » On the Web: spokesman.com/topics/local-history

From our archives, 100 years ago

The St. Patrick’s Day spirit filled an unlikely figure: Enoch A. Bryan, the president of Washington State College in Pullman.

The event was a St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the auditorium. Bryan, who normally maintained a “dignified” bearing, told the 1,000 assembled students that if only the faculty were not present, he would sing an Irish song.

“The entire faculty made a rush for the door,” said the Spokane Daily Chronicle.

Bryan then launched into a rollicking Irish ballad, which produced “cheer on cheer” from the students, despite a “rather doubtful” melody.

Bryan Hall is named in his honor.

From the drug beat: Sung Quong, arrested for selling opium at his storefront next to City Hall, jumped his bail before his court date.

He forfeited $20 bail and all of his confiscated opium.

From the vice beat: An actor at a local theater was in county jail for “writing obscene notes to boys.” He denied a further charge of having “attacked” little girls.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1766: Britain repealed the Stamp Act of 1765. … 1861: Sam Houston stepped down as governor of Texas after refusing to accept the state’s decision to secede from the Union.