Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Spokane city librarian G.W. Fuller was on his way to New York to make a presentation to the Carnegie Library Board, seeking a donation to greatly expand Spokane’s library.

The library had been growing by “leaps and bounds” and had outgrown its present building. This was due not only to the city’s natural growth, but to the efforts of Fuller himself, who had instituted a policy “of taking the library to the people.” Fuller was nicknamed “The Library Militant.”

He had high hopes that the Carnegie board would give the city a donation for expansion.

From the accident beat: Mike Lombardi, 27, a laborer from Rosalia, Wash., fell 12 feet into an open excavation pit on Trent Avenue near Browne Street. He was in the pit for hours, unable to move, until his cries were heard by policemen walking their beat at 2:30 a.m.

His neck was broken and he was totally paralyzed. However, physicians said his condition was “very favorable.”

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1942: The naval Battle of Guadalcanal ended during World War II with a decisive U.S. victory over Japanese forces. … 1966: The flight of Gemini 12 ended successfully as astronauts James A. Lovell and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. splashed down safely in the Atlantic.