From our archives, 100 years ago

The Spokesman-Review interviewed pioneer Joel F. Warren about his early days as one of Spokane’s first lawmen. He said the man who hired him, Eugene Hyde, gave him the following advice when he was sworn in in 1879:

“Read the ordinances, Joe, and never lose a fight. If you lose, it will have a bad effect upon the community, and cause you lots of trouble.”

Warren also recalled downtown Spokane’s rough beginnings.

“There were always a few blood-curdling four-flushers in town,” Warren said. “I remember one fellow who called himself ‘Wild Bill.’ He blew into town with a mammoth six-shooter strapped to his person and carrying a bowie-knife in his boot. … Wild Bill carried things with a free hand and entered a saloon on Howard Street. He was running the house with the aid of a gun, was doing as he pleased. I went in and told him he was under arrest. Wild Bill cried and begged me not to shoot him.”

From the food beat: Spokane’s most elegant new restaurant, the Cafe St. Germain, advertised some exotic fare, including Consomme Printaniere, Potage of Cauliflower, Shrimp Newburg en Cases, Potatoes Duchess and Cafe Noir.

The cost of all of this European-style elegance? 75 cents for a full dinner.