Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Eddie Westrom and Roy Stovall, both 11, were playing on the banks of the Spokane River near Howard Street when suddenly, an apparition floated to the surface. It was a man’s body.

The frightened boys raced to the police station and excitedly reported their find. Police responded and found the drowned body of George Giles, or Ziles, of Wallace, Idaho. His identity was established through a soggy meal ticket found in his pocket, issued by a Wallace restaurant. He had been in the water a week or longer.

From the accident beat: Eddie Gray, 10, was playing baseball during recess with his teacher at Riverton, just north of Sandpoint

The teacher batted a ball that struck Eddie. It was not “a hard regulation baseball,” nor was it hit particularly hard. However, it struck Eddie in exactly the wrong spot, right above the heart.

Eddie died instantly.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1912: Former President Theodore Roosevelt, campaigning for the White House as the Progressive (“Bull Moose”) candidate, went ahead with a speech in Milwaukee after being shot in the chest by New York saloonkeeper John Schrank, declaring, “It takes more than one bullet to kill a bull moose.”