Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

A lone “yegg” – that is, safecracker – held off an armed posse during a dramatic confrontation at Long Lake.

Washington Water Power officials received a tip that a burglar was planning to blow the safe at the company’s Long Lake office. So two deputy sheriffs and a WWP agent concealed themselves in the office and waited for the burglar to show up.

At 3:45 a.m., the burglar pried open a window and crept into the room where the men were waiting. One of the deputies “covered him with a pump shotgun” and pulled the trigger.

“The weapon hung fire, however, and it was necessary for the officer to rise to his feet and pump another shell into the chamber before he could discharge the gun,” the Chronicle said. 

The intruder wheeled and fired his own gun, believed to be a Winchester rifle. He missed his mark and jumped back out the window from which he entered. He only had to run 10 feet before he was able to drop down an embankment into the brush. Then he disappeared into the inky night.

The deputy said he regretted he hadn’t just used his six-shooter instead of the shotgun. 

“We left some scars on that wall that will stay there for awhile,” he said.

His regret at letting the man get away was tempered by the fact that they knew the man’s identity, and a warrant was already issued for his arrest.