Jim Kershner’s this day in history
Sat., July 4, 2015
From our archives, 100 years ago
The little town of Cataldo, Idaho, was wiped out by an early morning fire.
The blaze, cause unknown, consumed every building in the small business district, including a general store, a hotel, a railway freight house and a saloon.
The fire started at the rear of the hotel and residents organized a bucket brigade, but it was too late. “Neighbors are taking care of the families burned out of home,” a correspondent said.
From the regatta beat: The annual Coeur d’Alene Regatta provided plenty of entertainment. Besides the boat races and swimming contests, there was an exhibition of “aqua-planing,” consisting of a surfboard towed by a boat. Norman Talmadge, an expert, was able to stay upright. However, “much merriment was caused” when two swimmers tried to ride the board and fell off repeatedly.
From the accident beat: “Uncle Don” Cameron, 74, was overcome by an attack of vertigo and fell off the steamer Northern on Lake Pend Oreille.
Nobody noticed until a deckhand saw Uncle Don swimming far behind. Uncle Don was in the water for 10 minutes before the boat was able to turn around and pick him up.
“Why didn’t you holler?” someone asked.
“I never hollered in my life and I wasn’t going to break the record,” said Uncle Don.
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