Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

About 10,000 visitors jammed Lewiston – “the largest crowd in its history” – for the celebration of the opening of The Dalles-Celilo Canal, which opened the Columbia River up to the sea.

The big event was a “decorated parade, which took an hour to pass a given point.” Then there was street dance and a “big fete at the waterfront,” at which decorated steamboats embarked for a progressive celebration to continue for days until it arrived at Astoria.

The Spokane Daily Chronicle said there was “only one thing to mar the program,” the drowning of Roy V. Hutchinson, a student at Washington State College and member of the college band.

Hutchinson was standing on a platform over the stern wheel of the steamer J.N. Teal, of Portland, with a number of other people. Their combined weight caused the planking to break, and Hutchinson dropped “through the wheel, which was revolving slowly.”

“The boy was evidently stunned by being struck by the wheel, as he made no effort to save himself when he came to the surface,” the paper said.

One man dived into the water in an attempt to save him, but to no avail.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1970: Ohio National Guardsmen opened fire during an anti-war protest at Kent State University, killing four students and wounding nine others.