100 years ago in Spokane: Ostriches hatch at zoo

From our archives, 100 years ago

News arrived from the Mexican border that the Washington National Guard units from Spokane were busy drilling in the hot sun.

Despite temperatures over 110, “not a man is sick” and everyone was in top physical shape.

Tensions between the U.S. and Mexico had eased in recent days and the guard units had just received orders to “discharge all men having dependent families.”

From the zoo beat: Two young ostriches had already hatched at the Manito Park Zoo, and more were on the way. The male ostrich was sitting on eggs laid by his mate “and the hatching is expected to continue for some time.”

In other zoo news, two of the three doe deer that escaped from the zoo several months earlier “are considered lost.” One deer returned “after a few weeks’ liberty,” but the other two wandered away “and were last heard from on the Moran Prairie hill.”

From the lodge beat: The Grand Lodge of Negro Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Washington held its convention in Spokane.

A number of Spokane dignitaries officially welcomed them to the city, including Mayor C.A. Fleming and Mrs. Holsclaw, on behalf of the “city federation of colored women’s organizations.”