100 years ago in Spokane: Man dies of heart attack after catching a big fish

From our archives, 100 years ago

Arthur Enquist, 37, a Spokane police van driver, was fishing on Deer Lake when he landed a large mackinaw trout. He was thrilled and excited by the big fish, according to Sgt. Alex McDonald, his fishing companion.

Possibly too thrilled and excited.

He suddenly told McDonald that he “felt exceedingly sick.”

“The next instant, he (Enquist) gasped, straightened out, rose partly to his feet, and plunged head foremost into the lake,” the article said. “McDonald grabbed his foot and had him about into the boat when it filled and capsized.”

Two other police officers were fishing nearby and came to the rescue. They hauled McDonald into their boat – chilled and shaking – but they could not find Enquist, who had sunk beneath the surface.

McDonald later said he was convinced that Enquist was dead as soon as he fell out of the boat. He “lay like a dead weight and moved neither hand nor foot” while McDonald was trying to rescue him. McDonald said he believed Enquist died of heart trouble brought on by the excitement of landing the big fish.

From the dam beat: A new Spokane River dam, about 4 miles downstream of Fort George Wright, was proposed by the Spokane Valley Power Co. It would back the river up all the way to the area of Natatorium Park and the fort, and it would create a “lake resort at the doors of Spokane.” The company wanted to generate electricity for an electric street railway, among other things.