100 years ago in Spokane: City plans big patriotic display as nation moves toward war

Patriotic fervor gripped Spokane as the nation slipped closer to war with Germany.

N.W. Durham, chairman of a citizen’s patriotic committee, appealed to all citizens and businesses to display flags from their residences and places of business.

“It is hoped to make the downtown streets vistas of color, with flags waving from every office building,” said The Spokesman-Review. “The cooperation of the public is asked in this regard.”

A huge patriotic demonstration was planned at the Spokane Armory for the next Sunday afternoon.

“The ministers will announce the rally from their pulpits at the morning service.”

From the missing persons beat: One of several missing Spokane girls, Mildred Peters, 13, was found safe and sound in Seattle.

The girl “was not kidnapped, as was first supposed, but went away of her own volition,” said a probation officer who helped find the girl.

The officer solved the case with help from a tip from the Seattle YWCA. The YWCA reported that “a strange girl who gave some French name” was staying there. With help from women members of the Seattle Police Department, it was established that she fit the description of the Peters girl.

However, “she stoutly denied her identity until confronted by her father in Seattle yesterday.”

The probation officer was “almost sure she went away with some young fellow that had an automobile.” She had earlier told friends she intended eloping with a young man in an auto.