100 years ago: Speculation of foul play after fire destroys irrigation flume west of Spokane

An early morning fire destroyed an irrigation flume between Silver Lake and Hazelwood, about 8 miles west of Spokane, and – as surprising as this may sound – officials suspected anti-American sabotage.

They claimed that it was likely a plot to destroy “war garden” crops served by the flume.

“The fire was, beyond a doubt, of incendiary origin and was intended to destroy the entire flume, which would have ruined all of the crops served by it,” said the manager of the irrigation company. “There will be no serious results to the crops, however, as the repair will be rushed with a large crew of men. We have placed on the flume an armed watchman and have given him orders to shoot anyone found molesting our property again.”

The sheriff’s office found buggy tracks and footprints next to the destroyed flumes and were investigating.

From the salmon beat: The federal Indian commissioner at Keller reported that “300 tons of salmon were caught in the San Poil River this spring – the largest catch ever made in the river.”

Members of the Spokane, Yakima (Yakama), Coeur d’Alene and Nez Perce tribes converged on the river, along with “some white men.”

The white men ate most of what they caught, but the tribal members smoked the salmon and preserved it as their winter food, said the commissioner.

The San Poil’s big salmon runs were destined to end entirely, because dams would soon block the runs.