100 years ago in Pullman: Governor clears Washington State in probe into treatment of students with Spanish flu

Gov. Ernest Lister announced that he was shutting down his investigation into Washington State College’s handling of the flu epidemic.

The governor said he had determined that the college had done a commendable job of treating patients and no further investigation was necessary.

Earlier, observers had charged that the college had done a poor job of treating its patients. They charged that patients were held in unheated wards, that there were insufficient blankets and that “rotten” food was served.

Lister said he found no evidence of any of these problems.

In Spokane, the number of flu cases now approached 6,000 and the death toll had risen to 204.

From the war beat: Word arrived that Edgar Thomas Theobald, of Colville, was killed in action on Nov. 10, 1918 – the last day of fighting.

Theobald, 22, had left the family farm and entered the Army in April. No further details were released.

Another Colville family also received sorrowful news. Willis Eldon was killed in action on Sept. 27.