100 years ago in Spokane: Shot fired over $15 craps stake; soldiers return from war

Sam Nye and M.L. McConnell were enjoying a “wild party” in McConnell’s room at the Ashton Hotel, the Spokane Daily Chronicle reported, when a pair of dice was produced and they started playing a game of craps.

Before long, the stakes were boosted to $5 a shot. An argument erupted over a $15 stake.

“I was on my knees and Nye was on his,” McConnell said. “In the argument, Nye called me a liar and I punched him in the nose.”

Nye angrily left the room and the story might have ended there — except Nye later returned and pounded on the door.

McConnell opened the door and saw Nye brandishing a gun and calling him more names.

McConnell reached for the gun, which went off in the ensuing struggle. The bullet didn’t strike anyone, but Nye was subsequently arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon.

A trial was underway in Superior Court.

From the military beat: The soldiers of the 1st Division came through Spokane, on their way to Camp Lewis to be discharged, the Chronicle reported.

Their rail cars were covered with chalk inscriptions, including:

“First over, last back.”

“Beaucoup Columbia River salmon.”

“From the Rhine to Puget Sound.”

“No more corn beef.”

“We want whisky, but we’ll probably get near-beer.”

“The boys from the Golden West, going home, thank God.”

“First to the Rhine, last to the Pacific.”