100 years ago in Spokane: Man arrested for moonshine urges officers to try it

Ralph C. Henry, a Stevens County farmer, was arrested while making a moonshine delivery in Spokane.

He told officers that he had been operating a still on his farm for six weeks and selling his whiskey for $30 a gallon. Business had been so good, his still was running at capacity.

Henry was so proud of his craftsmanship, he made an offer to the arresting officers while being booked.

“Just taste that booze and if you don’t say it’s the best moonshine you ever drank, I’ll eat my hat.”

From the music beat: The Sonora Italian Grand Opera Co. was in Spokane to perform excerpts from “Rigoletto,” “Il Trovatore” and “I Pagliacci” at the Auditorium Theater.

The troupe was from Mexico, but performed Italian opera. They had already established themselves as a popular attraction in Mexico and South America, and were now touring cities in America, including New York, Chicago and Spokane.

“It is wonderful how the poorer classes of Mexico throng to the opera,” said soprano Beatrice Pizzorni. “And they demand the best seats, as well. The (Mexican) revolution apparently has not affected the desire of the people to hear the standard operas and our tour through there was most successful.”

The members of the troupe came from all over the world, including Italy, Spain, France, Rumania (now Romania) and Mexico. One of the troupe’s features singers was Patricia Doria, from the U.S.