100 years ago today: Robbers take over $400 from traveling saleswoman

Two robbers relieved Mrs. F.J. Vanisclan, a traveling saleswoman, of more than $400 – which she had hidden in her corset.

She said she was making deliveries in Dayton, Washington, for the Eastern Drug Co. when she was accosted by two men, who offered to give her a lift to her hotel. She accepted because she was carrying a large suitcase.

They drove toward the hotel, but turned the wrong direction. When she told them they were going the wrong way, one of them drew a revolver and told her to sit still and keep quiet.

They drove out of the city, stopped and ordered her from the car. They searched her purse and the suitcase and found no cash.

Then they searched in more personal places. They “took down her stockings and, failing to find the money, searched further, finally finding it pinned inside her corset.”

They took the money and left her by the side of the road.

Police were searching far and wide for the robbers.

From the bird beat: About 400 people attended a lecture at a Spokane church by Charles Bowman Hutchins on “the birds of America.”

This was no dry lecture, however. Hutchins also performed “imitations of the songs of a few of the principal birds.” The church organist even accompanied him on some of these songs.

Hutchins also displayed his “crayon drawings of the better known birds.”