100 years ago in Spokane: firecrackers blamed for numerous July 4th fires

[ad_1]

The Spokane Fire Department responded to 30 fire calls, most of them from firecrackers.

The biggest fire focused on Hamilton Street and Carlisle Avenue, where one house was destroyed and two others severely damaged. A long list of other homes and garages were badly damaged by roof fires.

Eight large grass fires were reported around Spokane, also caused by firecrackers. Firefighters managed to control most of the grass fires, but two houses were damaged.

From the rhythm of the holiday season: in Yakima, all the Northwest records for parachute jumps were broken at the exhibition center. Dare Devil Kohls fell 6,500 feet, delighting thousands of spectators.

In Pullman, 7,000 gathered for a parade, baseball game, hobby horse competition and confetti battles.

In Plummer, Idaho, 5,000 people gathered to watch baseball games, horse races and track and field competitions.

An Indian parade and the opening of the Indian village added color to the scene, a correspondent reported.

In Spokane, a crowd at the fairgrounds were stirred when freestyle motorcyclist Cliff Hills attempted to ride his motorbike past the grandstand while standing in the seat.

On the first attempt, the stunt did not go well. He fell, but then grabbed the license plate on the back of the machine and hooked up, dragging in the dust for 25 feet or more.

During the following several attempts, he managed to pull off the stunt.

[ad_2]