100 years ago in Spokane: Solemn crowd of 5,000 lines streets to salute troops headed to World War I

“Spokane’s group of soldier boys left yesterday for American Lake,” said The Spokesman-Review. “… Never in the history of the city has such a splendid lot of young men answered the call of the country.”

These “soldier boys” were the local members of the Washington National Guard. American Lake was the site of the big army training camp near Tacoma (soon to be renamed Camp Lewis and later Fort Lewis).

A crowd estimated at 5,000 lined the streets as the soldiers marched from the Spokane Armory to the Northern Pacific Depot. “Many family groups were there, bidding farewell.”

The procession included a boys’ drum corps and the North Central High School band, playing martial music. Yet the crowd’s response remained subdued.

“Handclapping was about the only manifestation on the part of the crowds,” said a reporter. “The solemnity of the occasion was shown on every face. … It was more of the nature of a solemn leave-taking.”

From the capital punishment beat: A 24-hour “death watch” of three guards was placed on the cell of Edward Mayberry, scheduled to hang on April 19 for murder.

This extra vigilance was ordered after it became clear that no presidential reprieve would be forthcoming. The site of the hanging was to be in a “secluded spot” at Fort George Wright. Authorities stipulated that none of the garrison at Fort George Wright would take any part in the hanging.