Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

C.M. Fassett was named mayor of Spokane by unanimous vote of his fellow city commissioners. He would finish out the term of the former mayor, W.J. Hindley.

Fassett said “it will be some task to fill the shoes of Mayor Hindley,” but he vowed his best efforts. Fassett’s appointment had been widely predicted.

The bigger surprise was the selection of Samuel Glasgow, former manager of the Centennial Mill, to fill the vacant seat on the city commission.

“This honor, I may truly say, is unexpected, for I was not even a candidate for the place,” a startled Glasgow said.

Plenty of other people had been vying for the job. In fact, it took 10 ballots for the four commissioners to select Glasgow, after two other candidates failed to gain a deciding third vote during multiple tries.

Glasgow eventually won with a unanimous four votes. 

The process was drawn out but not particularly tense, with “the commissioners laughing and jesting during the proceedings.”

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1967: Surgeons in Cape Town, South Africa, led by Dr. Christiaan Barnard performed the first human heart transplant on Louis Washkansky, who lived 18 days with the new heart.