100 years ago in Spokane: Hunt for missing boy ends in tragic revelation

The disappearance of Claude Blakeslee, a 10-year-old orphan, had been a mystery for for several days.

It was finally solved with a tearful confession by one of his playmates.

The tragic story began when young Claude and three other boys were playing down by the Spokane River. The other boys decided to wade across one of the river’s pools. Claude was hesitant to venture into the water, but did not want to be left behind.

So he started across with one of the other boys. But Claude apparently slipped on a stone and went down, and was floundering in the current. The other boy tried to pull him up, but he slipped and fell, too. By the time the other boy climbed to safety, Claude had drifted into deep water and was trying unsuccessfully to swim. Claude was swept downstream and disappeared from the surface.

The other boys were too shaken and frightened to know what to do. So they “decided to go away and not tell about the accident.” Two of them wanted to tell, but the other said “they might be arrested.” The thought of punishment kept them silent for two days.

But they could not keep their secret long. One boy talked, and the mother of one of the other boys heard about it. She confronted her son, who confessed to all of the details.

The river was being dragged for Claude’s body. Despite the boys’ fears, they were not arrested for what was clearly an accident.