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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

100 years ago in Vantage, Washington: Wait continues for stranded motorists

The Vantage ferry was probably going to be out of service for at least another two weeks, causing an even longer wait for cars stranded at the Columbia River crossing, The Spokesman-Review reported on Aug. 18, 2019. (Spokesman-Review archives)

The Vantage ferry was probably going to be out of service for at least another two weeks, causing an even longer wait for cars stranded at the Columbia River crossing.

Frank Guilbert, of the Spokane Good Roads Association, returned from another inspection trip and found 38 cars stranded on the westbound side and 13 on the eastbound side. Other motorists had already turned around and attempted other routes. He estimated that 300 cars carrying 1,500 people had been tied up since the ferry had been swept downstream.

From the fire beat: A watered-down firecracker ordinance “won’t spoil Fourth fun,” said a Spokane Daily Chronicle headline.

The rewritten ordinance permits the sale and use of “torpedoes, sparklers, cap pistols, caps and firecrackers not to exceed two inches in length.”

It did prohibit the sale of and use of “rockets, Roman candles, fire balloons, canes, cannons and other appliances using blank cartridges,” along with larger firecrackers.

Spokane’s fire chief and fire marshal wanted to ban firecrackers outright, but the original ordinance was hotly opposed by fireworks dealers and others who thought firecrackers were part of the Fourth of July.

The Chronicle said approvingly of the rewritten ordinance that “the small boy will not be prohibited from participating actively in the patriotic celebrations.”