100 years ago in Spokane: U.S. Navy Hawaiian sailors see first snow in Spokane

A U.S. Navy band called the New York and Hawaiian Orchestra, featuring eight native Hawaiians, was in Spokane on a recruiting mission when trouble began to “snowball.”

Apparently three of the Hawaiian sailors were walking through downtown Spokane when they experienced something they had never seen before: snow.

One sailor, named Kaili, found a pile of snow outside the Hippodrome Theater and made a snowball. Instinct took over and he hurled the snowball at his companions.

They ducked, but the snowball hit a large display case in front of the theater, breaking the glass and causing it to crash to the sidewalk.

All three sailors “hauled anchor” and “shoved off,” said the Spokane Daily Chronicle.

The manager saw only three “navy pea coats” disappearing around the corner. He called the lieutenant in charge of the navy recruiting party to complain.

When the lieutenant told the manager that the sailors had never seen snow before and had no idea something so light and feathery could cause so much damage, the manager relented and said he would not even allow them to pay for the damage.

Yet the sailors made the theater manager an offer he couldn’t refuse. He agreed to let them perform at the Hippodrome’s afternoon matinee.