100 years ago in Spokane: swarm of bees – you read that right – blocked traffic in the city center

A huge swarm of bees blocked traffic on Main Avenue and Stevens Street in downtown for hours.

The bees weren’t quite as disruptive as the hundreds of onlookers who gathered on the corner and made suggestions (some helpful) on how to get rid of the swarm.

“Many brave viewers, pooling their knowledge of bee culture, tried in various ways to get the flying insects to band together into a consolidated mass so they could be removed from the road,” said the Spokane Daily Chronicle.

A spectator “struck gently with a stone” on a large tin can while holding a small tree in his hand. Several other men approached with a leaf wide open, trying to “persuade the bees to approach this hastily laid out forest”.

At the time of going to press, the bees were not convinced.

From the recovery blow: Vacationers planning to travel to Bayview, Idaho, have been warned to beware of thieves in the lakefront town.

Edward Eldridge of Spokane parked his car near the dock overnight. When he got there the next morning, he could barely recognize his Ford.

“The two front wheels and their tires were completely gone and the axle was allowed to fall on the ground,” he said. “My spare tire, tires from the rear wheels, extra spark plugs, hoses, jack, pump and aiming piston were also stolen.”

Two other cars parked nearby suffered a similar fate.

Eldridge had this advice to those planning a trip to Bayview: “Bring a security guard.”