A False Rumor Nearly Wrecks a Spokane Firm — and the City Rallies With $166,000 in Offers

One day this week it was reported by the Portland Board of Trade that Chas. Sweeny & Co., of Spokane Falls, had failed with liabilities at $75,000. To make matters worse the Oregonian spread the report with comments. The next day the newspaper made a clear retraction, but that did not prevent the rumor from having its effect. Mr. Sweeny was confronted by his creditors Tuesday, and in a short time he paid out $10,000 and proved to all that the firm is perfectly solvent. Within forty-eight hours Mr. Sweeny had offers of assistance that aggregated $166,000. Fortunately he did not need the backing. The report spreads from an unknown source, but as it was made public by a mercantile agency, the firm is determined to bring suit for heavy damages. The report is without foundation, and there are few firms on the coast more firmly established. We believe that the instigator of the rumor desired to strike a blow at Spokane Falls as well as Chas. Sweeny & Co., but the mine has failed in both instances — the city still holds its place as having the most reliable mercantile houses on the coast, and Sweeny & Co. still live.