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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1903 | 19 |
| 1904 | 845 |
| 1907 | 7 |
| 1909 | 747 |
1,618 stories
- A Lost Child’s Desperate Run Across the West
After his family splintered, a 14-year-old boy arrived in Tacoma alone, setting off a chain of bicycle thefts as he tried to find a way home.
- The Church Brawl Over a Knife
A congregation splits into factions after a church member refuses to lie about his inner peace.
- A High-Wire Heist at Ninth and Commerce
Budding criminals scaled a twelve-foot transom to loot a hardware store, only to ignore a massive, unlocked safe in favor of a handful of change.
- Power Company Wires Block Ships on Thea Foss Waterway
When high-voltage wires blocked a sailing ship from the city dock, a newspaper reporter dropped the story the moment they learned who owned the infrastructure.
- The Largest Military Encampment in Western History
Thousands of federal and state troops prepare for maneuvers around American Lake, turning the region into a temporary 'White City.'
- Fatal Collision at the Eleventh Street Bridge
A local machinist dies after his launch is pinned against bridge girders by a powerful tide.
- A Desperate Leap from the Eleventh Street Bridge
A local logger attempted to end his life by jumping into the channel, while a would-be rescuer accidentally ended up in the bay himself during the chaos.
- The Saloonist and the Building Inspector
A prominent local businessman attempted to bypass city fire ordinances to construct an illegal addition for his saloon, exposing alleged official corruption at City Hall.
- The Hidden Killer in Tacoma's West End
A local health inspector finds a dairy operating in conditions 'too filthy for belief,' threatening a typhoid epidemic for families across the district.
- The War on Tacoma's Knothole Gang
When the local baseball management deployed a park keeper with a sharp stick to drive away children watching from a fence, the crowd turned on the club.
- Two Men Crushed Under Tons of Falling Lumber
A routine measurement at the St. Paul mill yards turned into a harrowing disaster when overhead lumber supports gave way.
- Engineer Defends Purse in Near-Fatal Hold-Up
After refusing to surrender his money, a young man is shot twice but manages to throw his attacker over a 14-foot embankment.
- City Leaders Hike the South Tacoma Woods to Scout New Wells
After a soaking walk through the forest, city officials and contractors consider a new strategy for Tacoma’s water future.
- The Last Drop at Our Corner Saloon
A local saloon proprietor turns the tables on two armed robbers by pulling his own gun during a late-night hold-up.
- The Jailhouse Cartoonist
A talented prisoner turns scraps of cardboard into caricatures of local officials, revealing a hidden history of talent behind bars.
- Gas Tank Explosion Wrecks Passenger Car
A train car was reduced to twisted wreckage near Puyallup by a high-pressure gas explosion; authorities believe it was fortunate the train was empty at the time.
- The Milton Mutiny: A Town Divided
A town council defies the federal government to bring back the saloon, sparking a fierce rebellion from local women.
- The Hospital Door Slams Shut
A local doctor fights for hospital access after being barred from treating his patient at St. Joseph’s.
- Streetcar Tracks Left Hanging in Mid-Air
A construction oversight by the Milwaukee Road leaves Tacoma streetcars stranded on a jagged, three-foot cliff at East D Street.
- The Trial of a Puyallup Medicine Man
A traditional healer is fined by tribal authorities for practicing the 'tomanamus' rite, highlighting the collision between Indigenous traditions and colonial governance.
- A Heartbreaking Departure for Reform
A teenage girl thanked the judge who sentenced her to a reform school in Chehalis for stealing clothes.
- The Sunday Dry Law Crackdown
Two prominent Pacific Avenue druggists face charges for allegedly turning their shop into a weekend speakeasy.
- The 'Stall-Fed Lawyer' and the City's Vice
A local newspaper calls out a deputy sheriff for failing to raid gambling joints while posturing as a reformer in the city council.
- The Sermon That Demanded a Vigilante Raid
Local clergymen spar over how to handle a notorious 'dive' in Tacoma, with one pastor inciting his congregation to take the law into their own hands.
- The Political Brawl for the Second Ward
A scathing letter from W. H. Reed exposes the business alliances and legislative record of city council candidate John M. Bell, setting off a local firestorm.