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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1854 | 62 |
| 1858 | 29 |
| 1859 | 52 |
| 1860 | 27 |
| 1861 | 101 |
| 1862 | 87 |
| 1863 | 69 |
| 1864 | 32 |
| 1865 | 11 |
| 1871 | 11 |
| 1872 | 140 |
| 1876 | 812 |
| 1877 | 678 |
| 1878 | 526 |
| 1879 | 64 |
| 1880 | 180 |
| 1882 | 130 |
| 1883 | 911 |
| 1884 | 499 |
| 1885 | 838 |
| 1886 | 492 |
| 1887 | 484 |
| 1888 | 440 |
| 1889 | 1,324 |
| 1890 | 287 |
| 1891 | 1,115 |
| 1892 | 2,855 |
| 1893 | 2,829 |
| 1894 | 2,116 |
| 1895 | 1,830 |
| 1896 | 2 |
| 1897 | 62 |
| 1898 | 196 |
| 1899 | 446 |
| 1900 | 114 |
| 1902 | 34 |
| 1903 | 1,332 |
| 1904 | 1,126 |
| 1905 | 124 |
| 1907 | 53 |
| 1908 | 351 |
| 1909 | 1,545 |
| 1910 | 413 |
| 1911 | 160 |
| 1912 | 73 |
| 1914 | 261 |
| 1915 | 300 |
| 1916 | 545 |
| 1917 | 332 |
| 1918 | 45 |
| 1919 | 5 |
| 1920 | 1 |
| 1922 | 18 |
| 1923 | 185 |
| 1924 | 151 |
| 1925 | 64 |
| 1928 | 14 |
| 1929 | 19 |
101 stories
- 1861 Treaty Sets Aside Quinault and Quileute Reservation
Federal authorities announce the formal setting aside of lands for the Quinault and Quileute tribes, imposing new restrictions on settlers.
- Quinault and Quil-ich-ulte Reservation Established by Treaty
Superintendent of Indian Affairs William W. Miller formally establishes boundaries for the Quinault and Queets lands, warning settlers of trespassing.
- Vancouver Block Destroyed by Fire
A massive blaze erupts in the early morning hours, causing thousands of dollars in property damage and leaving a man critically injured.
- A War Party Among the Makah
James G. Swan recounts the violent return of a Makah war party to Neah Bay after a retaliatory expedition against the Elwha people near Dungeness.
- Olympia Rallies for the Union
Citizens of the Second Judicial District gather in Olympia to pass resolutions against secession and the threat of a Pacific Confederacy.
- The San Juan Island Standoff
Tensions between American settlers and British authorities on San Juan Island flare in the territorial legislature, sparking a debate over sovereignty and the treatment of American interests.
- The Capital Crisis of 1861
A fiery letter to the editor captures the volatile politics of Washington Territory, as Pierce County residents accused the legislature of a 'corrupt bargain' over the location of the capital.
- The Chaos of Washington's Pre-Civil War Legislature
As the nation teetered on the brink of war, Olympia's Eighth Legislative Session descended into partisan bickering, salary disputes, and frantic attempts to define Washington Territory's loyalty to the Union.
- Boiler Explosion Kills Five at Port Madison Sawmill
A tragic industrial accident at Meigs's steam sawmill claims the lives of five men, highlighting the dangers of early industrial milling in the region.
- The Murder of Chief Swell
A faithful ally to white settlers is murdered in a cold-blooded territorial dispute, exposing the impotence of the Indian Agency.
- The Mail Service Sabotage in Olympia
Local merchants and citizens are suffering as a political feud between the Postmaster and steamboat owners paralyzes commerce on the Sound.
- The Threat of Slave Labor in Washington
A local writer warns laborers that the introduction of enslaved people into the territory could crash wages and destroy the dignity of free labor.
- A Blockhouse, a Murder, and a Rumor of War
After a killing on the Snohomish, settlers in the Puyallup Valley put their families in a blockhouse. One farmer rode out to look for signs of an uprising—and found none.
- The House Rejects Treason Resolution
Tensions reach a boiling point in the territorial legislature as members debate the loyalty of Delegate Isaac I. Stevens during the onset of the Civil War.
- The 'Man of Destiny' Faces a Cold Reception in Olympia
Isaac I. Stevens attempts to rally local Democrats, but finds his political influence waning as the territory grapples with a nation on the brink of civil war.
- A Duel of Words in Olympia
A simmering political feud between an old soldier and a newspaper editor erupts into a public challenge to settle scores in the streets.
- Defending the Union in the Territory
As the Civil War ignites, an editorial calls on Thurston County residents to mobilize and reject neutrality.
- Olympia Trustees Protest County Seat Move to Tumwater
Olympia trustees fight to keep the county seat, accusing Tumwater commissioners of political maneuvering and bad faith in property dealings.
- The Fight for the Territory’s Future
As the Civil War ignites, local politicians trade accusations over union loyalty, financial mismanagement, and the location of the Territorial seat of government.
- A Debt, an Axe, and Three Deaths on San Juan Island
A wage dispute turns into a triple killing in a remote island neighborhood, and the accused are committed for trial.
- The Boiler Bursts at Five Twenty
A mill boiler at Port Madison exploded before the morning shift was fully at work, killing five men and scalding a sixth. A witness wrote that ten minutes later would have killed more.
- The Land Company That Claimed Puget Sound — and the Settlers Who Fought Back
A federal surveyor's report from Olympia questioned the sprawling British land claims around Steilacoom and Fort Steilacoom, siding with American settlers who had built farms inside the company's alleged grant.
- The Widow and the Will: A Legal Battle Over the Ebey Donation Claim
After the death of Isaac N. Ebey, the courts faced a complex dispute between his widow, his children, and an unexecuted will, testing the limits of land ownership in the Washington Territory.
- Olympia Rejects Disunion
While the nation moved toward the brink of Civil War in January 1861, local Olympia leaders declared their firm loyalty to the Union, even as some proposed renaming the capital city.
- An Escape on Scott Mountain
A prospector narrowly survives a harrowing encounter with an armed man while traveling through the rugged wilderness near Tumwater.