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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1888 | 27 |
| 1889 | 51 |
| 1891 | 28 |
| 1892 | 206 |
| 1893 | 224 |
| 1894 | 201 |
| 1895 | 161 |
898 stories
- The Tacoma Pastor Who Challenged the Drums of War
While the nation beat the drums of war against Chile in 1892, a Tacoma minister took to the pulpit to defend the dignity of peace, challenging the government's rush to protect the honor of sailors who had been frequenting brothels.
- The False Priests of Tacoma
Two con artists passing themselves off as Catholic missionaries hoodwinked a congregation in Buckley, performing masses and collecting offerings before being chased down and arrested in Tacoma.
- The Gender Brain Debate of 1892
At a Tacoma church social, four young men took to the stage to debate whether women’s brains were fundamentally superior or inherently inferior to men’s.
- The Cleopatra of Tacoma and the 'Mock Marriage' Scandal
A prominent society man and insurance broker found himself at the center of a public scandal after a fake marriage to a theater 'box rustler' was exposed in Tacoma.
- Street Improvement Disaster in Tacoma
A routine effort to clear stumps for new streets ends in a 250-pound boulder tearing through a family’s roof.
- The Registration Wars of 1892
A political brawl spills into the courts as Tacoma’s city clerk is arrested for refusing to register voters pushed by out-of-town Democratic ward workers.
- The 'Two Per Cent' Shylock of Tacoma
As Tacoma voters head to the polls, bitter memories of the 1885 anti-Chinese expulsion flare up, branding a mayoral candidate with a nickname that still stings.
- The Day the Circus Band Wagon Tore Through Downtown Tacoma
A runaway team of horses pulling a promotional circus wagon turned a mundane Monday into a scene of carnage at the corner of Washington and South Second Street.
- The Tragedy of Martin Johnson
A morning in the Tacoma city jail ends in a desperate act of suicide by a man arrested for public intoxication.
- The 'Ring' Was Busted: Inside Tacoma’s Fiercest Municipal Election
In 1892, Tacoma voters flocked to the polls in a high-stakes showdown that saw Republicans sweep the mayoralty, fueled by intense campaign betting and deep suspicion of local political machines.
- The Tragic End of the Johnson Household
After her husband took his own life in a Tacoma jail, a destitute widow chose to end her own life while dressed in her finest clothes, clutching his photograph.
- The Shadowy Death of Charles Smith
A suspected opium smuggler dies by his own hand in the Puyallup reservation jail, leaving behind a cryptic note that hints at corruption and a hidden fortune in contraband.
- The Tragedy at Fernhill
A domestic dispute in a Tacoma suburb ends in a horrific murder-suicide, leaving a community shaken.
- The Price of a Liquor License: A Violent Feud in Tacoma
A local saloon proprietor is stabbed nine times following a heated dispute over business competition and municipal authority.
- The Beer-Fueled Rebellion Against Tacoma’s Political Bosses
When the 'Young Democrats' were counted out of a local primary, they threw a mass meeting at Germania Hall with free beer, sandwiches, and fiery speeches against the corruption of the Griggs faction.
- Tacoma Postmaster Fires Women to Hire Men
Local postmaster justifies replacing female clerks with men and his own son by citing efficiency and gossip concerns.
- The Postmaster's Purge
Tacoma citizens rally to support female postal clerks targeted for dismissal by the new postmaster.
- The Battle for the Stamp Window
Tacoma citizens stage a successful revolt against their postmaster to save the jobs of female clerks.
- The Price of Non-Compliance
A veteran molder sues his former union brothers for conspiracy after being forced out of work for allegedly producing 'too many' sewer rings per day.
- The Unstable Fruit Stand Proprietor
A Seattle man is arrested after threatening to murder his wife and daughter while obsessed with a news story about a local murder-suicide.
- The National Guard’s Growing Pains at Camp Murray
A critical inspector's report details the state militia's encampment struggles, the sudden death of a beloved officer, and the push for a permanent home for Washington’s citizen soldiers.
- The Collapse of the Pacific Northwest League
A post-mortem on the professional baseball association in Tacoma and Seattle highlights the 'salary evil' that led to its ruin.
- The Political Infighting of Tacoma's Republican Machine
Nelson Bennett's influence over the 'Tacoma Ledger' creates deep rifts in Pierce County politics, fueling tensions ahead of the local convention.
- Railroad Tycoon Weighs In on Tacoma’s Future
C.B. Wright, former Northern Pacific president, talks shop on the ‘Hunt System,’ the Great Northern’s expansion, and his unexpected desire to see the city take control of the water works.
- The Bitter Battle for the Port Orchard Dry Dock
A failed bid for a federal contract triggers a nasty public feud between a powerful contractor and a U.S. Senator.