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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1872 | 2 |
| 1876 | 6 |
| 1877 | 4 |
| 1878 | 3 |
| 1880 | 1 |
| 1882 | 3 |
| 1883 | 5 |
| 1884 | 7 |
| 1885 | 3 |
| 1886 | 3 |
| 1887 | 4 |
| 1888 | 5 |
| 1889 | 10 |
| 1890 | 2 |
| 1891 | 3 |
| 1892 | 7 |
| 1893 | 11 |
| 1894 | 11 |
| 1895 | 17 |
| 1899 | 1 |
| 1903 | 2 |
| 1904 | 2 |
| 1905 | 1 |
| 1909 | 1 |
| 1914 | 2 |
| 1924 | 1 |
117 stories matching absurd
- The Blackmailer of the Bird's Nest
A husband is convicted of attempting to blackmail a police commissioner, exposing his wife's past life in the Everett underworld.
- The Politics of Snake Oil
A scathing editorial comparing the Populist movement to medical quackery and the sensationalism of the era's 'wonder books.'
- The Great King County Land Scandal
An anonymous critique exposes rampant corruption and reckless assessment in the early days of King County’s real estate boom.
- The Right to Bear Arms in the Labor Wars
A local newspaper editorial lashes out against a Democratic convention resolution that sought to ban armed groups during labor disputes, arguing that self-defense is a fundamental right for employers and employees alike.
- Seattle's Crime Surge and the Police Problem
City Hall faces criticism for its ineffective police department as crime rates climb.
- The 'Endless' Deportation Loop in 1889 Seattle
A federal judge struggles with a legal absurdity where Chinese laborers, ordered out of the country, find themselves trapped in a cycle of failed deportations and re-arrests.
- The Ghost Railroad Through Cowlitz Pass
Booster papers are peddling impossible surveys for a transcontinental line that exists only in the imagination of speculators.
- The Ballard Council Standoff
A Ballard councilman refuses to vacate his chair, leading to a tense and absurd political showdown.
- The Spokane Racket Over Male Attire
When an amateur actress faced a local scandal for wearing pants on stage, the press stepped in to defend the choice as both traditional and modest.
- The City Council’s Policing Scandal
Seattle’s city leadership sparked outrage in 1886 by refusing to support the Mayor's dismissal of a police officer accused of gross negligence.
- The Fight to Bypass the Railroads
Civic leaders across three states unite to promote Columbia River shipping as a 'shackle-breaker' for isolated interior towns.
- The Tall Tale of 'Bluffier Ben'
A boastful trapper spins wild, bloody yarns for free drinks in a Seattle saloon, leaving the barkeep to settle the tab.
- Coroner Threatens to Sue County Over Unpaid Bills
Coroner Askam argues that the county commissioners are unfairly denying him pay for investigating accidental deaths.
- The Unwelcome Tax Man
A Seattle poll tax assessor describes the frustration and absurdity of tracking down residents in a city where the transient population and the immigrant community resisted his rounds.
- The Wedding-Journey Argument
A young couple's petty dispute over transportation during their honeymoon highlights the fragile nature of new love.
- The Absurd Scheme to Build a Railway to the Top of Mount Rainier
When a coal mine failed, desperate land speculators proposed a preposterous tourist railroad to the summit of the mountain to boost property values.
- The Great Strike Wave of 1894
Across the nation, laborers and coal miners are organizing and striking against wage cuts, prompting a debate in the press about the true state of the economy.
- The Balloon-Powered Park Plan
A satirical interview with a Seattle developer reveals the absurd lengths civic boosters would go to inflate the value of local land.
- The Great Tacoma Hack Scandal
A political feud between rival Democratic factions in Tacoma takes an absurd turn when unpaid livery bills surface after a failed mayoral campaign.
- The City with Two Police Chiefs
While a legal battle over the city charter rages in court, Seattle finds itself in the absurd position of having two men claiming to lead the police force at once.
- The Councilman Who Turned Down a King's Ransom
A local bribery scandal reveals the absurdity of Tacoma's political culture, where one official boasts of refusing a $132,000 bribe.
- The Disappearing Daughter of Seattle
After vanishing from Lake Washington, Nellie Holgate's convoluted tale of abduction and cross-country transport leaves her family heartbroken and the public skeptical.
- The Fight for a Kennewick High School
A local resident argues that a dedicated high school is essential for the town's growth and cultural maturity.
- The Madman of Pacific Avenue
A mysterious stranger who claimed he could blow up trains with his mind was committed to an asylum after being found pacing outside a Halstead house. Days later, his body washed up in the bay, sparking whispers of foul play.
- The Poor Farm Inquiry
After an elderly inmate accused his manager of serving poor food, the county commissioners arrived for a surprise lunch inspection.