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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1876 | 9 |
| 1877 | 1 |
| 1878 | 3 |
| 1880 | 1 |
| 1882 | 3 |
| 1883 | 6 |
| 1884 | 3 |
| 1885 | 5 |
| 1886 | 4 |
| 1887 | 1 |
| 1888 | 4 |
| 1889 | 10 |
| 1891 | 1 |
| 1892 | 17 |
| 1893 | 22 |
| 1894 | 33 |
| 1895 | 14 |
| 1896 | 1 |
| 1899 | 4 |
| 1900 | 2 |
| 1903 | 4 |
| 1909 | 5 |
| 1910 | 1 |
| 1914 | 3 |
157 stories matching collins
- A Late Night Kitchen Intruder
A panicked homeowner summons the fire department and police, believing a burglar is loose in his house—only to find his own servant girl.
- The Political 'Sucker' and the Price of a Pint
After insulting local German-Americans, a desperate campaigner tried to buy forgiveness with free beer at Turner Hall—and failed miserably.
- A Christmas Eve Killing in the Woods
A railroad foreman is murdered in a Pe-Ell camp, sparking a failed attempt by a lynch mob to claim the shooter.
- Seattle's New Fire Engine Wrecked on a False Alarm
Answering a call from the Tremont block, the Watrous engine hit the streetcar tracks between South Second and South Third, snapped an axle and toppled—leaving driver Charles Murray and engineer F. M. Collins lucky to be alive.
- The Peril of Volunteer Firefighters in 1889 Seattle
As the city rapidly expands, the fire chief warns that an unpaid, disorganized volunteer force leaves Seattle’s growing wooden skyline at the mercy of every spark.
- The Suitcase Man's Mania
A repeat offender known as the 'suitcase man' faces a stiff prison sentence for a compulsive habit of theft.
- The Political Organizing of Seattle’s Black Community in 1892
A newly formed Republican club highlights the vibrant, organized civic life of Seattle's Black residents during the city's early municipal boom.
- The Dock That Swallowed Five: A Narrow Escape on Madison Street
In a sudden collapse that sent debris crashing into the Sound, five people survived by inches when a poorly constructed lunchroom and menagerie annex gave way beneath them.
- Seattle's Public Library Gets New Quarters
After operating out of the Occidental block, the city’s growing collection finds a new home in the Collins building.
- Voters Reject Party Bosses
Both the Colored Men's League and the German-American Club move to cut ties with the Democratic machine over insults and corruption.
- The High-Stakes Duel on Jackson Street
Two prominent Seattle businessmen settled a long-standing rivalry with an elaborate, heavily trained, and well-wagered foot race across a city bridge.
- A Victory for the Pile Drivers
A long-standing labor dispute between a local pile driving firm and bridge workers ends in a settlement.
- Seattle Public Library Prepares for Expansion
After issuing nearly 100,000 books in 1893, the growing city library prepares to move into new quarters in the Collins Block.
- The Ethics of the Sting
A century before modern debates on police entrapment, Washington courts were already grappling with the line between preventing crime and creating it.
- Seattle Voters Topple the 'Tammany' Machine in a Republican Landslide
A sweeping 1894 municipal election repudiates a corrupt city government, a boss named John Collins, and a looted treasury — with Democrats joining the revolt.
- The Mayor Clears the Room: Phelps Fires a Fire Commissioner and Stares Down a Coup
When Fire Commissioner Masel and two allies tried to break Chief Allen on a trumped-up morals charge, Mayor Phelps suspended Masel for not being a freeholder — and the three commissioners walked out into the night.
- Political Turf Wars in Ballard
A local newspaper changes its Ballard correspondent as two rival Democratic factions battle for neighborhood influence and party patronage.
- The Territorial Standoff on the Clothesline
A suburban Seattle squabble over laundry, reputation, and the prying eyes of the neighborhood in 1878.
- Seattle Fire Commissioner Suspended Amidst Hose Scandal
Mayor Phelps fires T. Masel, alleging incompetence and a fraudulent fire hose contract, sparking a chaotic power struggle at City Hall.
- A Seattle Divorce Trial Turned a Woman’s Private Life Into a Public Spectacle
Mrs. Steel spent hours on the stand denying adultery with Mr. Dugan, while a Black witness’s testimony exposed the racial boundaries of respectable Seattle.
- Democratic Party Feuds in the Young State of Washington
George Hazzard offers a biting critique of party politics, arguing that political leaders are 'rushing' the careers of young hopefuls and neglecting the party's true architects.
- The Denny Hotel Deal: How Seattle’s Elite Bought Their Way Into History
A canvas for stock subscriptions begins today to fund the city's first grand hotel. Dr. Minor and Mr. Collins lead the charge, urging property owners to invest in a project that promises to accommodate next summer's travel boom.
- A Penny War on Second Avenue: Newsboys Arrested After a Boycott
Two newsboys were charged with stealing from a Cherry Street news stand after a fight over the retail price of the weekly World.
- A Night of Brutality on Main Street
A festive party for friends in Seattle descends into chaos as intoxicated interlopers turn a domestic gathering into a bloody crime scene.
- Tragedy at Poverty Bay
A cabin collapse at the mining camp near the Black Diamond coal mines leaves three men dead.