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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1876 | 6 |
| 1877 | 5 |
| 1878 | 2 |
| 1883 | 3 |
| 1884 | 2 |
| 1885 | 7 |
| 1886 | 1 |
| 1887 | 2 |
| 1888 | 2 |
| 1889 | 18 |
| 1890 | 1 |
| 1891 | 2 |
| 1892 | 12 |
| 1893 | 14 |
| 1894 | 10 |
| 1895 | 3 |
| 1899 | 5 |
| 1903 | 4 |
| 1904 | 2 |
| 1908 | 2 |
| 1909 | 3 |
| 1910 | 1 |
| 1916 | 1 |
| 1918 | 1 |
109 stories matching debri
- A Narrow Escape at the Shilshole Crossing
A switch engine slams into a team on Shilshole Avenue, killing a horse and nearly killing the driver—who crawled out thanks to a broken wagon tongue.
- The Tragic Collision of the Premier and Willamette
Dense fog and poor visibility lead to a deadly collision between two steamers in Washington waters, resulting in multiple deaths and heroic rescues.
- The Great Storm of 1894
A violent cyclone-like windstorm tears through Western Washington, leveling buildings and trapping citizens in the debris.
- Tragedy Strikes the Newcastle Coal Mine
A collapse of rock at the Newcastle mine resulted in the death of one miner and left another injured, just months after the victim's marriage.
- The Union Pacific's South Tacoma Tunnel Expansion
City council grants permit for railroad to open tunnel shafts and build freight yards in local wetlands.
- The Rebirth of a Burned City
Following the Great Seattle Fire of 1889, the city pivots from disaster to rapid reconstruction, grappling with housing, labor, and the challenge of rebuilding a metropolis from ashes.
- The Seattle Iron Works Tragedy
A devastating structural collapse and fire at a downtown factory leaves dozens of workers dead or critically injured in a haunting industrial disaster.
- Collision in the Fog: The Fatal Crash of the Steamer Premier
A catastrophic collision between the steamers Willamette and Premier in thick fog leaves four dead and many injured, prompting a tense investigation into maritime safety and schedules.
- Family Missing After Sloop Disappears in Puget Sound
A Mount Vernon father ignored warnings to stay off the rough waters of the Sound with his wife and children; now only debris remains.
- Tragedy on the Sound Shoreline
A fatal landslide on the Great Northern coast line buries a railway laborer alive, highlighting the recurring peril of unstable terrain along the Puget Sound.
- King County Railroads and Valleys Reeling from Historic Flooding
As floodwaters finally begin to recede, residents and rail companies assess the massive destruction left in the wake of the '92 deluge.
- Street Blasting Terrifies Fairhaven Neighbors
A massive stump removal operation inside city limits wreaks havoc on local storefronts and rattles the nerves of residents.
- The Fiery Wreck of the Enterprise
When the steamer Enterprise collided and burned on the Sound, panic ensued as passengers faced a desperate struggle for life, revealing the stark racial tensions of the era's emergency protocols.
- A Miraculous Survival Amid the Ruins
While clearing debris after the Great Seattle Fire, a worker narrowly avoids being crushed when a wagon overturns on the precarious streets of the charred city.
- A Fierce Gale Leaves Walla Walla Battered
A localized cyclone tears roofs from buildings and levels trees, leaving debris strewn across city streets.
- The Great Storm of 1891
A brutal coastal gale batters Grays Harbor, destroying the uncompleted Angell Brothers building and scattering ships across the coast.
- The Great Northern Strike: Quiet on the Tracks
Striking workers for the Great Northern railroad maintain a disciplined presence, even stepping in to clear dangerous landslide debris to protect the company's property.
- Tragic River Crossing Claims Two Lives
Two men vanish in the flooded Yakima River while attempting a night crossing by boat, leaving behind only a drifting craft and a cabin left empty.
- The Great 1894 Flood Devastates the Pacific Northwest
As rivers finally begin to recede, towns from Conconully to Portland recount the total destruction of homes, bridges, and livelihoods in the wake of the historic spring freshet.
- The Phoenix City: Seattle's Rapid Rebirth After the Great Fire
Just 18 months after the 1889 fire leveled the downtown, Seattle transformed from charred ruins into a modern metropolis of stone, steel, and electric streetcars.
- The Great Cascade Washout of 1892
A Chinook wind and torrential rain trigger massive landslides and bridge collapses, paralyzing rail travel across Washington.
- The City's Sweeping Misjudgment
Seattle's street department decides that the best time to sweep streets is during a windstorm, leaving storefronts and pedestrians choked with debris.
- The Dangerous Plank Walk of Old Seattle
While the city dragged its feet on street improvements in 1878, residents were forced to navigate treacherous, makeshift wooden planks, causing frustration and daily peril.
- Seattle Rebuilds After the 1889 Great Fire
A catastrophic blaze levels the city’s business district, triggering a massive relief effort and ushering in new urban planning.
- The Town That Washed Away
A sudden deluge destroyed nearly the entire county seat of Okanogan County, leaving survivors homeless and struggling.