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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1888 | 20 |
| 1889 | 18 |
| 1891 | 7 |
| 1892 | 42 |
| 1893 | 57 |
| 1894 | 35 |
| 1895 | 36 |
215 stories
- The Great Steamship Escape
To avoid being seized by creditors after a collision, the steamer Premier was secretly floated and moved across the border into British waters.
- The Pilot’s Plea for Protection
A Puget Sound pilot is found cutting wood for a living because the lack of regulation has made the profession impossible to sustain.
- The Waterfront Cold War: Seattle's 1888 Seamen's Strike
Tensions boil over on the Puget Sound as sailors fight a planned wage reduction, leading to a massive standoff in Port Townsend.
- The Tragedy of a Wealthy Wanderer
After years of traveling from China to Alaska, a woman known as Ida Williams attempts to end her life in Port Townsend.
- The Violent End of a Beachcomber Feud in Port Townsend
A long-standing quarrel between two ex-soldiers in Port Townsend culminates in a fatal shootout on the beach.
- Canada’s Naturalization Papers Denied at the Border
Federal authorities reject the residency status of Chinese British subjects, sparking a test case for immigration restrictions.
- The Struggle for a Family’s Right to Stay Together
A Chinese merchant battles in federal court after immigration authorities refused his wife entry to the United States.
- A Fatal Tiller Blow on the Sound
A pioneer fisherman faces manslaughter charges after a tragic, unintended killing of a close friend.
- The Sealing Wars: Customs vs. Navy
Tensions rise at Port Townsend as federal authorities clash over how to enforce restrictive sealing laws on local schooners.
- The Mine That Wasn’t? A Captain Denies a Half-Million-Dollar Gold Swindle
An English capitalist’s suit against Alaska millionaires turned a Port Townsend sailing into a Pacific Coast sensation, with charges of swapped ore, gold-soaked drill cores, and a forceful denial from Capt. James Carroll.
- The Card Sharps Who Picked the Wrong Captain—and Sailed to Peru
Two Seattle gamblers went to Port Townsend to fleece the master of the British ship Dimsdale. He found out, shanghaied them both, and set sail for Callao.
- Shipping Magnates Prepare for War Against Sailors' Union
The Ship Owners' Association of the Pacific Coast is moving to break the power of the sailors' union on Puget Sound by opening branch offices for non-union hiring.
- The $100,000 Tugboat Dispute
A steamship's distress call near Port Townsend has triggered a massive legal battle over salvage rights and the true peril of the Pacific.
- Shanghaied Aboard the Babcock: A Captain's Escape and a Crew Taken at Gunpoint
Capt. Graham slipped his guards at Port Townsend while his wheat ship waited—after a Tacoma crew of 23 was rounded up with beatings, revolvers, and two bewildered Japanese men.
- The Boomtown That Expected to Replace Seattle
In 1888, the 'Key City' of Port Townsend was convinced its massive rail subsidy and harbor status would make it the primary metropolis of the Pacific Northwest.
- The 'Key City' Hype Machine: A 19th-Century Real Estate Fever Dream
Before Seattle cemented its dominance, Port Townsend was positioning itself as the 'future great city of the New Northwest,' fueled by a massive, speculative railroad subsidy.
- The Unexplained Departure of Mrs. Frite
A husband’s public notice of his wife’s desertion sparks confusion in Port Townsend, as he vows to never take her back.
- The Great Room Shortage: Port Townsend’s Hotels Burst at the Seams
As Portland investors pour money into the Puget Sound city, locals warn that seven hotels aren't enough—residents are begging for permanent housing before the next boom hits.
- The Tragedy of Point Wilson
A failed towing negotiation in Port Angeles led to a desperate, fatal attempt to sail across the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
- The General Who Refused to Work Sundays
A Civil War veteran turned customs official risks his government pension to stand against a 41-hour shift demand at the Port Townsend docks.
- The Mutiny at the Mines
When the National Guard refused to muster out of service after a stint at the King County mines, a military adjutant faced down his own men in a tense standoff over labor and authority.
- The Political Hatchet Job That Failed
A Port Townsend city treasurer finds himself the victim of a coordinated, sensationalist smear campaign—only for the local press to walk it back.
- The Chamber of Commerce That Committed Suicide
A political operative's attempt to sabotage Seattle’s growth leads to the total dissolution of the Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce.
- Democratic Party Leaders Brawl on Port Townsend Street
A reprimand regarding unpaid city bonds sparked a public physical fight between the city treasurer and the chairman of the county central committee.
- The Embargo on the Sound
Federal quarantine regulations at Port Townsend are throttling commerce and forcing freight ships to run at a loss.