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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1876 | 6 |
| 1877 | 4 |
| 1878 | 3 |
| 1880 | 2 |
| 1882 | 3 |
| 1883 | 10 |
| 1885 | 8 |
| 1886 | 2 |
| 1887 | 4 |
| 1888 | 3 |
| 1889 | 13 |
| 1890 | 1 |
| 1891 | 11 |
| 1892 | 9 |
| 1893 | 10 |
| 1894 | 12 |
| 1895 | 13 |
| 1898 | 1 |
| 1899 | 3 |
| 1900 | 1 |
| 1903 | 6 |
| 1908 | 3 |
| 1909 | 7 |
| 1910 | 3 |
| 1911 | 1 |
| 1914 | 2 |
| 1915 | 5 |
| 1916 | 6 |
| 1917 | 1 |
| 1924 | 1 |
| 1925 | 2 |
156 stories matching soft
- When the City Council Accidentally Legalized the Dance Halls
A lawyer finds that Seattle's council quietly repealed its dance-hall ordinances, and the halls reopen in defiance of the police chief — who can only threaten warrants until a new law is passed.
- The Bid for a Cold Storage Giant
Local fruit growers and business interests urged to rally behind a proposed 1,000-car capacity facility that promised to modernize Kennewick’s economy.
- Kennewick Cracks Down on Gambling Devices
Following the state-wide ban on alcohol, the local prosecutor turned his sights on punch boards and slot machines in corner stores.
- The Sewer Scandal: A Whistleblower’s Warning
City Engineer Thomson testified that he repeatedly warned officials against using sub-standard, 'rotten' brick in Seattle’s sewer construction, only to be ignored as the project fell into corruption and mismanagement.
- Tragedy on Bainbridge Island as Child Accidentally Kills Brother
A toddler's playful act with a lit stick leads to the fatal burning of his infant brother in a home on Bainbridge Island.
- The Great Escape from the County Courthouse
A notorious local thief rigged an ingenious 'Spanish windlass' to dismantle his cell window and vanished into the night—completely naked.
- The Confidence Man’s Tears: How a Thief Fooled His Victim and the Court
In May 1877, Seattle confidence operator Dowd was granted a change of venue after moving his robbery victim to tears with a sob story about his destitute family. The District Attorney’s lenient stance sparked outrage among citizens who feared the law was too soft on crime.
- The Promised Heights of West Seattle
A booster-era description of a neighborhood rising above the clouds, promising a future of wharves, factories, and mountain views.
- County Commissioners Push Through Costly Poor House
Walla Walla officials are accused of creating a new county building just to expand their own political machine.
- The Panama Canal Promises Prosperity for Kennewick Fruit
Local industry leaders anticipate a massive shift in freight costs and market reach once the Panama Canal opens to refrigerated shipping.
- The Jailbreak Tools Hidden in the Steel
A search of the county jail reveals two hack saws and a DIY heating lamp hidden in the structural pipework, intended for a prisoner's escape.
- Seattle’s Sewer Scandal and the Mayor’s Failed Purge
Mayor J.T. Ronald’s attempt to remove members of the Board of Public Works over allegations of mismanagement and cronyism is blocked by an injunction.
- A Bicycle Plunge from the Grant Street Bridge
A young cyclist was sent over the edge of the bridge by a narrow guardrail, plummeting onto the tide flats below.
- The Dignity of the 'Horny Hand'
In 1878, a Seattle editorial warned against the ‘pauperism’ caused by an overabundance of professional graduates who were too proud to labor.
- The County Courthouse Construction Scandal
A superintendent is forced out after refusing to accept substandard materials for the new county building.
- The Great Egg Duel of Vancouver
An offended soldier challenged a local man to a duel, but the combatants opted for a slightly less lethal choice of weapons.
- The Perils of Planting: A Warning to Yakima Valley Orchardists
A local agricultural expert debunks state-sanctioned advice on walnut cultivation, warning farmers against the financial ruin of planting untried varieties.
- The Hop Blight and the Fall of Washington's Premium Crop
Ezra Meeker warns that poor cultivation and sloppy picking are costing the region its competitive edge in the global market.
- Local Farmers Watch Market Swings
A sudden dip in hog prices has left area farmers weighing the benefits of early sales as livestock markets struggle with soft demand.
- Who Killed Zens Mayeda? The Footprints in the Potato Patch
A Japanese man is found murdered in Seattle. A sullen suspect gives little away, and a deputy sheriff finds three sets of hurried footprints — one pair barefoot — leading away from the house.
- Rail Strike Anxiety Stalls Apple Harvest
Threatened railroad walkouts trigger market volatility and costly diversions for White Bluffs fruit growers.
- The Shadow in the Long Grass
A community in Tacoma is on edge after the discovery of a makeshift bed in a meadow leads residents to believe a fugitive murderer is living among them.
- The Wolf-Dog of the Grande Ronde
A ranger’s loyal pet answers the call of the wild, but gives his life to defend his master against his own pack.
- The Real Estate Boom of 1890
A booster’s pitch for West Seattle highlights the city's turn-of-the-century obsession with land development and panoramic vistas.
- Runaway Gravel Train Near Hood Canal
A dozen laborers on a Port Gamble railroad work train are forced to jump for their lives as their cars lose control on a steep grade.