Research the archive
Narrow 25,724 newspaper stories by words, years, place, newspaper and subject. See when and where they ran, then download what you find.
Put a phrase in quotes ("rent strike") or leave a word out with a minus (strike -baseball). Old scans misspell names, so when little is found, near-spellings are offered.
Refine
Show the numbers
| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1864 | 1 |
| 1871 | 1 |
| 1872 | 1 |
| 1876 | 3 |
| 1877 | 5 |
| 1878 | 1 |
| 1880 | 1 |
| 1882 | 1 |
| 1883 | 2 |
| 1885 | 5 |
| 1886 | 7 |
| 1887 | 4 |
| 1888 | 4 |
| 1889 | 18 |
| 1890 | 3 |
| 1891 | 7 |
| 1892 | 28 |
| 1893 | 31 |
| 1894 | 20 |
| 1895 | 10 |
| 1898 | 1 |
| 1899 | 7 |
| 1900 | 3 |
| 1903 | 8 |
| 1904 | 16 |
| 1909 | 9 |
| 1910 | 1 |
| 1911 | 1 |
| 1914 | 2 |
| 1915 | 4 |
| 1916 | 5 |
| 1917 | 2 |
| 1918 | 1 |
| 1923 | 1 |
| 1924 | 1 |
| 1925 | 1 |
216 stories matching trigger
- The Fight Over Who Owns the Reservation
A legal battle over assessing Puyallup Indian lands triggers a debate on citizenship and taxation in the Superior Court.
- The Tragedy at Cold Creek
An immigrant homesteader takes his own life after a grueling and unsuccessful struggle to find water on his property.
- A Heated Dispute Over Election Integrity
A razor-thin bond election triggers a floor fight in the council chamber over the right to recount the ballots.
- A Marriage Cut Short by Tragedy
A young bride dies suddenly on her second wedding anniversary, triggering a callous rumor mill that the press quickly works to correct.
- The Bank of Kennewick Shuts its Doors
Stockholders vote for voluntary liquidation, promising full repayment as local banking consolidation triggers a shift in town commerce.
- The Hunt for an Assassin
A violent robbery attempt in Butte, Montana, triggers a manhunt in the Seattle Chinese community, as local leaders fear a dangerous fugitive has arrived by steamer.
- A Municipal Technicality Leaves Aberdeen Officials Jobless
A legal opinion concerning dual office-holding triggers a sudden, awkward vacancy for city staff.
- The Great Warehouse Embezzlement
A Shawnee Warehouse agent disappears with the wheat of local farmers, triggering a frantic manhunt from Colfax to Seattle.
- The Cop and the Stag Saloon
A police officer is suspended for entering a saloon while on duty, triggering a debate about the force's code of conduct and 'trapping crooks.'
- The Logging Land War
A government agent triggers a legal battle by seizing logs over a disputed property boundary.
- A Mill Worker's Narrow Escape
A standard day at the Port Blakeley mill turned catastrophic when a falling door triggered the log carriage, pinning a worker against the machinery.
- The Streetcar Boom of 1891
A new electric line to Lake Washington promises to turn suburban wilderness into a goldmine, triggering a scramble for land.
- Crisis at Whitworth College
Faculty dismissals trigger a faculty-student revolt and a tense emergency meeting of the Board of Trustees.
- The Councilman Who Said No to $132,000
Councilman Conrad rejects a massive bribe offer, triggering a city-wide scandal and the mysterious flight of a corporate agent.
- The Deluge Strikes the Sound
Heavy rains and melting mountain snow cripple regional rail lines and cause flooding across King and Snohomish counties, leaving trains stranded in mudslides.
- The Zephyr’s Relief Mission to the Snohomish Valley
After the mountain snows melted and triggered a devastating flood, the steamer Zephyr served as a critical lifeline to the isolated settlers of the Snohomish River valley.
- Bellingham Homes Shattered by Icy Blast
Frozen pipes trigger violent explosions across the city, leaving one woman injured and houses in ruins.
- The Great Northern Rail Boom
Fairhaven residents are buzzing over rumors that their local rail line has been absorbed by the Great Northern, promising a future as a major Pacific terminal.
- A Deadly Connection
A young Seattle telephone lineman suffers a horrific electrical shock while working, sparking a community plea for better workplace safety.
- The Presbyterian Ball Controversy
A proposed tournament and dance in Seattle triggers anxiety and confusion within the First Presbyterian Church congregation.
- An Accidental Blast at The Tanks
A bungled attempt to extract a stuck shell from a Winchester rifle triggers a chaotic runaway at a local camp.
- The Peril of Backyard Marksmanship
A Deep Creek Falls woman’s attempt to shoot a hawk ends in a gruesome accident that serves as a cautionary tale about home gun safety.
- The Tragedy of the Forgotten Mine
A suspected mining accident in Whatcom County may finally explain the mysterious disappearance of four Finnish laborers months earlier.
- Tacoma Printers' War Against the Ledger
A standoff in Tacoma pits union printers against a newspaper management that replaced them with imported 'rat' labor.
- The Tragedy of George E. Harrison
George E. Harrison, who deserted his wife and children, shot himself in Leeds, voiding his life insurance.