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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1882 | 130 |
| 1883 | 799 |
| 1884 | 455 |
| 1885 | 838 |
| 1886 | 492 |
| 1887 | 484 |
3,198 stories
- The Shame of Seattle's City Jail
A grand jury investigation into Seattle’s penal system reveals a crumbling facility plagued by filth, corruption, and the disappearance of evidence.
- The Political Machine vs. Mr. Humes
A fiery struggle over county boundaries reveals a deep-seated battle between Seattle’s citizenry and the powerful railroad political machine.
- The First Fight for Women’s Suffrage in Seattle
Before statehood, the 1887 Washington Territorial Legislature sparked a fierce, floor-level battle over the right of women to vote and hold office.
- The Collapse of a Pioneer Financial Institution
When the Bank of Seattle shuttered its doors, the local economy faced a sharp, sobering moment as depositors and business owners grappled with the fallout.
- The Iron Road Approaches the Sound
Boosterism and optimism as the Northern Pacific Railroad nears completion for through travel to the Pacific.
- The Settler vs. The Railroad
A federal ruling clears the way for George Pressey to keep his homestead, challenging the Northern Pacific Railroad's land claims.
- The Tragedy of the Steamer Josephine
Survivors of a catastrophic boiler explosion describe the terrifying moments the ship disintegrated and their harrowing wait for rescue.
- The Oriental Hotel Burns to the Ground
A pre-dawn fire claims a downtown landmark, leaving one man severely injured and a widow without her business.
- Vigilante Justice on the Northern Pacific Frontier
As railroad construction pushed through the Northwest, local 'Safety Committees' took the law into their own hands to purge work camps of 'hard characters.'
- The Enigma of the Moses Reservation
A critical look at the federal policy keeping prime Washington farmland locked away from development while the Indigenous people it was intended for remain elsewhere.
- The Iron Horse Approaches Seattle
Contractors accelerate the connection between the Puget Sound and the nation, employing hundreds to bridge the gap.
- Crew Files Admiralty Suit Against Ship Challenger
Sailors sue the captain and officers of a vessel arriving in Tacoma for systemic physical abuse, including beatings with clubs and belaying pins.
- The Governess and the Burglar
A governess, left alone to guard a house of silver while the owners attend a wedding, outwits a home invader who posed as a prospective renter.
- The Passing of a Seattle Kingpin
John Pinnell, the former proprietor of a notorious 'squaw-dancing' saloon in the city's early days, has died in Ellensburg.
- The Brutality Aboard the Challenger
A captain escapes conviction, but his mates are sentenced for systematic cruelty against seamen.
- The Settlement of the Colville Valley
An engineer’s report argues that the Colville Valley is held back by the presence of Indigenous and mixed-race populations.
- Children Buried Alive in Snow Slide
A faithful dog saves four children after a massive snow slide in Antelope Valley leaves them buried beneath the drifts.
- Inside the Territorial Asylum
A rare firsthand look at the conditions, characters, and daily routines of patients at the Washington Territorial Insane Asylum.
- The Iron Road Over the Cascades
After much doubt and political posturing, Northern Pacific President Henry Villard confirms plans for a major rail connection, sparking a local boom.
- The Seattle Way: How Local Businessmen Built a Railroad
A Walla Walla newspaper praises Seattle’s 'All pull together' motto after local merchants successfully pressured Henry Villard to finance a new coal-hauling railroad.
- Chief Moses and the Stolen Reservation
A Spokane Indian leader bypasses federal agents to protest a land grab in Washington Territory.
- The Iron Road Reaches Yakima
Northern Pacific Railroad breaks ground on the vital Cascade Branch, signaling a new era for mountain transit.
- The Battle Over Snohoish County Timber Land
A definitive government ruling reshapes the future of land rights in Washington Territory.
- The Man Who Returned from the Grave
A shipwrecked man’s family burned his belongings and went into mourning, only to be shocked by his miraculous return.
- The Art of Getting Helped
A clever traveler tricks two impatient men into doing the labor he was too tired to finish.