Research the archive
Narrow 27,002 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.
Refine2 on
Show the numbers
| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1882 | 98 |
| 1883 | 511 |
| 1884 | 326 |
| 1885 | 566 |
| 1886 | 361 |
| 1887 | 327 |
2,189 stories
- The Haunted Spring Mystery
A lonely Lake Washington homesteader risks his life to find the source of an uncanny, mournful wailing in the woods, only to discover a bizarre piece of litter at the center of the phenomenon.
- The Ghost in the Willow at Lake Washington
A lonely homesteader’s terrifying encounter with an 'uncanny wailing' near the shores of Lake Washington ends in a discovery that speaks more to the era’s aggressive patent medicine marketing than the supernatural.
- The Great Seattle Opium Bust of 1885
Customs officers seize a boat and $1,200 in illegal opium near Duwamish Head, leaving the smugglers to flee into the night.
- The Soap-Making Distillery Bust of South Seattle
A federal raid on a modest South Seattle property reveals an enterprising soap-maker operating without a permit, leading to the seizure of his entire livelihood.
- Hard Labor on the Hill
As the Seattle county jail hits capacity, the sheriff puts inmates to work clearing brush on the city's hills.
- The Struggle for a Sidewalk
Citizens and the City Council wrangle over basic infrastructure as Seattle grapples with rapid growth and urban order.
- The Man Who Walked the Entire Union
A formerly enslaved man recounts his epic, cross-country trek to the Puget Sound, fueled by a simple curiosity to see the nation for himself.
- A Broken Leg and a Stranger's Kindness
After a brutal accident on the steamer Merwin, a man is left to fend for himself until a stranger intervenes to ensure he gets care.
- Domestic Violence in Pioneer Seattle
A husband is arrested and held on bond after threatening his wife's life in court.
- A Warship’s Cannonball Uncovered on Spring Street
Street graders digging in the heart of Seattle unearthed a 35-pound reminder of the 1856 Indian War.
- A Heartfelt Greeting at the Waterfront
A young woman travels across the country to marry a man she has never met, meeting him for the first time at the Seattle wharf.
- The Overachieving Schoolgirl of 1888
A reporter interviews a fourteen-year-old girl struggling under the crushing weight of an hyper-academic curriculum.
- The City’s New Face
Architect W. E. Boone unveils ambitious plans for a massive brick residence and new commercial structures, signaling a construction boom in Seattle.
- The Case for a 'Seattle the Beautiful'
A visionary letter to the editor advocates for creating a network of public parks before the city's rapid expansion makes such land unaffordable.
- The Test of the Chemical Fire Extinguisher
A skeptical crowd gathers at Second and Marion to watch a new, pressurized fire-fighting contraption in action.
- The Thief Who Crawled into a Hole
A petty shoplifting chase leads to an absurd standoff underneath a downtown storefront.
- The New Life of a Seattle Street Kid
Once a fixture of the police courts, a young boy explains why he is trading in petty mischief for an honest job at the bowling alley.
- The Doctor and the Frog
When a woman believed she had swallowed a frog, a Seattle physician orchestrated a surgical hoax to save her peace of mind.
- Explosives Blast Seattle's Waterways Clear
A dangerous snag, responsible for over $4,000 in damages to loggers, is finally demolished above the old Packard wharf.
- Raiding the Opium Dens
Police Chief Woolery and Officer McGowan raid a hidden opium den between Eighth and Ninth Streets, leading to the arrest of two young men.
- The Man Who Wanted to Go to Jail
A desperate and confused man repeatedly begged police to arrest him, only to be rebuffed by officers who had no interest in adding him to their workload.
- Gas Poisoning at the Hotel Brunswick
A young woman nearly dies after an accidental gas asphyxiation in her hotel room.
- The Arcade Saloon Melee
A morning brawl involving the 'John Bull Combination' spills out of the Arcade Saloon and into the street.
- The Hidden Hazard on Commercial Street
Pedestrians are at the mercy of runaway teams and deep mud in an alleyway near Phillips' stables.
- The Unwanted Charity of a Courtroom Foe
A woman pays her assailant's fine, leaving the man outraged by her unwelcome generosity.