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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1882 | 98 |
| 1883 | 511 |
| 1884 | 326 |
| 1885 | 566 |
| 1886 | 361 |
| 1887 | 327 |
2,189 stories
- The Pastor Who Refused to Be Shamed
When an anonymous article smeared a local minister, his Seattle congregation stood by their leader with a bold, public defense of his character.
- The Political Gambler of the Puget Sound
A look back at the life of Captain Marshall Blinn, the independent candidate who once chartered a steamer to campaign for Congress across the territory.
- The Mystery of the Silent Man
A deaf and mute man, unable to communicate, wanders the mill districts of Seattle, leaving local authorities perplexed and the public uneasy.
- Fire on the Hill: A Seattle Neighborhood in Peril
A mid-day blaze destroys homes and leaves a neighbor seriously injured, highlighting the isolation and scarcity of water in the city's expanding residential districts.
- The Struggle for the Seattle Mills
Striking workers at the Seattle mills face a stalemate as employers struggle to find enough non-union labor to maintain operations.
- The Fight for the University’s Future
An editorial debate over the Territorial University’s location and future highlights the tension between Seattle’s growth and the necessity of territorial unity.
- The Unceremonious Dismissal of Chief Woolery
A police chief accused of serious misconduct walks away without a hearing, leaving Seattle residents bewildered and angry.
- The Mother Who Hunted a 'Scandalous' Actor Across the West
A persistent woman travels from Oregon to San Jose, mistakenly harassing a local journalist whom she believes is the man who ruined her daughter's life.
- The Tragedy of William Owens
A vulnerable man’s lonely trek to Seattle ends not in hope, but in the county jail and the looming shadow of the state asylum.
- The Tragedy of a Sailor’s Train-Hopping Gamble
A penniless traveler, desperate to reach San Francisco, attempts to ride a moving freight train through the Washington wilderness—with fatal consequences.
- The Unflinching Defense of Mrs. Dudley
Facing a court in a high-stakes trial, a woman demands the right to testify in her own defense, challenging the gendered biases of her era.
- A Coroner’s Clash in the Coal Fields
A King County coroner disputes a secret inquest held by mine officials, sparking a public confrontation over workplace death and legal accountability.
- The Tragic Fourth of July Death of a Local Policeman
A Seattle officer lost his life in a freak horseback accident during the city's holiday celebrations, marking a somber end to the 1885 festivities.
- Seattle Pauses for the General: A City Honors Ulysses S. Grant
When word reached the Pacific Northwest that General Ulysses S. Grant had passed away, Seattle held a solemn city-wide memorial to honor the leader of the Union Army.
- The Swindler Who Tried to Sell Insurance to a Ghost
A Seattle man attempts to scam his brother in California with a fake insurance policy, only to be outsmarted by a skeptical editor.
- The Day the Circus Rolled into Seattle
Thousands flocked to the depot in 1885 to witness the grand arrival of John Robinson’s circus, a massive production that brought exotic animals and high-wire spectacle to the nascent town.
- The Strange Case of Thomas Comer
A young boy's violent encounter with a woman leads to a confusing local court scene in Seattle.
- The Strange Disappearance of Nellie McNeil
After a frantic police search, a woman reported missing is discovered living in a rooming house above a local saloon.
- The 'Bijou Theater' Boxing Match Ends in a Brawl
A staged boxing match between Professor Dutchy and Phil Dawe ends in a disappointing fizzle and a near-riot when the audience suspects a fix.
- The Need for a Reform School
A local editorial argues that Seattle’s juvenile justice system is failing, treating young offenders as criminals rather than rehabilitation candidates.
- The Dogfish Oil Smuggling Ring
Federal authorities launch a crackdown on an illicit trade network that attempted to pass foreign-sourced dogfish oil as local Washington production.
- A Near-Fatal Industrial Accident at the Oregon Improvement Mill
A mill worker is struck by a spinning iron collar, highlighting the constant physical risks faced by laborers in Seattle’s early industrial landscape.
- The Great Baptist Schism of 1885
A regional convention turns into a heated public spectacle over the management of church funds and the role of the 'superintendent of missions.'
- A Theatrical Triumph in Old Seattle
Local audiences pack Frye's Opera House to witness a powerful performance of 'The Wages of Sin,' marking a high point for regional dramatic arts.
- The Night the Post Building Smoldered
A pre-dawn fire nearly claims the offices of the Post-Intelligencer, revealing the stark difference between fire safety in brick versus wooden structures.