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.
Refine1 on
Show the numbers
| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1882 | 130 |
| 1883 | 799 |
| 1884 | 455 |
| 1885 | 838 |
| 1886 | 492 |
| 1887 | 484 |
3,198 stories
- The Laundry Alibi
A Seattle laborer stands accused of a brutal hatchet attack, but his defense claims he was nowhere near the scene, pointing to his wife’s workplace as his only destination.
- The Seattle Daily Post-Intelligencer's 1886 Protest Against Executive Overreach
A fiery editorial argues that the Cabinet, led by Secretary Bayard, is systematically ignoring acts of Congress and undermining democracy itself.
- The Price of Refusing the Knights of Labor
A Seattle tavern keeper finds his livelihood evaporating after he crosses a powerful labor union, proving the reach of social and economic pressure in 1886.
- The Steamer Glide’s Heavy Load: A Narrow Escape on the Skagit
When a steamer faced a brutal northwest gale, a terrified deckhand tried to dump the cargo overboard, sparking a confrontation in the middle of a choppy sea.
- Tragedy at Port Ludlow: A Young Life Lost to a Hunting Accident
A 16-year-old boy dies following a tragic accident involving a firearm while walking near a logging site, highlighting the dangers inherent in the Pacific Northwest frontier.
- The Mysterious Fate of a Mutilated Man
A tragic case of labor, isolation, and identity emerges in late 19th-century Seattle.
- The Right to Seize Silent Tracks
In 1886, territorial legislators debated a radical bill to reclaim abandoned railroad rights-of-way, arguing that the public interest outweighed corporate ownership.
- The Logger's Protective Association
After enduring wage cuts and rising costs, Washington's loggers begin organizing to push back against a legislature that seems determined to strip away their protections.
- A Vicious Assault on the Waterfront
A Chinese resident attempts to seek justice in court after being beaten by a mob of schoolboys, but is met with the cold indifference of the law.
- The End of the Frontier Boom
An 1886 dispatch from the San Francisco Chronicle assesses the cooling of Washington Territory's economy, marking the transition from feverish speculation to steady growth.
- The Hypocrisy of Seattle’s 'Conservative' Moralists
A citizen's sharp critique of the local council and police force, highlighting their hypocrisy in failing to enforce Sunday closing laws while positioning themselves as pillars of order.
- The Sudden Death of Judge Peter P. Good
A prominent New York-trained jurist who arrived in Seattle to participate in the ongoing anti-Chinese agitation has died of heart failure.
- The Stranger on the Night Train
A railroad brakeman risks his reputation and job to help a stranded, elderly woman on a stormy night, only to discover a life-changing coincidence.
- Gambling Debt and Ceiling Signals
A high-stakes poker cheat gets caught when his victim shoots through the floor.
- The Banker’s Debt
A wealthy philanthropist discovers that his own neglect of small bills drove a local shoemaker to attempt suicide.
- A Desperate Escape in a Seattle Alley
A horse plunges into a dangerously narrow gap between buildings on Second Street, leaving the animal trapped and onlookers scrambling.
- Speculation Booms at the New 'Tunnel City' Townsite
Investors swarm the Land Office to secure property at the site of the new Cascade Mountain rail tunnel.
- The Price of a Badly Written Charter
Tacoma’s new municipal charter proves to be a legal disaster that costs the town thousands in needless fees and litigation.
- The Forgotten Strike of 1886
As rail workers faced off against the Missouri Pacific Railroad, a local businessman found himself in the crosshairs of a community boycott for his role in the labor dispute.
- Commuter Outrage on the Sound Shore Line
Drastic schedule changes cause massive drop in ridership as commuters are forced to wait hours for trains.
- The Great Seattle Police Reduction Debate
City officials and taxpayers clash over whether the Seattle police force should be downsized despite rising city tensions.
- The Clue in the Rubber Boots
A fire in a barn on White River leads to an arrest after a trail of distinct boot prints is discovered.
- Longshoremen Walk Off Jobs in Tacoma
Workers refuse to handle cargo until wages are raised from $3 to $4 a day.
- A Young Life Lost in the Yakima River
While attempting to drive horses across a dangerous crossing, an eighteen-year-old laborer is swept away in the swift currents.
- The War Over the Wires
A newspaper editor battles the Western Union monopoly over telegraph rates and news distribution.