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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1860 | 12 |
| 1861 | 92 |
| 1862 | 87 |
| 1863 | 69 |
260 stories
- Legislature Honors Fallen General Isaac I. Stevens
Lawmakers declare a ten-day mourning period for the former Governor and Union General killed in the Civil War.
- The Struggle for Currency in Wartime Olympia
Merchants in Olympia face criticism for devaluing federal 'greenbacks' at the expense of local laborers.
- The Territory's Thin Ledger
A look at the precarious finances of Washington Territory in 1862, from debts to the cost of territorial convicts.
- The Rowdy Election of the Territorial Printer
Washington's early legislature devolves into political gridlock as members brawl over the powerful and lucrative appointment of the official Territorial Printer.
- Tragedy on the Pacific Coast
A boat carrying two men home to the Point William lighthouse swamped in the rough waters of Pacific County.
- Tragedy in the Woods Near Vancouver
A farmer disappears while investigating his dog's barking; his body is discovered the following morning.
- The Territory Takes a Stand on the Civil War
A convention of local political leaders in Vancouver pledges unwavering support for the Union and denounces partisanship during the national crisis.
- The Struggle for an Inland Route
Olympia’s leadership frets that without a wagon road over the Cascades, the capital city risks losing its status to the burgeoning trade of the Upper Columbia.
- An Editor's Dilemma in the Civil War
The Olympia Standard defends its editorial stance against critics who charge the paper with abandoning the cause of the Union by questioning the immediate abolition of slavery.
- The 'Miraculous Devil' Seed
A local curiosity exhibit features strange, jumping seeds from Mexico, rumored to be poisonous and charged with mysterious 'electric fluid.'
- Washington Territory Declares Loyalty to the Union
Legislators in the newly formed territory pass formal resolutions condemning secession and the proposed Pacific Confederacy on the eve of the Civil War.
- An Editor Steps Down Amidst Political Intrigue
James Lodge defends his reputation after withdrawing from the Pioneer and Democrat, denying secret negotiations with Republican rivals.
- Allegations of Land Office Fraud
A citizen accuses political candidate S. Garfielde of withholding land certificates and pocketing fees during his time as a receiver of public moneys.
- Steamer Pacific Wrecked on the Columbia
A local steamer strikes a rock in the dead of night, leading to the loss of its cargo and livestock.
- A Young Seattle's Ambition
A correspondent reports on the rapid development of Seattle in 1861, highlighting the construction of the Territorial University building.
- Lawmakers Mocked for 'Infra Dig' Stationery and Cutlery
Legislators receive low-quality office supplies, sparking protests, ridicule, and a formal proposal to donate the cheap jack-knives to a butcher's association.
- The Case of the Missing Territorial Library Books
A government official alleges that a man named William Pickering purloined two packages of library books intended for public use.
- Call for Cavalry Volunteers to Fight 'Snake Indians'
The federal government initiates a recruitment drive for the First Regiment of Oregon Cavalry to serve on the frontier, citing a need to address attacks on immigrants.
- The First Republican Banner in the Territory
A local correspondent celebrates the arrival of a new political voice in Whatcom, marking a rare moment of partisan pride in the remote frontier.
- The Legislature Votes Itself a Territorial Rifle
In a moment of classic political opportunism, the Council passes a measure granting every member a firearm at public expense.
- A Frontier Call to Stand by the Union
Meeting in Steilacoom, Pierce County Republicans resolve to support the Constitution and condemn the removal of the Territorial Capitol.
- Patriotic Rivalry at Oak Point
When steamer crewmen beat the local ladies to the punch on a flag-raising ceremony, the women reclaimed the duty themselves.
- The Standard’s Call to Arms
An editorial lays out a definitive Unionist platform on the eve of civil war, arguing that the Republic must be preserved at any cost.
- The Beacon at the Edge of the World
A rare dispatch from the remote Tatoosh Island lighthouse reveals the technical marvel of the Fresnel lens and the isolation of the keepers guarding the Pacific entrance.
- The Bishop's Plea for Vancouver's Orphans
Facing mounting debt, the Sisters of Charity turn to the public to keep their doors open for fifty destitute children.