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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1860 | 12 |
| 1861 | 92 |
| 1862 | 87 |
| 1863 | 69 |
260 stories
- The Town That 'Resorted to Flat-Boats'
A skeptical writer from Walla Walla mocked Olympia’s tide-swept landscape, prompting a sharp, defensive retort from the local editor.
- The Cynical Toll of Local Politics
A satirical diary of a man who wins a nomination for public office, only to be ruined by the exorbitant financial and social demands of his supporters.
- Olympia Declares War on Loose Hogs
A newly passed town ordinance empowers the Marshall to seize and auction off any swine wandering through the streets of Olympia north of Union Street.
- Collector Victor Smith Removed from Port Angeles Post
The controversial Collector of Customs for the Puget Sound District is dismissed, replaced by Fred A. Wilson.
- The Prohibition of Alcohol Trade with Tribal Nations
Federal agents issue a stern warning against the trade and distribution of liquor on Indian reservations.
- Frontier War Bounty
A recruitment call for the 1st Regiment of Oregon Cavalry, targeting the 'Snake Indians' on the frontier.
- Call for Cavalry in the Indian Wars
Recruiting for the First Regiment of Oregon Cavalry to serve in the ongoing conflict with the Snake Indians.
- Recruiting Call for the First Oregon Cavalry
A recruitment notice seeking men to fight on the frontier, specifically targeting the Snake Indians.
- The Territorial Legislator and the Editor’s Ego
A fiery public feud erupts in 1861 between a Clark County representative and the editor of the Washington Standard, highlighting the volatile politics of the territorial legislature.
- An Early Exploration of the Quillehuyt River
James G. Swan documents his journey into the remote Quillehuyt River country, naming landmarks and describing the indigenous villages encountered.
- A Bridge Across the Chehalis
Citizens in Claquato gather to replace a ferry boat with a permanent bridge.
- The Midnight Roommate Mix-up
A night of drinking turns into a farcical brawl when two roommates accidentally wander into each other’s beds.
- The Public Printer's Stand-Off
A legislative clerk threatened 'foul means' to seize official manuscripts from the printer, leading to a tense standoff over territorial records.
- The Meadow Snake Fiasco
A bashful farmhand’s desperate attempts to avoid the local quilting party result in an unintended, high-speed chase with a black snake.
- Federal Crackdown on Alcohol Sales in Indian Country
New legislation expands enforcement powers to seize wagons, teams, and goods used in the illegal spirit trade on tribal lands.
- Oregon Cavalry Seeks 100 Men for Frontier Service
A recruitment call for the First Regiment of Oregon Cavalry to combat the Snake Indians in Washington Territory.
- Victory for Pacific Trade: Livestock Embargo Lifted
After an intense local lobbying campaign, the President has overruled Treasury officials to allow livestock exports from the Pacific coast.
- Gold Rush Fever Hits Walla Walla
Fresh reports from the Salmon River mines ignite an immense excitement, drawing hopeful prospectors to the promise of incredible daily earnings.
- The Fight for Recognition in the Sanitary Fund
Olympia locals demand that their contributions to the war effort be credited to Washington Territory, not Oregon.
- Backstage Brawl Ends Performance for Traveling Troupe
A musical performance in Olympia turned into an unintended comedy when a stage-manager's reprimand led to a physical confrontation.
- The Collector of Customs and the Steamer Eliza Anderson
A dramatic standoff between a local Customs Collector and a naval lieutenant highlights the administrative dysfunction and power struggles in Port Angeles.
- The Forgotten Navigator of the Pacific Northwest
A call to honor Captain Robert Gray, the man whose discovery of the Columbia River and Grays Harbor secured the region for the United States.
- The Great Butter Hoax of 1859
A classic tall tale of rancid butter, two tipsy pioneers, and an elaborate prank on a local tavern keeper in Olympia.
- Olympia Votes on Its First Public Square
Citizens overwhelmingly approve donating land for county buildings during a 1861 municipal election.
- Paying the Volunteers of the Indian Wars
A federal act authorizes millions to compensate the Washington and Oregon volunteer regiments who fought in the 1855-1856 Indian Wars.