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 | 2 |
| 1883 | 19 |
| 1884 | 19 |
| 1885 | 27 |
| 1886 | 13 |
| 1887 | 16 |
96 stories matching accept
- The Ethics of the Free Rail Pass
A territorial representative is caught accepting a railroad pass while charging the government for travel expenses, prompting a sharp rebuke on political corruption.
- The Iron Workers’ Truce
After months of tense negotiations and the threat of a prolonged shutdown, iron manufacturers and workmen in Seattle reach a compromise to avert a general strike.
- The Battle for the Council Floor
A legislative standoff in Olympia over petty offices and party control highlights the raw political maneuvering of the late Washington Territory era.
- The Price of a Free Ride
Seattle's press praises legislators who refused corporate-funded train passes, calling the practice a form of bribery.
- The Struggle for the Eight-Hour Day
While Seattle’s mills slash hours and wages amid a lumber market slump, labor organizers face stiff resistance from manufacturers and owners.
- The Railway Bribe: Why Editors Shouldn't Take Free Rides
An editorial critique on how railroad corporations use free travel passes to compromise the independence of public officials and journalists.
- The Acquittal of John Williams
A jury exonerates a man accused of killing William Lockenfritz, accepting a plea of self-defense.
- The Shadow of Graft on Seattle's Armory
A high-stakes bribery scandal reaches the halls of power as a prominent board member is arrested over city land dealings.
- The Price of a Free Pass
In 1885, Seattle’s press took on the corrupting influence of Northern Pacific Railroad’s 'free' travel gifts to legislators, arguing that such favors were nothing less than bribes intended to command political obedience.
- The Sliding Main Street Hillside
A recently completed street project on Main Street is already being reclaimed by the earth as the steep, clay-rich hillside slides into town.
- Yakima Signal Denounces 50-Million-Acre Northern Pacific Land Grant
A scathing editorial accuses President Arthur of abusing executive authority to grant fifty million acres of public land to a powerful railroad monopoly before the road was actually finished.
- The Railroad’s Grip on Washington Territory Politics
A fiery open letter from 1885 accuses a party official of selling out the public interest to railroad companies, sparking a scandal over land rights and free travel bribes.
- The Tragedy of the Parks Children
An Auburn father faces arrest after his children succumb to starvation while he allegedly schemed to remarry.
- Seattle's $160,000 Gamble on a Railroad
Citizens paid Mr. Villard's corporations to push a line into the Cedar and Green River coal and timber country—and Walla Walla was warned not to be left behind.
- The Custody Battle Over Miss Lynch
A bitter divorce case that led to a shooting and an abduction now sees a young girl caught in a tug-of-war between her estranged parents.
- The Political Spoils of a Walla Walla Clerk
After relocating his entire life and family for a government job, a deputy clerk is unceremoniously fired—exposing the bitter, transactional nature of territorial patronage.
- Boston Capital Eyes Seattle Cable Cars
A visiting financier negotiates a massive infrastructure deal to bridge Seattle’s steep hills with new technology.
- Real Estate Standoff Paralyzes Whatcom
A townsite dispute between original owners and a land colony halts development and freezes local business.
- The 'Shut Up or Shut Up' Baseball Challenge of 1885
After a hard-fought draw on the diamond, the Newcastle Baseball Club issues a pugnacious challenge to the Seattle team for a rematch on the race track.
- A High-Stakes Footrace Challenge
Two rivals trade insults and deposit cash wagers for a sprint contest to determine the 'fastest man on the Sound.'
- Seattle Coal Workers Strike at the Docks in 1886
A tense confrontation unfolds at the Seattle coal bunkers as workers strike against company intimidation.
- Whatcom Vigilantes Warn Local Troublemaker
A known card sharper and thief was given a blunt invitation to leave town or face a 'necktie festival' at the hands of local residents.
- Seattle Baseball Team Issues Call for Support
Local players aim to uphold their record against the Victoria club, but they need the community’s help to make the trip across the border.
- A High-Stakes Bet on Whitman College's Future
A correspondent warns that Walla Walla might lose the opportunity to house an elite college if the city fails to raise its share of endowment funds.
- The Battle for the Snoqualmie Road
A fiery exchange in the Seattle Daily Post-Intelligencer reveals the tense intersection of local commerce, red tape, and the precarious state of rural King County infrastructure in 1885.