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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1882 | 3 |
| 1883 | 17 |
| 1884 | 20 |
| 1885 | 27 |
| 1886 | 21 |
| 1887 | 21 |
109 stories matching compel
- An Indian Agent Defends His Administration
Agent C.W. Young addresses allegations of monopoly and mistreatment of the Indigenous population at his reservation.
- A Promising Life Cut Short
A former University of Washington student and educator passes away due to kidney disease.
- Railroad Monopoly Challenged in Court
Chief Justice Greene rules against Northern Pacific's attempts to block competitors from their lines.
- The Skagit County Sheriff’s 'First Class' Hotel
Newly formed Skagit County lacks a proper jail, forcing the sheriff to board inmates at local hotels at public expense.
- The Right to Protect a Source in 1887 Seattle
A landmark court ruling in Seattle established that a journalist cannot be legally compelled to reveal their sources, protecting the freedom of the press in the burgeoning territory.
- Hard Labor on the Hill
As the Seattle county jail hits capacity, the sheriff puts inmates to work clearing brush on the city's hills.
- The City's Broken Lumber Deal
When lumber prices soared in 1887, Seattle’s city contractors simply walked away from their obligations—and the city council let them get away with it.
- The Railway Hotel Trap
A scathing critique of a Northern Pacific Railroad ticket that forced passengers to stay at a specific Tacoma hotel to validate their travel.
- The Bitter Exit of an Editor-turned-Politician
After being unceremoniously replaced as Territorial School Superintendent, C. W. Wheeler of the Waitsburg Times vents his frustration in a bizarrely candid editorial.
- A Tangle Over Tacoma Land
A legal dispute emerges in the southern part of Tacoma over the alleged 'unlawful' development and obstruction of property.
- The Desperate Night in the Seattle Depot
A homeless couple is evicted from a rail station in the dead of night, only to be saved by the charity of local women.
- The Tragedy of the Tug 'Mogul'
A young seaman from Maine loses his life in the waters of Port Townsend after a fatal fall from his vessel.
- The Tale of Two Towns: A Battle for the Depot
As the railroad bypasses established settlements, a bitter conflict erupts between long-time residents and land speculators creating a brand-new town three miles away.
- The Waterfront 'Hotbed of Disorder'
In 1887, Seattle officials and citizens mobilized to purge the city's waterfront of the 'notorious' floating houses that provided a refuge for the city's poorest residents.
- The Resistance of Ah Sin
A Chinese man accused of illegal entry avoids deportation after his community rallies to testify on his behalf in Seattle court.
- The Fight for a New Land Office
Citizens of the Eastern Sound protest a proposal to center federal land business in Port Townsend, arguing it is inaccessible and indifferent to their needs.
- Violent Barroom Brawl at the New England Hotel
A rowdy patron causes chaos, forcing police to physically carry him to the lockup.
- Seattle’s Thirst: A Winter Warning
A deep freeze has exposed the city's crumbling, inadequate water infrastructure.
- The Shadow Candidate
A political editorial argues that the People's Party candidate for Sheriff is merely a 'puppet' for a controversial newcomer.
- City Council Launches Investigation into Police Judge
Corruption allegations involving the 'bartering' of justice lead to a formal probe by Seattle officials.
- The Sheriff vs. The Railroad
When the Northern Pacific Railroad refused to pay taxes in 1882, the local sheriff didn't just file a complaint—he seized their locomotives.
- Palouse Settlers Organize Against Northern Pacific Land Grab
Whitman County farmers form a permanent association to challenge the railroad's right to sell land without clear title.
- 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 Economic Case for Civil Rights
An editorial from 1886 argues that Northern labor interests depend on ending the exploitation of Black workers in the South.
- The Marriage License Court Battle
A young couple defeats parental interference in the local courts.