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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1882 | 1 |
| 1883 | 25 |
| 1884 | 5 |
| 1885 | 34 |
| 1886 | 8 |
| 1887 | 13 |
86 stories matching damag
- The Landlord Who Stole the Doors
A landlord attempts to evict an 'unwelcome tenant' by physically removing the doors and windows from the residence.
- The Steamship San Pedro’s Wharf-Crushing Accident
A steamship failed to stop at its Seattle wharf, plowing into the structure and causing thousands of dollars in damage.
- The Brutal Voyage of the Challenger
A crew files an admiralty suit against their ship's officers, alleging systemic violence and abuse on the journey from Philadelphia.
- The Smoke of the Season
Forest fires burn through Tumwater timber, impeding travel and damaging infrastructure.
- The City Council Grants Massive Streetcar Monopoly
A sweeping new ordinance grants a local transit company the right to lay tracks across vast swaths of Seattle's downtown, prioritizing private infrastructure over the city's future growth.
- The Great Timber Fires of 1887
As drought conditions persist, devastating fires tear through the logging camps and timberlands near Seattle.
- The Night the Hue Jacket Struck the Tacoma
A federal admiralty complaint lays out a Strait of Juan de Fuca collision, a missing lookout, and a $15,000 claim against a square-rigged ship.
- A Steamship Crashes Into the City Dock
Mechanical failure aboard the 'Umatilla' causes a messy collision with the warehouse at the city's waterfront.
- A Boy’s Quick Thinking Saves the May Creek Trestle
When a youth discovered a blaze on a high railway bridge, his rapid response prevented a catastrophe for the incoming train.
- A Costly Slip: The Sink That Flooded Pioneer Square
A plumber’s oversight at a dry goods shop leads to a deluge that ruins thousands of dollars in stock, exposing the fragility of Seattle’s burgeoning commercial district.
- A Deadly Afternoon in Seattle
A rifle shot aimed at a magazine door results in a catastrophic explosion, claiming lives and damaging buildings across the neighborhood.
- Deep Harbor, Shallow Anchors
A legal battle breaks out between two ships after a collision in Tacoma harbor reveals the dangers of local seafaring infrastructure.
- Sailors Sue the Ship Challenger Over Abuse at Sea
Eight sailors sue for wages and damages after allegedly being beaten with clubs and belaying pins during a voyage from Philadelphia to Tacoma.
- The Legal Trap of Marriage
A doctor, paralyzed after a carriage accident, finds that her husband legally owns her right to sue for her own injuries.
- The Gas Company vs. The Crossing
A minor civic dispute in 1882 reveals the early friction between private utility companies and public infrastructure maintenance in downtown Seattle.
- Lightning Strikes North Seattle
A severe thunderstorm in July 1885 brought dramatic electrical damage to homes and businesses in North Seattle, setting off fires and injuring a local resident.
- The Great Nooksack Flood
Heavy rains and melting snows have devastated the Nooksack Valley, leaving farmers homeless and destroying livestock.
- The War of Words at the Edge of the Frontier
In an era of unchecked corporate power, a fiery letter from labor leader T.V. Powderly to tycoon Jay Gould exposes the raw nerves of a nation in the throes of a massive railroad strike.
- The Blast at Mason Slip
A steam tug carrying three crew members is obliterated in a freak explosion on the Seattle waterfront.
- 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 Price of Reckless Fire in the Forest
A searing editorial from 1886 lambasts the 'gross and inexcusable carelessness' of campers and railroads that leave Washington’s timberlands in ashes.
- The Day the Newspaper Landed in the Bay
A minor dockside mishap leaves the Herald's front page floating in the water.
- A Night Out on Front Street Ends in Glass
An intoxicated patron’s stumbling walk through downtown Seattle leads to a costly encounter with a store display window.
- The Great Seattle Main Street Flood of 1886
Heavy rains turn a bustling thoroughfare into a literal river, driving residents from their homes and stalling city business.
- The Fiery End of the War Hawk
A visiting ship caught fire at Port Discovery, forcing the crew to scuttle the vessel to save her.