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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1882 | 7 |
| 1883 | 44 |
| 1884 | 23 |
| 1885 | 36 |
| 1886 | 31 |
| 1887 | 32 |
173 stories matching reason
- Seattle Bricklayers Push for a Nine-Hour Day
The city's bricklayers' association counted 29 members and commanded $5 a day—more for top hands—as workers eyed shorter hours without a pay cut.
- The Weight of Reasonable Doubt in Early Seattle
A century and a half ago, a Washington judge meticulously laid out the standard of proof for a murder trial, reminding the jury that a man’s life hung not on suspicion, but on evidence.
- Puyallup Families Finally Win Title to Their Land
While the President ordered land titles for the Puyallup people in 1884, a corrupt 'ring' of speculators held up the process to seize the property for profit.
- The Sentencing of James McPherson
A somber day in court as a defendant is sentenced to death despite his final protestations of innocence.
- The Argument for Washington Statehood in 1883
An editorial from the Pacific Chronicle argues that the territory’s rapid growth and wealth entitle it to immediate admission to the Union.
- The Price of Public Safety
City council debates delaying fire limits due to high brick costs.
- Forging a Path Through Snoqualmie Pass
Driven by the hardships of shipping livestock down the Columbia River, local ranchers have hacked a new cattle trail over the Cascades.
- Judge Lessons for Petty Criminals
A series of court cases reveals the harsh realities and local color of Seattle's judicial system.
- A Costly Court House Proposal
A local property owner attempts to pressure King County into buying his bluff-top lot for an exorbitant price, despite the site's clear logistical flaws.
- The City That Outgrew Its Rivals
An 1885 dispatch from the front lines of the Seattle boom describes a town shedding its humble roots and leaving former neighbors like Steilacoom in the dust.
- The Boycott Handbills
After anonymous anti-Chinese handbills appear in Seattle, local laborers write to the Post-Intelligencer to clarify their role—and distance themselves from the movement.
- The Scandal of a 'Working Man's Romance' in Seattle
When a young German immigrant found himself the talk of the town after falling for his employer’s daughter, the local press didn't just report the news—they took sides in a class-inflected drama of love and social climbing.
- 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 Fight for the Ten-Hour Day on the Puget Sound
A historic, voluntary move by the Puget Mill Company to limit the workday sparks a push for better labor conditions in the mills.
- Washington Territory's Eight-Year Push for Statehood
A Senate floor speech details the eight-year struggle for Washington Territory to shed its frontier status and become a state, including the controversial proposal to annex Idaho's northern panhandle.
- Postmaster Cuts Hours Over Low Pay
Seattle's post office will close earlier as the postmaster struggles with inadequate funding to support his staff.
- The Juror Who Held Out for a Payday
A Seattle jury stalled a verdict for hours, leading to the dramatic arrest of a man accused of dragging out deliberations just to secure extra witness fees.
- A Soldier's Solitary End
The tragic discovery of a soldier found hanging at the government wharf.
- The Price of a Capitol Seat
When the Territorial Legislature convened in Olympia, residents hiked rent to price gouge the lawmakers, sparking a legislative push to abandon the capital city.
- Tragedy at the Newcastle Mine
A young worker is severely injured in a mining accident and brought to Seattle for an emergency amputation.
- The Struggle for the Alaska Trade
Seattle fights to become the primary gateway for the northern trade route, challenging the dominance of Port Townsend.
- The Chief of Police’s Private Vendetta
Seattle’s police chief is under fire for allegedly using his badge to smear a peaceful citizen through fabricated letters and baseless professional surveillance.
- Double Standards in New Tacoma and Tacoma City
A call for equal law enforcement as 'ancient' Tacoma City ignores the Sunday saloon closures observed in New Tacoma.
- Explosion at the Stump
A teamster's narrow escape after a misfired blast in his land-clearing efforts.
- The Tragic Confinement of Almira Woolery
A young mother is committed to the state asylum after suffering from postpartum psychosis, illustrating the stark medical realities of the 1880s.