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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1864 | 31 |
| 1865 | 10 |
41 stories
- Street Duel Leaves One Dead at the Challenge Saloon
A quarrel between two 'sports' on Main Street ends in the death of Reuben Highbarger.
- The Jailbreaker’s Bold Escort
After escaping Walla Walla’s jail, George H. Porter and a mysterious posse held up a farmhouse at gunpoint for a fresh horse and supper.
- A Deadly Dispute on the Pataha
A Christmas Day argument over a tool leaves a young man dead and the legal system in disarray due to missing paperwork.
- Main Street Shootout in Walla Walla
A Saturday afternoon dispute between two men leaves one with a shattered arm and the city looking for a new dueling ground.
- The Price of Public Gunfights
A shootout in the streets of Walla Walla leaves locals shaken and a judge scrambling for safety.
- Vigilantes Clean House in Walla Walla
An organized shadow group forces suspected criminals out of town in the dead of winter.
- Armed Attack at Local Restaurant
A man fired a revolver through the glass of a French restaurant after being refused service late at night.
- Federal Crackdown on Timber Harvesting Threatens Local Growth
Obsolete federal laws are suddenly enforced against lumbermen, sparking fears of an economic standstill in the territory.
- The Walla Walla Valley Boom of 1864
As Civil War refugees flood the territory, Walla Walla sees an influx of skilled professionals and families looking to trade conflict for a fresh start.
- A Desperate Arrival at Mill Creek
Thirty emigrants from Missouri and Iowa reach the Walla Walla Valley in a state of destitution and sickness.
- The 'Contraband' Migration to Walla Walla
Newly freed enslaved people from the South arrive in the territory, facing economic exploitation and virulent local racism.
- The Idaho Capital Plot
Delegates from Lewiston arrive in Walla Walla with a desperate scheme to slice up territories and move the capital.
- The False Gold of Fayette
A new brand of counterfeit gold dust is circulating through Walla Walla, and it is so convincing that few can tell the difference without the use of acid.
- The Political Price of a Civil War Oath
A local controversy erupted when a resident’s right to vote was challenged based on his previous service in the Missouri state militia.
- The Peril of Random Gunfire on Walla Walla Streets
A local editor warns that unless the city curbs random shooting, citizens will soon need to wear armor to safely walk downtown.
- The Counterfeit Gold Dust Panic That Brought Vigilantes to the Valley
A vigilance committee in the Payette Valley smashed a counterfeiters' mill and sent suspects fleeing toward Walla Walla, where fake gold dust began showing up in trade.
- The Human Cost of the Overland Journey
Destitute immigrants arriving in Walla Walla by ox-team, broken by travel and disease, find a moment of grace from the city's residents.
- The Battle Over Gold and Greenbacks in Walla Walla
A legal dispute over whether debts must be paid in gold or federal paper money echoes the era's financial uncertainty.
- The Midnight Ambush in the Alley
A saloon proprietor is attacked by a gun-wielding robber in a case of mistaken identity, sparking fears of a local crime wave.
- Will Wallula Become the Next Boomtown?
Walla Walla merchants eye branch stores in Wallula, sparking a regional rivalry over trade and access to the mines.
- Gold Fever in the Saloons
Massive, high-value quartz specimens from the Boise mines go on display in Walla Walla, fueling local speculation.
- Pandemonium in the Courthouse
Judge Oliphant scolds Walla Walla lawyers for their conduct and demands better behavior in the courtroom.
- Walla Walla's Grand Jury Slams Local Jail Conditions
1864 grand jurors call the county jail 'bad' and 'insecure,' demanding iron cells and high walls to keep prisoners from escaping.
- The Walla Walla Jockey Club Faces a Quiet Track
Fall races opened with limited turnout and drama as horse owners boycotted the track, protesting rules they felt favored the establishment.
- City Council Cracks Down on Hazardous Chimneys
Walla Walla residents are scrambling to upgrade fire-prone flues after a new ordinance threatens fines for unsafe stovepipe installations.