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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1899 | 47 |
47 stories matching forc
- The Alarmist Officer
A Seattle patrolman's attempt to slack off duty by pulling a fake fire alarm led to a public scandal and the end of his career.
- The Granite War: Why Seattle’s Federal Building Might Not Use Washington Stone
A federal contract for San Francisco's new courthouse has sparked outrage in Seattle. The lowest bidder proposed using granite from the Puget Sound region, but California lobbyists are pushing to force the use of local stone, raising questions about patriotism versus free enterprise.
- The Iron Molder’s Attack on Main Street
A young Seattle woman narrowly survives a brutal assault by her stepfather, who attempted to force muriatic acid down her throat before fleeing the city.
- A Domestic Dispute Escalates to Official Intervention
A mother locks her son out of the house, prompting a police response in Seattle.
- The Naked Man of Pike Street
A teamster is arrested for habitual public nudity, sparking neighborly outrage and a demand for municipal court action in the heart of Seattle.
- The Officer Who Stole From the Poor: A Seattle Cop’s Betrayal
Officer J.E. Doney is arrested for forging receipts and stealing money from Japanese immigrants, shattering his reputation as a trusted member of the police force.
- The Knight in Blue: Officer Grant’s Chivalrous Knife Work Saves a Tacoma Lady
When a piece of lace tore during the Christian Endeavor convention, one Seattle policeman didn't just offer sympathy—he offered his pocketknife and a bow.
- The Sudden End of a Seattle Lawman
Bolton Rogers, a former police chief who rose from a hack-driver to the top of the department, has died following a struggle with brain fever.
- The Boy Who Swallowed a Peanut: A Two-Month Ordeal
A Seattle teenager’s life hangs in the balance after a gust of wind forces a nut into his lung, leading to a dramatic surgical rescue.
- The Tin Trust Betrayal: 2,000 Workers Left in the Dark
As Seattle celebrates commencement week and the Spanish-American War heats up, a massive industrial shutdown in nearby Duwamish leaves thousands of families without income.
- The Stowaways of the Laurada: A $50 Fine for a Trip North
Two men caught sneaking aboard a steamer bound for Alaska were forced to disembark in Bellingham, facing Canadian customs penalties and a hefty fine.
- The Night the Burglar Lost His Shoes: A Seattle Thief Flees in Stockings
A daring break-in at a Bell Street laundry ends in farce when the thief is spotted before he can steal anything, forcing him to flee barefoot and leaving behind his footwear as evidence.
- The Council’s Hammer: Snoqualmie Falls Power Company Faces Ouster
Seattle city councilors move to annul the electrical franchise of the Snoqualmie Falls Power Company, citing failure to appear before an investigation committee regarding the Tracy Rapids injunction suit.
- Labor Riot on the Snake River Valley Line
Contractor Huppes faces a violent revolt from his Japanese work crew over summary dismissals and harsh conditions.
- The Hog Ranch That Stank Up Seattle: How One Interbay Farm Sparked a New Law
In 1900, a single hog ranch near the city’s water source forced the Seattle City Council to draft an ordinance limiting livestock—a rare early victory for urban sanitation and public health.
- The Day Seattle’s Saloons Went Dry
Facing a sudden crackdown from the Chief of Police, Seattle’s tavern culture was forced to lock its doors tight every Sunday.
- The Captain Who Died for His Flag
A Seattle lawyer’s final wish—to be killed in battle while holding the American flag—was tragically fulfilled in Manila, casting a storm over the local community.
- Seattle’s Legal Housekeeping: The City Council Decides to Clean Up Its Own Act
In 1899, Seattle’s leaders admitted their laws were a mess and hired two experts to fix it—proving that bureaucratic confusion is an old problem.
- The Tax Case That Could Save Seattle’s Wallet
Attorney M. H. Sachs challenges the county treasurer in a high-stakes legal battle over property assessments that could force a massive refund to taxpayers.
- The Man Who Asked to Be Arrested: A Tacoma Town’s Battle for Its Soul
In a bizarre legal maneuver to force a court ruling on city limits, a resident of the newly excluded district deliberately broke water pipes and allowed himself to be taken into custody.
- The Pugilist and the Player: A Seattle Clash of Champions
A local boxing favorite and a Philadelphia fencing master prepare for a high-stakes showdown at the Jefferson Street Theater.
- The Revenue Agent’s Cigar Seizure
Federal agents seize counterfeit cigars in downtown Seattle, forcing shop owners to pay a 'compromise' tax to keep their stock.
- The Unchecked 'Firewater' Trail
A rash of bootlegging and theft at the Lakeside saloon forces a local reckoning with the lack of law enforcement near Chelan.
- The Color Line at the Oberon: Seattle’s First Civil Rights Test
When a prominent Black minister is ejected from a local music hall for his race, he threatens legal action under state law, sparking a public debate on discrimination in early 20th-century Seattle.
- The Great Walkout: Soldiers Protest 'Pauperizing' Rules at Seattle Home
Sixty men leave the city's soldiers' home in a mass exodus, citing degrading permit requirements and harsh governance by Col. Leslie.