Research the archive
Narrow 27,002 newspaper stories by words, years, place, newspaper and subject. See when and where they ran, then download what you find.
Put a phrase in quotes ("rent strike") or leave a word out with a minus (strike -baseball). Old scans misspell names, so when little is found, near-spellings are offered.
Refine1 on
Show the numbers
| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1888 | 1 |
| 1889 | 5 |
| 1891 | 2 |
| 1892 | 1 |
| 1893 | 6 |
| 1894 | 6 |
| 1895 | 3 |
24 stories matching clarifi
- The Bureaucratic Limbo of Chinese Laborers in Transit
A legal opinion from the Attorney General clarifies the treatment of Chinese laborers attempting to pass through U.S. ports, stalling those stuck in New Orleans.
- The Waterfront Tug-of-War: Squatters vs. The Empire of A.A. Denny
As Seattle's waterfront boomed, property titan A.A. Denny moved to clear 'squatters' from valuable harbor land, sparking a public anxiety over property titles that echoes through the city's growth.
- The Jeweler Who Was Reported Dead
A Seattle businessman writes to the paper to clarify that he is very much alive, despite a premature obituary.
- Quarantine at McNeil Island Penitentiary
An attending physician clarifies the status of a smallpox outbreak at the McNeil Island federal prison.
- Baking Company Denies Labor Lockout
Management clarifies that union bakers left of their own accord, fueling a dispute in the Seattle labor market.
- The Tolt Ditch Dispute
A local landowner writes to the editor to clarify his role in filling a ditch, contradicting previous reports.
- Domestic Life at the Soldiers' Home
An official clarifies the conditions and work of an elderly veteran's wife, dismissing rumors of scandal at the facility.
- The Supreme Court Rules on Street Grading Liability
The Washington State Supreme Court clarifies the statute of limitations for damage claims against the City of Seattle.
- The Elusive 'Seattle Swindler' Disappears Again
A young attorney leaves a trail of bad checks across the Pacific Coast, sparking confusion in the San Francisco police force.
- The Water Works Scandal
Ex-superintendent W. E. Wilson fights back against corruption allegations and his former board.
- The Navy's Test of Bellingham Bay Coal
Secretary Herbert clarifies that Bellingham Bay coal tests for the Pacific fleet are not conclusive, signaling a win for Senator Squire against British interests.
- The Mayoral Candidate and the Secret Society
Lyman B. Andrews publicly renounces his attempt to join the American Protective Association following a scandal over his secret political affiliations.
- The Supreme Court Rules on City Debt
A landmark decision clarifies that Seattle is not liable for 'grade scrip' debts, protecting the city treasury but leaving contractors in a precarious position.
- The Battle Over Seattle’s History
Pioneer C. B. Bagley takes to the pages of the P-I to correct misstatements about the city's early development and street history.
- The Battle Over Seattle’s Tide Lands
A federal decision in 1889 confirms that tide lands in Washington Territory are federal property, opening the door for 'Valentine scrip' land grabs.
- A Heroic Rescue at the Ocean Dock
Former Police Chief Geo. C. Monroe clarifies his role in rewarding a young man who saved a girl from drowning in Seattle harbor.
- Federal Commissioner Censured for Illegal Deportation
After ignoring proper legal channels to deport a Chinese woman, a local commissioner escapes termination with a stern judicial warning.
- Rewriting the City's Rulebook
Seattle officials and citizens gather to overhaul the municipal charter, seeking to clarify the responsibilities of the Mayor and the City Council.
- The Great Seattle Cable Car Battle
A legal dispute over the City Railway Company's franchise forces a showdown between city officials and the company's ambitious construction plans.
- The Padded Guest List
A political movement to reform Seattle government gets caught red-handed inflating its support with the names of prominent citizens who never agreed to join.
- The Great Cleanup of Seattle's Vice Districts
Chief of Police Monroe commands the immediate closure of all gambling houses and brothels, leading to a chaotic night of arrests and confusion in the city's underbelly.
- Moving the University: A Fight Over Land and Legacy
Legislators and local boosters draft a plan to relocate the University of Washington and untangle decades of messy land titles.
- The Coal That Built Seattle: How a Strike at Newcastle Mine Shook the City's Economy
A bitter labor dispute between the Oregon Improvement Company and the Knights of Labor has shut down the Newcastle coal mine, halting shipments to Portland and driving up fuel prices across Puget Sound.
- The Bismarck Bluff: Washington’s Last Stand in the Samoan Crisis
As German warships loom over the Pacific islands, Seattle’s former federal commissioner warns that yielding to Berlin means abandoning American neutrality—and potentially igniting a conflict closer to home.