Research the archive
Narrow 25,724 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 |
|---|---|
| 1904 | 16 |
| 1909 | 7 |
23 stories matching trigger
- Seattle Seeks to Regulate Motorists After Fatal Crash
A tragic accident at First and Madison streets triggers a new city proposal to license all automobile drivers.
- A Point-Blank Escape
Ida Witikka wins divorce after husband attempts to kill her with a revolver on the Fourth of July.
- Sidewalk Accident Triggers Municipal Lawsuit
A pedestrian seeks $1,800 in damages after a fall on a broken path between two industrial landmarks.
- City Orders Halt to Blasting Near West Coast Wagon Factory
A contractor’s use of dynamite to excavate an addition to the West Coast wagon factory triggered alarm and complaints of structural damage from neighbors.
- City Landslide Disrupts Utilities
Heavy rain triggers an embankment collapse, fracturing gas and water lines in Tacoma’s lower districts.
- The Fight Over Who Owns the Reservation
A legal battle over assessing Puyallup Indian lands triggers a debate on citizenship and taxation in the Superior Court.
- Crisis at Whitworth College
Faculty dismissals trigger a faculty-student revolt and a tense emergency meeting of the Board of Trustees.
- The Councilman Who Said No to $132,000
Councilman Conrad rejects a massive bribe offer, triggering a city-wide scandal and the mysterious flight of a corporate agent.
- Bellingham Homes Shattered by Icy Blast
Frozen pipes trigger violent explosions across the city, leaving one woman injured and houses in ruins.
- The Fatal Breakfast
A Seattle widow sues an insurance company for $10,000 after her husband died from a fish bone injury, triggering a grim post-mortem examination.
- Race Riot Erupts in Opera Alley
A domestic dispute over smoke turns into a mob confrontation between a Black household and local Italian residents.
- The Battle Over Tacoma’s 'Open Town' Policy
Mayor Wright defends his administration against allegations that the city’s restricted district has spiraled into lawlessness, triggering a heated standoff with the City Council.
- The Great Tacoma Auto Heist
A mechanic attempts a high-speed repossession of a Winton touring car, triggering a cross-city chase between Tacoma and Seattle.
- Tragedy in the Rabbit Woods
A quiet hunting excursion near Fairfax ends in a lethal accident for a local man, leaving his friend in despair.
- Drunken Assailant Attempts Point-Blank Shooting on Pacific Avenue
An intoxicated man confronted an employee of the Richmond Paper Company, but the victim managed to deflect the weapon during the struggle.
- Runaway Interurban Car Terrifies Passengers
A defective switch at Puyallup Avenue triggers a near-disaster as a transit car breaks away from its train.
- The Closure of the Sandberg District
City Attorney Stiles unilaterally forces the closure of Tacoma's red-light district, triggering a panicked exodus from the blocks between Court A and A Street.
- Mob Tension Stirs in Wilkeson
A brutal assault on two local women near the railroad tracks leads to the arrest of an Austrian man and triggers fears of mob violence.
- Mining Camp Tragedy Near Carbonado
A target practice outing turns lethal when a accidental discharge claims the life of a 50-year-old miner.
- The Phantom Fire-Starter of Tacoma
A mischievous prankster is repeatedly triggering false fire alarms, exhausting the local department and draining public funds.
- The Great Cow Feud of Fox Island
A missing cow triggers a legal battle between neighbors that ends in court-ordered peace bonds and a local reputation for stubbornness.
- The Shadow of 1885 Lingers in Tacoma
Twenty years after the forced expulsion of the city's Chinese population, rumors of new arrivals trigger threats of vigilante action.
- City Council Faces Telephone Monopoly Fight
Local committee pushes decision on a new telephone franchise to the full city council, triggering debates over corporate financial backing and competition.