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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1854 | 2 |
| 1858 | 1 |
| 1859 | 2 |
| 1861 | 2 |
| 1863 | 2 |
| 1872 | 3 |
| 1876 | 10 |
| 1877 | 7 |
| 1878 | 4 |
| 1879 | 3 |
| 1880 | 1 |
| 1882 | 3 |
| 1883 | 11 |
| 1884 | 4 |
| 1885 | 9 |
| 1886 | 10 |
| 1887 | 10 |
| 1888 | 9 |
| 1889 | 25 |
| 1890 | 3 |
| 1891 | 15 |
| 1892 | 31 |
| 1893 | 26 |
| 1894 | 25 |
| 1895 | 44 |
| 1898 | 1 |
| 1899 | 11 |
| 1900 | 1 |
| 1903 | 11 |
| 1904 | 10 |
| 1905 | 1 |
| 1908 | 4 |
| 1909 | 10 |
| 1910 | 1 |
| 1915 | 2 |
| 1916 | 5 |
| 1917 | 6 |
| 1919 | 1 |
| 1922 | 1 |
| 1923 | 3 |
| 1924 | 1 |
331 stories matching difficult
- The Mystery of the 'Sea-Monster' in Pierce County
A strange creature from the 'animal kingdom' is brought to Steilacoom, sparking local debate over its true nature.
- Washington's Thick Coal Seams Promise Industrial Growth
A geological survey of the region's vast coal reserves reveals a rugged, difficult landscape that promises to drive the Pacific Northwest's future industrial independence.
- An Arduous Journey to the Ranch
A difficult canoe trip up the Snohomish River turns into an overland slog through downed timber.
- Sportsmanship Over Scores
Kennewick High School honors basketball players not for their victories, but for their conduct in the face of difficult circumstances.
- The Dynamite Murder of Tacoma: A Mob’s Verdict
In the early hours of January 1890, a Tacoma man was dragged from jail and hanged by a vigilante mob for blowing up a house and killing a sleeping family. The Seattle press offers a chilling reflection on whether such 'swift justice' is ever truly justified.
- The Fight Over the River
Washington's Fish Commissioner clashes with Oregon courts over the right to arrest fishermen on the Columbia River.
- The Nickel Strike That Wasn’t a Boom—Yet
A Kittitas County nickel discovery promised one of the largest deposits in the country, but capital and roads had to be convinced before the wealth could move.
- Seattle's 1889 Fight Over Tide Flats and Docks
As Washington prepares for statehood, a contentious battle emerges over who owns—and who profits from—the valuable tide lands bordering Seattle.
- The Battle for How Seattle Votes
In 1892, a fierce debate raged in the Seattle City Council over whether to elect representatives by neighborhood wards or at-large, highlighting a recurring struggle for civic control.
- The Price of a 'Bad Man's' Temper
A Seattle newspaper editorial rails against a lenient verdict for a saloon regular who murdered a bartender over a perceived slight.
- The Homestead Shortcut
A local legal notice illuminates the evolving, difficult process of securing land ownership in Washington Territory.
- The Struggle for Survival in the Age of Gangrene
A local man faces multiple amputations and a critical prognosis following a long battle with infection.
- The 'Big Little Job' of Connecting the Sound
How engineer Nonneman tackled the treacherous swamps and trestle-heavy terrain of the new rail line.
- Mining in the Naches River Wilderness
Prospectors venture into the rugged Naches mining district, battling difficult terrain and unbridged crossings in search of silver.
- Fire on Lake Bosler: A Logging Crew's Narrow Escape
A brush-clearing fire near a new railroad bridge spiraled out of control in Snohomish County, forcing a team of loggers into a desperate flight for survival.
- The Struggle to Shore Up the Seattle Waterfront
Engineers face a daunting challenge as they fight back the rising tide in a race to reinforce the city's crumbling wharf foundations.
- The Struggle to Rename 'Horse Heaven'
Local farmers hope to rebrand their rugged 'Horse Heaven' hills as 'Benton Slope,' but history—and local geography—proves hard to change.
- The Labor Unrest on the Narrow Gauge
When Chinese track laborers struck for higher wages on the railroad, they were met with firearms and immediate termination.
- The Legislative Shuffle: How Power Really Worked at Olympia
A rare look behind the curtain of the 1923 state legislative session, where committee back-scratching, lobbyist influence, and alcohol fueled the fate of over 600 bills.
- Prospectors Return From the Wild Olympics
An exploration party recounts the rugged terrain and gold-bearing quartz found near the head of the Hood Canal.
- The Unlucky Travelers of the Puget Sound
A small steamer encounters the harsh realities of the Sound, leaving passengers stranded in the fog.
- The Inner Life of a Dining Room Waiter
A frank, cynical look at the power dynamics between restaurant staff and customers in early Seattle.
- Local Outrage Over Animal Cruelty
A journalist’s beloved greyhound is maliciously shot, sparking a fierce editorial denunciation of the unknown perpetrator.
- Building the Great Northern Through the Cascades
Tunnel construction for the Great Northern Railroad claims a life as laborers battle mountain mud and unrelenting rain.
- Washington Debates Making the Railroad Commission Permanent
Debating the power of the state to regulate railroad monopolies in Washington.