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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1862 | 1 |
| 1863 | 1 |
| 1876 | 2 |
| 1877 | 2 |
| 1878 | 1 |
| 1884 | 1 |
| 1886 | 3 |
| 1887 | 2 |
| 1888 | 2 |
| 1889 | 1 |
| 1890 | 1 |
| 1891 | 3 |
| 1892 | 7 |
| 1893 | 9 |
| 1894 | 4 |
| 1895 | 2 |
| 1899 | 1 |
| 1903 | 2 |
| 1904 | 3 |
| 1909 | 4 |
| 1910 | 2 |
| 1914 | 1 |
| 1915 | 1 |
56 stories matching dire
- Railroad Rumors and Reality at Eagle Gorge
A mountain landslide sparks fears of a mass casualty event for railroad workers, though local reports suggest the situation is less dire.
- A Family's Desperate Winter
A local family faces extreme poverty and illness, highlighting the precarious nature of life in the territory.
- The Struggle to Build the Territorial Penitentiary
A desperate plea from the prison board for funding to build essential living quarters, highlighting the dire state of the Washington Territorial Penitentiary in 1887.
- Victim of Saloon Shooting Fights for Life
A man shot in an Adelaide saloon weeks ago faces a dire turn as doctors discover overlooked fragments of clothing in his wound.
- The War on Orchard Mildew
District Horticultural Inspector Luke Powell issues a dire warning to apple growers regarding the spread of powdery mildew.
- The Waterfront Brawl at the Seattle Wharves
A local disagreement over the handling of grain sacks spiraled into a physical altercation on the beach, leaving the authorities to clean up the mess.
- Snowbound in the Dosewalips
Isolated by record snowfall, pioneers in a rugged valley face the threat of starvation before a desperate trek to safety.
- A Financial Crossroads for Kennewick
Voters weigh the merits of refunding high-interest city warrants to avoid fiscal catastrophe.
- Inheriting a Debt-Ridden City
Mayor Phelps takes office in Seattle, facing a dire financial situation and crumbling infrastructure after years of 'misgovernment.'
- The City Hall Bond Brawl
Aberdeen city officials trade barbs over reckless boom spending and the city’s mounting debt crisis.
- 1893 Lake Washington Disappearance of Two Rowers
A couple vanishes while rowing on the lake, leaving only an umbrella and a lily leaf behind in an empty boat.
- The Tragedy of a Destitute Woman
After facing poverty and failing to find a way to support herself, a woman takes her own life in a Tacoma hotel room.
- Winter’s Toll on the Yakima Range
Deep snow and poor grazing conditions lead to mass livestock casualties as ranchers report dire losses.
- The Clamor of the Calamity Dodgers
A populist rally in Seattle draws a lackluster crowd, exposing the fading energy behind the local free-silver movement.
- The Business of City Hall
Mayor-elect George P. Wright promises a new, business-minded administration for a debt-burdened Tacoma.
- A Tailor's Desperate Act of Poverty
After faking his own death to spare his family the hardship of life in Seattle, a struggling tailor makes a series of harrowing, failed attempts to end his life.
- The Street Characters of Old Seattle
A profile of the city's unofficial icons, including 'Old Pencils' and the newsboys 'Limpy' and 'Red,' revealing a glimpse into the gritty, vibrant life of Front Street.
- The City That Waited for a Comet
Halley's Comet was predicted to bring doom, but Everett's residents found the celestial visitor to be a massive letdown.
- A Wartime Thanksgiving in 1862
Governor William Pickering issues a formal proclamation calling for territorial prayer and unity amidst the 'monstrous conspiracy' of the Civil War.
- The Territory Takes a Stand on the Civil War
A convention of local political leaders in Vancouver pledges unwavering support for the Union and denounces partisanship during the national crisis.
- Drought Threatens Walla Walla's Wheat Harvest
Farmers and weather observers warn that a record-breaking dry spell is devastating crops in the Walla Walla Valley and Garfield County.
- Chehalis County Hits the Debt Ceiling
Facing a constitutional limit on borrowing, county officials call for a public caucus to decide the region's financial future.
- The Struggle for Dignity at the County Farm
King County breaks ground on a modern, fireproof hospital to replace a crowded, dangerous almshouse described as a 'tinder box'.
- A Holiday Call for a Broken Family
A mill worker’s leg injury at the dawn of 1887 leaves his eleven children in dire need, sparking a rare community effort in early Seattle.
- Railroads Hike Lumber Freight Rates
Local lumber mills face an uncertain future as major rail lines announce a sharp increase in freight rates for shipments to the Midwest.