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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.
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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1858 | 1 |
| 1859 | 2 |
| 1861 | 1 |
| 1872 | 2 |
| 1876 | 5 |
| 1877 | 8 |
| 1878 | 2 |
| 1880 | 1 |
| 1882 | 2 |
| 1883 | 10 |
| 1884 | 4 |
| 1885 | 10 |
| 1886 | 1 |
| 1887 | 11 |
| 1888 | 1 |
| 1889 | 11 |
| 1891 | 4 |
| 1892 | 18 |
| 1893 | 14 |
| 1894 | 20 |
| 1895 | 16 |
| 1899 | 4 |
| 1900 | 1 |
| 1903 | 4 |
| 1904 | 2 |
| 1907 | 1 |
| 1909 | 3 |
| 1910 | 3 |
| 1916 | 1 |
| 1917 | 1 |
| 1923 | 2 |
166 stories matching distress
- The Mysterious Disappearance of Grace Norton
A young visitor from New York goes missing in Seattle, leaving her family in distress.
- The Jailhouse Mimic
A soft-hearted jailer is driven to madness by what he assumes is a distressed feline, only to find a prankster in a cell.
- The Fearless Rider of Beacon Hill
A young Seattle woman rejects the damsel-in-distress stereotype after a dramatic horseback spill.
- A Heartbreaking Reunion Aboard the Dakota
The final journey of a dying man and his devoted wife captures the cruel reality of terminal illness in the pioneer era.
- After the Great Fire: Seattle’s Hard-Won Resilience
Days after the fire of 1889 decimated the city, the community faces mass homelessness and a desperate need for labor while relying on neighboring cities for support.
- The Doctor and the Frog
When a woman believed she had swallowed a frog, a Seattle physician orchestrated a surgical hoax to save her peace of mind.
- Pink Eye Outbreak in Tacoma
A highly infectious eye ailment has hit the city, causing suffering and concern among residents.
- The Unintended Consequences of Prohibition
A raid on illegal spirits near Ritzville leads to a bizarre and unfortunate end for the local livestock.
- A Rescue at Sea: The Wellington Libeled for $15,000
A historic salvage claim surfaces as the captain of the San Pedro sues for payment after a dramatic ocean rescue.
- The Ghost Ship of Puget Sound
While a steamer crew vanished into the waves, Port Townsend customs officials sat in their offices waiting for 'official notification' before launching a rescue, fueling public outrage.
- The Stranger at the Door
A man exhibiting signs of mental distress was taken into custody after attempting to enter a Tacoma residence.
- 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 'Pompous Autocrat' of the Sound
A Seattle newspaper lashes out at a revenue cutter captain who refused to aid a vessel in distress, claiming his uniform shouldn't be 'rubbed the wrong way.'
- The Silent Cutters of Puget Sound
A standoff at the Custom House reveals that government revenue vessels sat idle while local sailors risked their lives in the waves.
- The Tragedy of Stephen Collins: A Squak Valley Life Lost to Paranoia
A haunting account of a young man whose mounting mental distress led to a fatal end on the edge of the wilderness.
- The Disappearance of L. L. Clifford
A member of the A.O.D.W. has vanished after traveling to Portland on lodge business, leaving his wife in a state of distress.
- The Formaldehyde Oysters That Sickened a Pullman Meat Market's Customers
A shipment of 'fresh' oysters left a trail of upset stomachs—and a state chemist found the preservative that did it.
- The Aigburth Runs Aground
A British vessel encounters trouble in the heavy swells off the harbor bar, sparking a tense rescue effort.
- A Fatal Mistake in the Nursery
A young child dies after accidentally consuming sulfuric acid left in a tub.
- The Unpaid Wages of Seattle's Mill Workers
Employees at a local mill face financial desperation after being notified that their promised wages for two weeks of labor cannot be paid.
- The Midnight Stand of a Ruralita Station Agent
A lone telegraph operator mistakes a visiting railroad superintendent for a robber, turning the tables with a toy revolver in a moment of high tension.
- The 'Charitable' Boycott of Seattle's Chinese Laundries
A Seattle letter writer wants customers to register with charity officials so their washing can be steered to white women—an economic boycott wrapped in the language of neighborly aid.
- The Tragedy at Washington Foundry
A local machinist is killed on the job, leaving behind a grieving family and a community in shock.
- A Dangerous Labor in the Sawmills of 1876
A worker suffers a debilitating injury at a local wharf, highlighting the routine hazards faced by laborers in Seattle’s industrial infancy.
- A Fishing Scow Left High and Dry
A local fishing expedition turns into a salvage nightmare after a grounding in the Gulf of Georgia.
Also about this, in other words
- Everett Grapples with Catastrophe
The community mourns as the city faces the grim aftermath of a disaster in the nearby Cascade Mountains.