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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1863 | 1 |
| 1864 | 1 |
| 1876 | 3 |
| 1878 | 1 |
| 1880 | 1 |
| 1885 | 1 |
| 1887 | 3 |
| 1889 | 2 |
| 1891 | 1 |
| 1892 | 4 |
| 1893 | 2 |
| 1894 | 1 |
| 1895 | 1 |
| 1899 | 1 |
| 1903 | 2 |
| 1904 | 1 |
| 1909 | 3 |
29 stories matching mistook
- Fire Scare at South Eighth and Dearborn
A fire in a small stand caused a panic among nearby residents, who mistook a white man’s warning for a police raid.
- The Swindled Sheep of Whatcom County
A malicious act of agricultural sabotage left 2,000 sheep dead, exposing the brutal desperation of early range life.
- Tragedy in a Tin of Pills
When a toddler in a historic Washington town mistook medicinal pills for candy, a medical error turned into a heartbreak that echoed across the community.
- The Sidney Post Office Heist
Burglars used black powder to blow the safe of a postmaster in a small town, wrecking the building in the process.
- A Nighttime Scuffle in Palouse
An unexpected shooting between two strangers in a small Washington town turns into a case of mistaken identity.
- The Man Who Mistook the Dock for a Bath
A intoxicated sawmill driver nearly drowned in Seattle’s harbor after mistaking the dark water of Yeager's Wharf for a swimming hole.
- Filipino Sailors Arrested Over Card Game
A festive dinner in a Chinese chop suey house ended in jail time for nine sailors when police mistook a casual game of cards for gambling.
- A Child Hero Killed in Hunting Accident
A fourteen-year-old boy, famous for fighting off a cougar as a child, is shot after being mistaken for a deer near Shelton.
- The Church Usher Who Mistook a Fedora for a Faux Pas
A Sunday evening service at North Baptist Church ended in laughter after an overzealous usher attempted to enforce decorum on a woman in a Derby hat.
- The Man Who Walked Into the Sound
A tipsy wanderer mistook Seattle’s waterfront for San Francisco, ending up clinging to a dock in the middle of the night.
- High-Voltage Hazards on Tacoma’s Lines
Two linemen survive massive electrical shocks during a winter storm and a routine repair job.
- The Desperate 'Stake' of a Fugitive
After shooting an employer in Seattle, a wounded man is discovered in a cabin near a brickyard, revealing a tale of poverty, gambling, and a botched robbery.
- The Drunken Sea Lion of Olympia
An intoxicated 800-pound sea lion is captured after a bender on crude oil.
- The Midnight Ambush in the Alley
A saloon proprietor is attacked by a gun-wielding robber in a case of mistaken identity, sparking fears of a local crime wave.
- The Tragedy of Booth: A Fatal Mistake with a Revolver
A young man preparing to move his hogs north from Island County suffered a gruesome accident when he mistook a loaded chamber for an empty one, resulting in a bullet that pierced his heart and shoulder.
- A Jeweler's Fight Against Police Brutality
A Seattle jeweler files a $6,000 lawsuit after being shot at, assaulted, and wrongfully imprisoned by city detectives who mistook him for a criminal.
- The Tragedy at Engine House No. 1
When a popular young man takes his own life in a Seattle fire station, the city is left to grapple with the mystery of a life cut short in its prime.
- The Beer-Fueled Rebellion Against Tacoma’s Political Bosses
When the 'Young Democrats' were counted out of a local primary, they threw a mass meeting at Germania Hall with free beer, sandwiches, and fiery speeches against the corruption of the Griggs faction.
- The Ghost on the Wharf: A White Jacket Startles Seattle
In December 1876, a Coast Survey captain’s neatly covered engine sparked a panic among dockworkers who mistook it for a spectral figure.
- The Rivalry That Built the Sound
In 1887, C.B. Wright, a key figure in the development of Tacoma, reflects on the 'nip and go' panic that forced the Northern Pacific terminus to choose between Tacoma and Seattle.
- The Unlikely Enforcer of a Party Game
A jealous husband at a frontier social insists his young wife receives equal attention—or else he will settle the matter with his fists.
- The Drunken Rampage of a North Seattle Man
After a mysterious tumble down a steep Seattle staircase, a local man terrorized his neighborhood until police intervention.
- The Case of the Misunderstood Brawler
A sensational report of a violent street fight in Seattle turns out to be a classic case of mistaken identity, where a frightened man accidentally assaulted the wrong person.
- The Great Northern President vs. The Boarding House Landlady
Railroad tycoon James J. Hill had to prove his identity with a handful of letters after being told to 'get out' by a Fairhaven woman who mistook him for a tramp.
- A Touchet Farmer Dodged Bullets When Armed Guards Mistook Him for an Escaped Convict
A rumor, a coatless pursuer, and a single shot on the railroad tracks — all for a neighbor riding home on a bay horse.