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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1876 | 3 |
| 1877 | 7 |
| 1882 | 2 |
| 1887 | 1 |
| 1892 | 2 |
| 1923 | 1 |
16 stories matching thorndik
- A Cowardly Assault on Third Street
When a sick man defended his son from a neighbor's violence, the local justice system failed to provide justice.
- The Backyard Brawl That Rattled 1882 Seattle
A neighborhood dispute over a ballgame turned physical, prompting a public argument in the local paper about the nature of justice and the legitimacy of 'backyard' law.
- The Night Watchman's Duel: Officer Thorndike Wrestles Pistol from Drunkard in Seattle Jail
A violent struggle inside the local jail cell block leaves an officer battered but victorious after a prisoner attempts to shoot his way out.
- The Man Who Shot at a Chinese Girl and Then Tried to Fight the Police
A drunken brawl on Washington Street ends with a drunkard in irons, revealing the volatile mix of frontier lawlessness and early civic order in Seattle.
- The Night the City Tried to Eat Itself: A Confidence Man’s Flight Through the Woods
In May 1877, a swindler stole cash from a saloon, fought off a citizen, and fled into the Seattle wilderness—only to be caught by an officer hiding among ruins at dawn.
- The Wilds of the 'Lava Beds'
When an aggressive vagrant terrorized a Seattle officer with a chair, he fled into the darkness of the city's infamous 'Lava Beds' district—a place where the law struggled to follow.
- Burglar Nabbed After Jewelry Store Heist
A bold thief who robbed a jewelry store of $400 in goods was apprehended in Seattle after a sharp-eyed witness spotted him breaking the glass.
- The Boat Thief at the Jail Door
A suspected thief stolen from Tacoma is apprehended in Seattle, leading to a tense struggle at the threshold of the local jail.
- Unidentified Man Found Slain Near Seattle
A young immigrant worker is found brutally murdered in the woods, highlighting the dangers facing newcomers in the rugged economy of 1880s Washington.
- The Ball That Shook Seattle: A Night of Masks, Money, and 'Transposed Sexes'
In the damp cold of February 1877, Seattle’s elite gathered for a masquerade ball that defied social norms, featuring cross-dressing performers and a prize for the 'best sustained character'—a rare glimpse into the territory's vibrant, chaotic social life.
- The Scandal at Yesler’s Wharf
A political candidate attempts to clear his name after being accused of bribing a man to bury a criminal indictment.
- The Pioneer Defense of John McGraw
Prominent Seattle figures and old neighbors rally to defend gubernatorial candidate John McGraw against smear campaigns claiming he once ran a gambling house.
- The Water Took Her: A Canoe Accident at Seattle's Wharf, 1877
A canoe overturns in the dark beside Mechanics' Wharf. The others make it to shore—but the old woman slips away before anyone can save her.
- The City’s Missing Vote
Seattle’s ambition to modernize was stalled in 1892 when a legal technicality regarding the Ninth Ward annexation invalidated $135,000 in city bonds, exposing the messy reality of rapid municipal expansion.
- 200-Year-Old Flintlock Unearthed from the Cowlitz
A rare brass pistol, dredged from the riverbed near Longview, is sent to London in search of its origins.
- The Boys of Summer: Seattle’s First Big Baseball Victory
In a 1887 showdown at the local race track, a crowd of 400 gathered to watch the hometown nine clobber the visitors from the Willamette Valley.
Also about this, in other words
- The Fallen Commander: Major Thornburgh’s Frontier Legacy
Remembering the life and service of the military officer who served in Washington Territory and met a tragic end on the frontier.