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49 stories matching thornton
- The Rainy Day Landslide in Duwamish
When an obscure race for road overseer became a test of precinct dominance, political machines mobilized hundreds of voters through a steady downpour.
- The Shadow Trade at Nooksack River
A government agent describes the precarious intersection of logging, displacement, and the illicit opium trade on the Lummi Reservation.
- The Lawyer, the Judge, and the Rowdy Courtroom
A Seattle attorney’s refusal to follow a justice’s order leads to a standoff, a dramatic arrest, and a courtroom clash that captivated the city.
- The Sheriff vs. The Election Posters
A Seattle lawman is arrested after he goes on a rampage tearing down political advertisements, leading to a physical showdown with a local citizen.
- Jailer Accused of Aiding Prisoner’s Escape in Tacoma
A jail cook alleges that a jailer pressured him to flee during an administrative transition, raising questions about a recent high-profile escape.
- A Deadly Souvenir of the Battle of Seattle
Twenty-one years after the 1856 Battle of Seattle, a local man struck a hidden relic in a fir tree that could have turned lethal.
- The Pen and the Pistol: A Seattle Saloon Brawl
When an editor’s satirical writing sparked a public confrontation on Mill Street, a local developer settled the score with a revolver—until his target managed to disarm him.
- A Whale Hunt off Cape Flattery
Captain Gavin of the steamer Thornton reports a vivid, bloody encounter between Indigenous hunters and a whale.
- A Custody Dispute Leads to Arrest
A domestic conflict over child custody results in a dramatic arrest at Port Madison and a legal battle in Seattle.
- A Heartrending Tragedy in Hereford Swamp
A father's desperate attempt to rescue his children from a falling tree results in a devastating loss of three lives.
- A Violent Dispute on the White River
A German laborer and two employees of H. C. Jefls trade blows in a roadside altercation that lands both parties in front of a judge.
- A Striking Day for Seattle Baseball
A railroad strike in Portland forced players to arrive exhausted and without gear, but the game went on to a roaring crowd of 3,500.
- Fifteen Hundred Fans and One Silk Pennant: Port Gamble Takes the Sound Championship
A steamer of rooters, gold coin at the gate and a decisive game at Madison Street Park — Port Gamble beat Port Blakeley 15 to 5 for the Puget Sound pennant, and flew it from the steamer's jackstaff.
- The Man Who Vanished Into the Slough
A Snohomish resident borrows a skiff for a trip to Thornton Mellan’s and never returns; neighbors find only his clothes on the riverbank.
- The Debut of Seattle’s First Art Association
A look back at the 1885 exhibition that showcased local painters and brought the fine arts to a frontier town.
- The Blue-Flowered Bonanza: How Whatcom County Found Flax
A Ferndale doctor's experiments convince the federal government that Puget Sound can out-produce Europe's linen fields — and New York capital starts paying attention.
- The Bear on the Hoquiam Trail
A hunting party encounters a formidable bear while tracking game, resulting in a fierce struggle and the eventual demise of the animal.
- A Dying Declaration on South Second Street
A Chinese resident is fatally stabbed near the Standard Theater, and his accusation sends a railroad laborer to the county jail.
- The Trial That Stoked a Mob: The Swiloos Case
After an accused murderer was acquitted, the citizens of Whatcom waged a campaign of social ostracism against the jury, reflecting deep racial tensions and extrajudicial outrage in 1892 Washington.
- Mob terrorizes Chinese store on Washington Street
A group of men and boys pelted a Chinese-owned store with snowballs, forcing their way inside and destroying property until the police intervened.
- The Battle for the Soul of Seattle’s Police Department
In 1885, a local editorial called on women, who held significant civic influence, to reject a mayoralty candidate beholden to the 'saloon interest' and elect a law-and-order candidate to clean up the force.
- The Battle for the Soul of the Seattle Police Department
In an 1885 municipal election, Seattle women flexed their new political power to demand a moral cleanup of the city’s police force, specifically targeting the conduct of Chief of Police James Woolery.
- Rockefeller's Land Company Comes to Town—and Everett Smells a Deal
A packed council chamber hears that John D. Rockefeller now controls the Everett Land Company, that the mills may run full, and that the county seat fight is on.
- The Real Estate Battle for the Heights
Before the neighborhood was fully formed, the Renton Addition was marketed as the 'Fifth Avenue of Seattle,' sparking a feverish battle for transit and development on the city's highest crest.
- The Hotel Oriental Arson Mystery
An inquest reveals that a fatal Seattle hotel fire was deliberately set with coal oil, as a grieving city searches for the culprit behind the death of Erie Johnson.