Research the archive
Narrow 25,688 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.
Refine
Show the numbers
| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1885 | 1 |
| 1887 | 1 |
| 1889 | 1 |
| 1892 | 7 |
| 1893 | 7 |
| 1894 | 5 |
| 1895 | 4 |
| 1900 | 1 |
| 1903 | 1 |
| 1904 | 1 |
| 1908 | 1 |
| 1909 | 1 |
| 1925 | 1 |
| 1928 | 1 |
33 stories matching verbal
- Mary Fisher Sues Architect Jasper Fisher Over Marriage Vow
A woman sues a prominent Seattle architect for $10,000, alleging he kept her in a common-law marriage for years before abandoning her for a new bride.
- Seattle's Fire Chief Vanished Before His Day in Court
A.B. Hunt disappeared after telling friends he was off to Tacoma for trial; the city removed him, named Alexander Allen Jr. chief, and left a mystery that only deepened when his father was summoned to prove his birth.
- A Clubhouse Dream Dies on 12th Avenue
In 1923, Seattle’s University Filipino Club thought it had a deal for a $39,500 headquarters. Then the owner added interest charges—and neighbors made clear they did not want Filipino residents next door.
- The Seattle Baseball Management Moves to Evict Hecklers
After players were subjected to racist slurs and verbal abuse from the stands, the Seattle club announces a new 'no-tolerance' policy for fans.
- Railroad War on the Waterfront
A bitter legal battle over a disputed right-of-way erupts into accusations of perjury in court as railroad crews prepare to tear down a local businessman’s building.
- Longshoremen Wage Battle at the Docks
Tensions boil over as the Pacific Coast Steamship Company attempts to slash wages and break the power of the longshoremen's union.
- The Scandal of the Ghost Sewers
A newly appointed Board of Public Works uncovers evidence of rampant incompetence and political patronage in the city's sewer construction project.
- One Coal-Oil Dealer Is Holding Olympia's New Electric Railway Hostage for $10,000
The streetcar line is contracted, the rails are shipped and the crews are ready — but George Marvin Savage's outfit sits squarely in the middle of Main Street, and he will not budge for less than ten thousand dollars.
- The Laundry Business Dispute
A lawsuit reveals the hidden profits of a Chinese laundry operation on Fourth and Main streets.
- The Saloon That Wouldn't Leave
A legal war erupts over a property lease, testing whether a landlord is responsible for ousting a tenant after selling the building.
- A Packed Council Chamber, a Railroad Franchise, and a Fight Over Public Streets
Newport's city council meeting drew a standing-room crowd as aldermen tangled over an Idaho Washington Northern street-vacation request, a conflict-of-interest accusation, saloon licenses, and an electric-light contract.
- The Narrow Escape of 'Little Kate'
A harrowing account of a young woman's flight from a brutal employer in the Washington Territory, highlighting the vulnerability of domestic laborers.
- The Great Debate of Reason vs. Revelation
Seattle's Armory hosts a week-long verbal brawl between a Christian minister and a secularist skeptic over the role of the Bible in modern life.
- The Captain Who Slipped the Marshal
A crew-hiring dispute lands a ship's master in irons in Port Townsend—until a death and a distracted guard give him a clear path to the sea.
- The Mayor vs. The Board of Health
Mayor Ronald demands the resignation of Seattle's health board in a bitter clash over political control and professional autonomy.
- The Settlers' Standoff
A group of White Bluffs farmers break ranks with dissenters to declare the state-run irrigation project a success.
- The High Price of an Insult in 1886 Seattle
A local woman learned that in the eyes of the law, verbal abuse was as punishable as a physical strike.
- Razor Violence in the Mascotte Saloon
An argument between two men on a Seattle sidewalk ends in a gruesome public stabbing.
- The Price of a Clerical Error
A contractor’s slip of the pen costs him a major city street grading contract.
- When Seattle's Mayor Took on Poverty: The 1895 Charity Bureau Meeting
At the Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Byron Phelps and local leaders discussed unemployment, aid to families, and the growing demand for relief during a depression year.
- The Battle for the Six O'Clock Closing
A group of shoe clerks win a legal victory against their employer after being arrested for protesting late-night store hours.
- A Deadlocked Senate, and a Pierce County Man Holding the Switch
Thirteen roll calls, thirteen 21-21 ties. As Olympia's galleries packed the senate chamber for a fight over local option, the whole thing came down to two senators quietly promising to change sides.
- The Paperwork of Exclusion: Chinese Residents Ordered to Register
New federal rules land in Seattle requiring every Chinese resident to carry a photographic certificate of residence, sworn affidavits and a detailed physical description — the machinery of the Geary Act takes shape.
- Hoquiam’s School Board Prioritizes Local Business Over Outsiders
While Hoquiam mandates that local contractors perform school heating work, Aberdeen officials look to Tacoma for technical installations.
- Mayor Orders Crackdown on Vice
Colfax officials scramble to collect fines from gambling dens and 'the half world' as the city council seeks to boost revenue.
Also about this, in other words
- The Deaf Dodge
A local drunkard tries to outsmart a judge by faking deafness, only to be tripped up by the prospect of a free drink.
- A Community Gift for a Sick Neighbor
When J. J. Heatherington fell ill with paralysis, his White Bluffs neighbors organized a subscription to buy him a cow, offering a lifeline of support in a time of crisis.
- The Clerk’s Odd Sales Pitch
A farmer learns a strange and aggressive new way to test if his wife is 'sound' while shopping in 1877 Seattle.
- The Speaker’s Gavel Clash
In the Territorial House, a subtle procedural error leads to a public confrontation over how legislation is truly passed.
- The Loudmouth of Pioneer Place
A citizen complains to the Post-Intelligencer about a street orator using obscene language and attacking religions, urging police intervention.
- The Yank Brothers' Violent Arrest
A courtroom drama unfolds in Thomas as brothers are fined for a brutal arrest of a man.
- A Violent Cutting Affray
A preliminary hearing reveals the brutal details of a knife attack at a North Fourth Street restaurant.
- The Road Supervisor's Vindicated Record
W. A. Joyce clears his name after accusations of auditing illegal claims in Grant County.