The Gambler’s Gamble: How a Frenchman’s ‘Little Bit’ Sparked a Seattle Riot
In the early days of Seattle, a dispute over a small sum of money at a boarding house escalated into a violent brawl involving three gamblers and a local resident, highlighting the volatile nature of frontier justice.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Among the most recent events to be noted is Mr. P. L. Martin who was closed out at La Conner, and taken over the Puget Mill Company's store of Port Hadlock, on a salary. Capt. Noyes has charge of the report line is fitting up everything along. The store has been completely renovated, and it is as commodious in appointments as any house north of Seattle. We are having beautiful weather, and the prospects for heavy crops on the Snohomish and Skagit missions were never better, and with the prospect of high prices for grain this Fall, the farmers are jubilant.
The People Want Proof. There is no medicine prescribed by physicians or sold by druggists that carries such evidence of its success and merit as Roscheer's German Verum for severe coughs, Colds settled on the breast, Consumption, or any disease of the Throat and Lungs. A proof of that fact is that any person afflicted can get a Sample Bottle for 10 cents and try its superior effect before buying the regular size at 75 cents. It has lately been introduced in this country from Germany, and its wonderful cures are astonishing everyone that uses it. Three doses will relieve any case. Try it.
Chung Shing & Co., Agents, San Francisco. Pure Mocha Coffee for sale cheap at Chiberg Bros.
MISCELLANEOUS. BUY YOUR GOODS AT BROSCHWAMMCHIE THE Y HUPPE LATHES! IESSUEITEN, AND SELL CHEAPER THAN ANY OTHER HOUSE.
FOR TACOMA, STEILACOOM, OLYMPIA. S.S. WASHINGTON MESSENGER WILL LEAVE SEATTLE ON Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, AT EMBRY CREEK.
MASON HAMLIN CABINET MAKERS ARE WARRANTED FOR FIVE YEARS AND ARE BEING SOLD AT SAN FRANCISCO PRICES. FOR GOLD OR ON THE Installment Plan, with Payments to Suit the Purchaser, by W. H. PIMPHREY, Bookseller and Stationer.
FINE WHISKIES NOW IN STOCK J. H. CUTTER. UNITED WE STAND. MONOGRAM. OLD HICKORY. OLD GOVERNMENT. ALSO, TO ARRIVE, DIRECT FROM LOUISVILLE, KY., One Car Load Standard Brands! ALSO, IMPORTED AND DOMESTIC Wines and Brandies, ENGLISH ALES & PORTERS, FULL STOCK FOR SALE AT SAN FRANCISCO PRICES, BY Crawford & Harrington, COMMERCIAL STREET SEATTLE, W.T.
J. H. CUTTER, Manufactory of Milk Phials and FURNITURE. Our facilities are such as to defy competition. HAVE A CALL AND SATISFY YOURSELF. Center near First Street, W.T.
PIONEER WAGON SHOP. J. W. HUNT, Proprietor.
MISCELLANEOUS. WATCHES, JEWELRY, Silverware, &c., At $15.00 CHAS NAEHER. S. F. ANDREWS CO., STOVES AND TINWARE, BEST LEADING HOUSE FURNISHING GOODS STEAM AND GAS FITTINGS. SEATTLE PLANING MILLS SASH, DOORS BLINDS, FRAMES, SHUTTERS, AND WOOD FINISH of every description. SEASONED LUMBER OF ALL KINDS CONSTANTLY ON HAND. S. BAXTER CO. importers and merchants, Dealers in FOREIGN & DOMESTIC WINES LIQUORS CIGARS. AGENTS FOR J. H. Cutter Whiskies, White House Whiskey, Universal Whiskey. ALSO, IMPORTMENT OF WINES, LIQUORS CIGARS always on hand and for sale at low rates. Call and give us a call. FOR SALE AT ANKERAN'S PRICE The Highest Price Paid for Furs. 111 HUNT STREET, SEATTLE, W.T.
HILLIS MURPHY, Seattle Iron Works
This page is dominated by advertisements for goods and services, reflecting the commercial growth of Seattle in 1877. While there is no single coherent news story about a specific event like a fire or strike, the ads reveal the city's integration into national supply chains (whiskey from Louisville, stoves from San Francisco) and the emerging middle-class consumer culture. The 'People Want Proof' ad for German medicine also highlights the era's reliance on patent medicines and international trade for health solutions.
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