Note: This post was originally published ten years ago.
This week is the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. I thought it would be interesting to pull up the local newspapers to see how they reported the disaster so I went to the Department of Archives yesterday and copied some of the coverage from the Jackson Daily News and Jackson Clarion-Ledger. The stories are posted below. I apologize for their configuration. I was copying from microfiche and the newspapers back then were printed using very small columns. Part of the print itself was blurry regardless of the adjustments made on the machine. The stories are posted below. The easiest way to read them is to download them so you can rotate and maximize the view as need be.
First thing I noticed was the date of the coverage. The story made the front page and dominated the headlines but it was not reported until April 16, 1912- 3 days after it took place. The only communication at the time with the ships on the scene was via wireless telegraph. Thus it was several days before the real story was reported as survivors arrived at shore. The first headline shows the initial confusion. It states everyone is rescued and the ship was "being towed to Halifax". Then the real story hits" Titanic Horror Grows; Death list over 1,400".
What is nice, if one can call it that, to read is the prose. A more elegant, flowing style is used (Are you paying attention, Grace?):
"When the Titanic struck the mountain of ice that sent her to the bottom within four hours after the impact, she was steaming at the rate of 18 knots an hour. The schock almost demolished the proubd vessel which her builders and her captian had believed nothing could master.
Hitting the impenetrable ice mass fairly with her towering bows, the ship was almost rent asunder at the first blow. Her decks were ripped and torn, her sides and bulkheads were split and shattered as with the hammer of some titan from the bow to a point almost midships..."
"But British seamanship and discipline prevailed, and it did what little might be done, as well as dauntless men could to it. Every officer and man leaped to his post while Capt. Smith, megaphone in hand, shouted ihs orders over that rolling hulk that an hour before had been the proudest ship in Christendom..."
The coverage lasted for nearly a week as reports poured in. The watch was not issued spyglasses. An unkonwn ship was in the distance and disappeared. The President's military aide (There was no Pentagon or NSA) was on board. Here is the rest of it for your review.
11 comments:
The youtube channel, Tasting History with Max Miller has been showcasing the cuisine for each passenger class of the HMS Titanic all month.
The Titanic tragedy reminds me of the Jackistan city council. They rearrange the deck chairs at every meeting.
The Titanic story is one that should be told and repeated for generations yet to come because it is one of the best reminders of man's arrogance relative to so-called technology. We take so much for granted and we will pay a price. That is truth. Thanks
I have a friend in Dallas whose mother survived the sinking of the titanic.
@12:23
Also a reminder that rich people are pure scum
Attn 12:59
You had the same “opportunities” as those you refer to as “pure scum”. So did I. With apologies to Robert Frost, you apparently took the road “most traveled by.” Thus your bitterness in your thinking the world owes you something.
The sinking of the Titanic eliminated all the powerful heads of the families against the federal reserve. JP Morgan was supposed to go on the maiden voyage, but backed out at the last moment. JP was a front man for a particular banking family of Europe.
@10:46, I've been watching Max's Titanic series for a few weeks.
I love his channel. Anyone interested in food and history should check out his channel.
I didn't realize the poorer Third Class passengers ate as well they did while on board.
Definitely not even close to 1st or 2nd class ... but light years better than what they probably ate at their homes.
@2:37
Yes indeed. Max Miller and John Townsend are both fantastic. There are others who are very good. However, John Townsend specifically deserves global recognition. He kept a lot of people calm and sane during the covid lockdowns.
@1:54 PM
Robert Frost doesn't know you. You're a nobody.
Tragic and planned out to eliminate certain somebodies.
Post a Comment