Here are some front pages of newspapers around the country, showing very first reports of the Titanic disaster.
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| Newspaper front pages with the first stories of the Titanic disaster on April 15, 1912 |
As you can see, several of the headlines were completely inaccurate. Of course, that’s to be expected — there was very little information available at the time, and the news that did come in was delivered via telegraph.
Furthermore, many news reports were hampered by confusion in the chaos, as well as by some opinions presented as fact. For example, one statement was issued by the White Star Line that said, in part, “I am free to say that no matter how bad the collision with an iceberg, the Titanic would float. She is an unsinkable ship.”
By the next day, almost everyone knew the truth: some 1,500 people had died on that cold, dark night.
1. Titanic’s Passengers Saved; Liner Sinking (The Oakland Tribune).
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| Titanic’s Passengers Saved; Liner Sinking |
2. White Star Liner Titanic, Biggest Steamship Afloat, Strikes Iceberg on First Trip and Is Sinking (The Hartford Courant).
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| White Star Liner Titanic, Biggest Steamship Afloat, Strikes Iceberg on First Trip and Is Sinking |
3. Titanic Smashes Iceberg; 1,470 Saved (The Binghamton Press).
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| Titanic Smashes Iceberg; 1,470 Saved |
4. “Titanic” Rammed an Iceberg (The Evening Observer).
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| “Titanic” Rammed an Iceberg |
5. White Star Liner Titanic Strikes an Iceberg — Passengers Are Safe and the Vessel Is in Tow (The Elmira Star-Gazette).
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| White Star Liner Titanic Strikes an Iceberg — Passengers Are Safe and the Vessel Is in Tow |
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