News stories from around the time of Titanic’s Voyage – April 11, 1912

On Thursday, April 11, 1912, the Titanic made its stop outside of Queenstown, Ireland (now Cobh). She’d never see land again. But what was being reported in New York’s The Sun?

The largest headline was about politics and President Taft, but I feel like we’ve seen enough of that lately. The leftmost headline was a story from Aikens, South Carolina about how agent Baughn got a knife that Frederick O. Beach allegedly used to assault his wife. (He was eventually acquitted.)

But oh! There’s a Titanic story!

TITANIC DRAGS LINER FROM HER MOORINGS

Huge Boat, on Maiden Trip, Narrowly Escapes Accident Similar to Olympic’s.

SUCTION IS THE CAUSE

Big New Ship Sails from Liverpool on Her Maiden Trip to New York.

Special Cable Dispatch to The Sun.

SOUTHAMPTON, England, April 10.–The Titanic, one of the two largest liners in the world, sailed for New York on her maiden voyage to-day, narrowly escaping a collision similar in some respects to that of her sister ship, the Olmpic, and the British cruiser Hawke.

After leaving her dock and while proceeding down Southampton water, the Titanic passed the White Star liner Oceanic and the American Line steamship New York. The suction of the Titanic’s triple screws dragged the New York from her moorings and seven of that vessel’s stern ropes parted.

The stern of the American liner swung into midstream and narrowly escaped striking the passing Titanic, which was obliged to stop while the New York was towed off to a safer berth.

The Titanic, which left port at 12:15 P.M., is a White Star liner. She carried 350 first class passengers.

There was a large crowd present to witness her departure, and enthusiastic cheers were raised as she left.

(The article then segues into what reads like an excuse to list off names of the well-known.)

A majority of the saloon passengers boarded the ship at Cherbourg…

The sailing on the American liner St. Paul on April 20 has been cancelled. The St. Louis will sail on April 27 and the regular sailings of the line will be resumed thereafter.

The Titanic is 882 feet 6 inches long, has a beam of 92 feet 6 inches, displaces 66,000 tons, and is of 46,000 tons net register. She can carry 3,000 passengers, 600 in the saloon, 500 in the second cabin, and 1,900 in the steerage, while she has a crew of 860.

Interestingly enough, the Titanic did not sail from Liverpool at all. She was registered there, so that name was on her stern.

I wonder how people who had loved ones on board the Titanic felt if they saw this story!