As we all know RMS Titanic sank on 15 April 1912 causing the deaths of 1,514 people. However on the 16th April 1912 The Western Times, in a remarkable editorial blunder, was reporting ‘Good News’, Titanic and all on board are safe.
“An enormous load of anxiety has been lifted from the public mind by the news that everything is likely to be well with the passengers and crew of the “Titanic”, and there is also every reason for believing that the leviathan will be enabled to reach port safely.
From the first, there was the strongest hope that the giant liner would be able (at all events) to keep afloat until assistance arrived, and several steamships would you to succour her within a few hours. These latter have, apparently all been able to reach the disabled vessel, and the passengers have doubtless transferred to some of the attendant boats. An unofficial message states that the “Titanic” herself is in tow of the “Capathia”. If this be the case, it is almost a matter of certainty that the loss of the finest steamship ever launched will not have to be recorded.
It has been claimed that the “Titanic” is unsinkable. The result will show how far the claim is justified; but the fact that the vessel did not founder goes to show that her preservative qualities, at all events, of a remarkable character. For it can well be imagined what the impact of such a monster must have been. The “Titanic”, indeed is a floating town. She had on board no less than 2385 souls; and even that number, we may assume does not represent a full complement of passengers and crew.
It is extremely unfortunate that this queen of the ocean liners should have come to grief upon a maiden voyage. But the conditions were quite abnormal. It is seldom that such an enormous quantity of icebergs should be about. One of the telegram states that the icefield is 70 miles in the extent. We can realise the terrible danger which this expresses. Several vessels have simply had to thread their way through the lanes of bergs, and the pity is that the “Titanic” was not able to come clear from the peril.
However if no lives have been lost, we shall not have much cause for regret, and we can only trust that no other vessel beside the “Titanic” has become a victim of the floating ice.”
