The story of the RMS Titanic is well known. On a cold April night in 1912, the luxury ocean liner hit an iceberg and sank on its maiden voyage, killing more than 1,500 of its passengers and crew. The shock of the tragedy, though potent, has dissipated over the past century. Perhaps that’s why the discovery of a 112-year-old newspaper covering the event is so haunting.
Unearthed in a closet, where it had spent more than a century out of the sunlight, the April 20, 1912 edition of The Daily Mirror brings the tragedy back to life. It not only covers those who died in the sinking but turns a sympathetic eye to their loved ones waiting anxiously for news.
The despair and confusion of the catastrophe are captured within its pages.
How The 112-Year-Old Titanic Newspaper Was Unearthed
According to a press release from Hansons Auctioneers, which acquired the artifact, the 112-year-old Titanic newspaper was found in a closet during the clearance of a home in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It was well-preserved, having spent more than a century in a cool, dark space.
Hansons AuctioneersThe paper covered the profiles of several Titanic heroes, including the captain, Edward Smith.
“The paper was found thanks to our elderly client’s grandmother,” Charles Hanson, the owner of Hansons Auctioneers, explained in the press release. “She kept newspapers marking major events such as the coronation of King George V in 1911 as well as the sinking of the Titanic.”
He continued: “Over eight pages of sombre sadness, The Daily Mirror details the tragedy and ship’s heroes. They did their utmost to save the lives of women first while accepting their own fate with dignity. It’s a valuable piece of social history.”
Indeed, the April 20, 1912 edition of The Daily Mirror offers a somber — if somewhat sensational — look at the aftermath of the Titanic sinking.
How ‘The Daily Mirror’ Covered The Titanic Sinking
Published five days after the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank, this newfound issue of The Daily Mirror covers the victims of the ship’s sinking — but also the agonizing wait of their loved ones back home.
British Titanic SocietyA group of people checks a list of survivors that was posted outside White Star Line’s Southampton offices.
“The sinking of the Titanic has been heavily documented in films, TV shows and books and we know much about those who lost their lives,” Hanson noted. “This find reminds us of the many bereaved families and friends, heartbroken mothers, fathers and wives.”
The front page of the paper shows two women in Southampton, where the Titanic began its journey, waiting to view a list of Titanic survivors. The accompanying article reads:
“Of the 903 members of the crew of the Titanic, only 210 have been saved. This means tragedy upon tragedy for Southampton, where the majority of the men lived, for by this appalling disaster mothers have been robbed of sons, wives of husbands and young girls of sweethearts.”
The paper continues: “Yesterday was a terrible day in the history of the town, though it put an end to all suspense. A list of the saved was posted outside the White Star offices, and mothers and wives who had been hoping against hope eagerly read the names, only to find their worst fears were realized.
Public DomainA depiction of the ship sinking from April 1912.
According to Hanson, this is where the power of the Titanic newspaper — which sold for £34, or about $45 — truly lies.
“It’s easy to read [the number of the victims] and bury them at the back of your mind,” Hanson remarked. “Inevitably, there’s also a tendency to focus on the ship’s death toll rather than the victims’ families back home. But when you see the faces of those involved it’s very moving.”