The Press and Journal's front page the Thursday after the Titanic disaster is the only piece of coverage that could have lead to the well-versed myth
103 years ago today, the RMS Titanic hit an iceberg while making its maiden voyage across the Atlantic Ocean.
On the evening of Sunday 14 April, 1912, the ship was on its way from Southampton to New York City when the collision happened.
By early morning on April 15 it had sunk and claimed more than 1,500 lives.
The Press and Journal, known at the time as the Aberdeen Daily Journal, became renowned for its coverage of the tragedy.
It has been frequently reported that the daily paper headlined its report “Aberdeen man drowns at sea”.
However, evidence from the clippings archive says otherwise.
On the Wednesday after the disaster, a picture of the captain and Titanic itself was carried on the front page – with no mention of Aberdeen victims.
The P&J, on Wednesday, April 17
On Thursday, the paper again lead with the Titanic under the headline ‘Mid-Atlantic calamity.’
Further down the page there is a sub-heading which reads “Aberdeen people on the Titanic” – which is the only item that picks out a north-east link to the disaster.
So there you have it… The myth isn’t really true after all.
The Press and Journal’s front page the Thursday after the Titanic disaster is the only piece of coverage that could have lead to the well-versed myth
On the 103rd anniversary of the Titanic disaster… The P&J sets the record straight on THAT headline
