Topics in Chronicling America - Sinking of the Titanic

Lulled into a false sense of security, Titanic passengers continue their lively parties and return to their beds after an iceberg deals the fatal blow to the "unsinkable" ship. Hours later panic rushed through the more than 2,000 passengers as the few life boats filled and the ship began sinking. More than 1,300 people would die from drowning and freezing in the early hours of April 15th, 1912 in one of the worst maritime disasters of history. Read more about it!

The information and sample article links below provide access to a sampling of articles from historic newspapers that can be found in the Chronicling America: American Historic Newspapers digital collection (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/). Use the Suggested Search Terms and Dates to explore this topic further in Chronicling America.

Jump to: Sample Articles

Important Dates:

• April 14, 1912: The Titanic hits an iceberg. The following morning, newspapers offer conflicting reports.
• April 16, 1912: News reports confirm that the Titanic is sunk and over 1300 are missing.
• April 17, 1912: All Titanic survivors are aboard the Carpathia, headed for New York.
• April 19, 1912: U.S. Senate inquiry into the disaster opens.
• May 28, 1912: Senate committee issues a final report.

Suggested Search Strategies:

• [Try the following terms in combination, proximity, or as phrases using Search Pages in Chronicling America.] Titanic, Carpathia, Captain Smith, Bruce Ismay, White Star Line • Many newspapers published detailed accounts of the sinking with much more accurate information beginning on April 17th when more information was becoming available.

Sample Articles from Chronicling America:

• "Passengers From the Titanic Rescued," The Evening Standard (Ogden City, UT), April 15, 1912, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1.
• "Liner Titanic Kept Afloat by Water-tight Compartments Being Towed into Halifax, N.S.," The Washington Times (Washington, DC), April 15, 1912, Last Edition, Page 1, Image 1, col. 3.
• "All Titanic Passengers Saved," Evening Bulletin (Honolulu, HI), April 15, 1912, 3:30 Edition, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1.
• "Liner Titanic Wrecked by Iceberg; Passengers Transferred to Other Vessels in Mid Ocean," The Day Book (Chicago, IL), April 15, 1912, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1.
• "1300 Perish in Wreck of the Titanic," The San Francisco Call (San Francisco, CA), April 16, 1912, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1.
• "1492 Lives Lost in Titanic Disaster," Medford Mail Tribune (Medford, OR), April 16, 1912, First Edition, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1.
• "1350 Passengers Perish When Steamer Titanic Sinks," El Paso Herald (El Paso, TX), April 16, 1912, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1.
• "1,340 Perish as Titanic Sinks; Only 886, Mostly Women and Children, Rescued," New York Tribune (New York, NY), April 16, 1912, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1.
• "All Titanic Survivors on Carpathia," The San Francisco Call (San Francisco, CA), April 18, 1912, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1.
• "Carpathia to Arrive Tomorrow," The Evening Standard (Ogden City, UT), April 18, 1912, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1.
• "Storm Stops Reports from Carpathia," The Washington Herald (Washington, DC), April 18, 1912, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1.
• "Ismay Tells Senate Committee Titanic was not Seeking Speed Record, and Testifies to General Ignorance of Details of Disaster," The Washington Times (Washington, DC), April 19, 1912, Last Edition, Page 1, Image 1, col. 2.
• "Titanic Officer Swears Wreck Due to Company's Neglect," The Tacoma Times (Tacoma, WA), April 23, 1912, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1.
• "Criminal Neglect of Nearby Steamers Blamed for Titanic Life Loss," Medford Mail Tribune (Medford, OR), May 28, 1912, Second Edition, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1.
• "Main Points in Senate Titanic Report," The Washington Times (Washington, DC), May 28, 1912, Last Edition, Page 1, Image 1, col. 3.
• "Californian Neglected Its Duty," El Paso Herald (El Paso, TX), May 28, 1912, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1.
• "Bitter Censure of Californian," The Times Dispatch (Richmond, VA), May 29, 1912, Page 1, Image 1, col. 2.