False Reports - Preparing For The Dead

Very few news stories were written by local newspaper reporters. Most of the news stories that were published all over the world were received by wireless communication, then they were republished. 

Wireless was operational 24 hours a day. Back in the day, just as today, every newspaper copied wireless stories word for word and printed them in their newspapers.  It was a normal acceptable practice and it was not considered plagiarism. 

Although some reporters added more to embellish the story, probably just to be different, most reporters reprinted it close to the original.  

This is why the same news item was seen in more than one newspaper.

As many readers know, when something is copied and published in many newspapers, it becomes viewed as truth. 

The adage became "if it's in the newspaper, it must be true."

The original article was so faded, we couldn't darken it up for publication. So here's the text verbatim; see our footnote at end of the article which explains why it is false. 

-New York. April 18, 1912 - Bulletin.  

"Many survivors of the Titanic are believed to have died on the rescue ship RMS Carpathia. (True)

The Cunard Company asked the Campbell Burial Company to send a force of men to the docks to care for the bodies. How many were there was not stated. (Half-true)

A number of coffins were secured and sent immediately.  Great apprehension prevails everywhere.  (False)

It is stated that scenes of horror, worse than any that have ever before been witnessed, may be expected.  The police are prepared for any emergency that may arise."

Footnote:

To correct false information:

- The part about the Campbell Burial Company being consulted to care for dead bodies was true.   

- There was no force of men from the burial company sent to the docks "with coffins." The burial company was asked to be on call in the event they were needed. They sent two hearsts with two coffins.

- There were not many dead that returned with the survivors to New York on the RMS Carpathia because nearly all were buried at sea.

Second Class Carpathia passenger Lawrence Beesley wrote in his book The Loss of the SS Titanic:

"Four dead bodies were taken from Titanic's lifeboats and were buried at sea on April 15. They were identified as William Hoyt, Steward S. C. Siebert, Seaman W. H. Lyons, and Third Class Abraham Harmer. 

"On Tuesday, three survivors died and on Wednesday two more died. All were buried at sea."

Source:  
The Oregonian, Friday, April 19, 1912

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