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1912 (15 April) The historically important Titanictelegram sent
to the Belfast Evening Telegraph on the day of its sinking
Manuscript on 'Post Office Telegraphs' headed paper, with date and
receiving office stamp "Belfast Apr 15. 12" stating "White Star Liner
Titanic wh. Reuters states is sinking in mid Atlantic as result of collision wi
iceberg left Southampton last Wedy. on maiden voyage to New York.
Titanic is largest vessel afloat having tonnage of 46,382 or 1004 more
than Olympic. She has lgth of 882 feet wi ninety two feet breadth & was
luxuriously fitted up wi especial regard to requirements of wealthy
Americans".
This unique and historically important telegram was sent by the Press
Association (as indicated by "P.A." in ms at top of the form) to the Belfast
Evening Telegraph and received by journalist Robert (Bob) McComb. The
date stamp bears the date of 15 April 1912, the day on which the Titanic
sank in the North Atlantic Ocean, and the time is written as 10.39
(presumably morning, and as receipt in Belfast), about three hours after
the ship had sunk) making this document the first notification of the
ship's sinking and allowing the newspaper to be one of the first to break
the news of the Titanic.
It is difficult to comprehend the disbelief and shock which must have
greeted this telegram as it arrived at the offices of the Telegraph, the
largest selling newspaper in Titanic's home city of Belfast. The news which
the telegram gives reflects the fragmented and sparse nature of the initial
information which filtered back to Ireland relating to the fate of the
world's most famous ship. This telegram allowed the Telegraph to achieve
the amazing feat of breaking the Titanic news on the same day as the
sinking. Their dramatic headline was paraphrased from the content of the
telegram and read "The Titanic Sinking ". The desperation for more
information would have clearly permeated throughout the offices of the
newspaper and Bob McComb was gifted this important document as a
reminder of one of the most shocking moments, not only in his career, but
also in the history of Belfast.
McComb was one of the Telegraph's most celebrated and legendary
journalists. He began working for the newspaper while it was under the
management of Sir Robert Baird and was aged 41 and working as sub-
editor in 1912. He served a total of 34 years on the staff of the Telegraph
and was later described as having "covered some of the biggest news
stories of his time, his resourcefulness when on an assignment was almost
legendary". There would be few stories 'bigger' than that of Titanic.
Bob McComb died in May 1932 but his preservation of this historically
important document insured its survival over the passing of 100 years,
which is remarkable given its fragility. It serves as a tangible link between
the events of a century ago and a city which spent three years creating
the world's most famous ship, only to receive this telegram and news of its
demise, with terrible loss of life, two weeks after seeing it leave.
10 x 8in. (25.40 x 20.32cm) framed, accompanied by cartoons of the
journalist Robert McComb who received the telegram and wrote the story
of the disaster for the Belfast Evening Telegraph.
€20,000-€30,000 (£16,667-£25,000 approx)