Unexplained Features of World's Greatest Steamship Disaster

Whence came the wireless messages of Monday assuring the world of the rescue of passengers and crew from the Titanic without the loss of a life?

What was the origin of the report—by wireless via Cape Race—that the steamer Virginian had taken off the passengers and was towing the Titanic in? This, as the latest bulletin shows, was several hours after the Titanic had gone to the bottom.

In Monday’s wireless dispatches the Virginian was reported towing the Titanic to Halifax. Later she was said to have relinquished her tow and turned toward Liverpool. Today’s dispatches state that the Titanic sank before the Virginian reached the place where the wreck occurred.

Steamers in the vicinity of the place of collision to-day reported all lifeboats accounted for, yet 1, 335 persons lost their lives, indicating that there had not been sufficient lifeboats for the passengers carried by the Titanic

Herbert Henry Hilliard sent a wireless dispatch to Boston Monday afternoon saying that all passengers had been saved and transported to the steamers Baltic and Virginian. To-day’s dispatches said the Virginian and Baltic did not reach the spot until after the Titanic had sunk.

New York, April 16—Wireless operators to-day attributed the confusing reports regarding the Titanic yesterday to amateurs who sent out reports that the passengers of the Titanic had all been saved. They said that there was no other way to account for the report, as they were apparently authentic aerograms.

Chicago American, Tuesday, April 16, 1912, p. 1, c. 5: