Titanic telegram found at Kalkara jumble sale
On the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Titanic disaster, MaltaToday came across a startling artefact from the famous maritime tragedy – found right under our noses.
The telegram was found at a jumble sale in Kalkara
The telegram - dated 15 April, 1912, the night the Titanic sank - was found by chance among assorted junk and second-hand items at the Kalkara Sunday jumble sale three years ago.
It was sold to a woman for €6.
It appears to be a genuine telegram receipt from The Marconi International Marine Communication Company - at the time a prominent London-based telecommunications agency - from the Titanic's sister-ship the Olympic to the rescue boat Carpathia.
The message from the Olympic's Captain Herbert James Haddock on the telegram reads:
'Carpathia reached Titanic position at daybreak found boats and wreckage only Titanic had foundered about 2.20am in 41.16 N 50.14 W all her boats accounted for about 675 souls saved crew and passengers latter nearly all women and children Leyland Line SS Californian remaining and searching position of disaster Carpathia returning to New York with survivors please inform Ounard.
Haddock.'
The telegram was sent to Cape Race, Newfoundland, Canada - the closest port of call for the Titanic at the time. It was received at 4.35pm on the same day.
The document provides a snapshot of the turbulent disaster, which has captured the popular imagination from the moment it first occured.
