A classic retelling of the tale

Perhaps no other single histori- cal event manages to reach across generations as does the sinking of the Titanic.

Certainly there were any number of more world-shattering days during the 20th century, but there’s something special about the Titanic.

The first post-Titanic generation kept the story alive through newspaper stories, books and word of mouth. Subsequent generations were reintroduced to the story through dozens of television productions and films based in whole or in part on the sinking, most notably “Titanic” in 1953, “A Night to Remember” in 1958 and James Cameron’s epic, “Titanic,” released in 1997 and re-released last week.

Technology has produced vivid documentaries that have included footage of the great ship’s wreckage on the bottom of the Atlantic. Robotic submarines have collected artifacts from the wreckage that have been parts of exhibits that toured the world.

Marking the 100th anniversary of the April 15, 1912, sinking of the Titanic, The Vindicator makes its contribution to retelling the story.

Return with us now ...

It is a return to newsprint, the primary medium of the first telling of the story 100 years ago.

And we think it contains insights for those who have thought of the Titanic as little more than the setting for heart-rending stories of love found and lost — and perhaps a tidbit or two for the serious student of all matters Titanic.

Even today there is disagreement as to the exact number of passengers, crew and survivors aboard on that night to remember. Which makes it remarkable that on the very day of the tragedy, The Vindicator’s Extra edition was off by only about 3 percent in reporting 675 dead.

A century ago, readers depended on the printed page in ways some no longer do today. But we hope the pages in today’s edition serve to inform and entertain in a special way.