Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-04-26
THE NEWS WRITER
ABOARD THE CARPATEIA
How Carlos Hurd Sent the First
Written Story of the Wreck Of the
Titanic to the World.

Titanic disaster was difficult ID OBJ
tain, has, in a general way become
to the world, but the report
er who got the first story has never
told to the people the extent to
]. Bruce Ismay. managing di-
rector OF he White Star Steamship
Line. attempted TO interfere with
the reporter in the accumulation of
and to prevent his copy reach
ing his paper.
Carlos Hurd, a re-write man on
the Post-Dispatch in st. Louis. ac-
companied by his wife, started on
a vacation trip to Europe on the
fateful ship C%arpathia.
Hurd was miles away from the
nearest telegraph station when the
survivors Of the titanic were picked
up. His newspaper training told
him that it was a big story. But
how much OF it was known he could
not tell. The ships people refused
to allow any message TO be delivered
from his Office to him. or from him
10 his office. He fell sure that such
an accident as this must have be-
come known. but how much Of it
was known he could not tell.
He prepared his story on the as
sumption that, while the world knew
the Titanic had been wrecked. the
world did not know the extent Of the
loss nor the particulars OF the ac-
cident. Under the influence of J.
Bruce lsmay. Hurd found himself
barred from communication with the
first class passengers, while all the
other passengers were warned and
implOred not to talk to him.
In spite of this. when the Car
pathia appeared off Sandy Hook he
had his story written and ready. Ills
other experience had taught him "a
expect interference at the last and
he was not disappointed. he had
figured that II his story was impor-
tant at all, ID would be important
enough for the New York World
and the Post-Dispatch TO send a
steamer out to meet the Carpathia.
He guessed il right both times
A tug steamed out to meet the liner,
When Hurd ran to the rail he wa:
forced back by the order Of the ship
captain. But he had already taken
the prccau ion to attach his copy
10 a buoy. lie threw il overheard
lit caught on a hauser and officers o.
the company tried to get it back
A sailor ran Out and got it. and
fired by the EN- husiasm of the spec
tators or else laundering stupidity
returned it to Hurd instead Of hand
Ing ii to a petty officer. A second
time Hurd threw it overheard. This
time it struck the wattr and was
picked up by the Ag.
The story % it appeared in full
in the Worll and Post-Dispatch and
nearly e,ery other big newspaper in
the country, is remarkable for its
! implicitly OF wording. and at the
same time has The facts stated in
such q way as Il bring tears TO the
eyes Of the reader. The writer does
not tell You that the incident OF the
two Ii tie girls crying over the los
Of the teddy bear and dolls, while
the heartbroken mother has not tho
heart 10 tell them that father 90 is
at the bottom Of the ocean i
pathetic. lie leaves tina TO you
The story as written by him il "oi
the ART that %conceals art
In all OF the people on board the
Carpathia there was onely one per-
son 10 assist in the accumulation OF
the data which gave the world the
first reliable Information concern
ing the wreck. This was Mrs. Hurd
As a mark Of appreciation for his
remarkable work. Mr.. Hurd's paper
gave him an extension of three
weeks on his leave Of absence and
I $1,000 in money. In addition Il
this he stands far in the lead
for The Pulitzer prize Of $1,000 fol
the greatest journalistic achieve.
ment Of the year.
The whole world owes Mr.. Hurd
Its heartfelt gratitude for telling III,
un~varnished and unbiased fact
which the officials of he White star
Line tried TO suppress.