A small earth tremor was felt in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, in the early hours of Wednesday. One man was injured in the mining town of Doncaster, and there was a small amount of structural damage. Our correspondent slept through the event, but was reminded of the infamous headline in The Times, back in the days when it was a paper of record:
Small Earthquake in Chile - Not Many Dead
The tradition was that this headline was written by Claud Cockburn, a sub-editor who won an unofficial competition for the most boring headline to be published. In 1972, it was used by Alistair Horne for his book on the Allende government in Chile, and has entered legend since.
There's only one, teensy-weensy little problem with this tale: the headline never actually appeared. We've scoured the Times Digital Archive for everything to do with earthquakes and Chile (or Peru, as it's occasionally cited) between 1920 and 1940, and cannot find a headline of that wit. In amongst reports of a series of disasters caused by tremors in that country, we've found four reports that are tedious enough to spark the Fleet-street legend.
From The Times of 15 November 1927:
EARTHQUAKE IN CHILE
Santiago De Chile, Nov 14 - A long, sharp earthquake shock was felt at Santiago, Valparaiso, and in all the northern part of Chile at 3.20 this morning, lasting about a minute. At Illapel considerable damage was caused, but no persons were injured. - Reuter.
Elsewhere in that day's paper was a report on the local elections in Hamburg and Königsberg, a report on the failure of negotiations between Stalin and a delegation of Social Democrats, Cambridge University beat the Glasgow Academicals by three goals and three tries to one penalty goal, and the pick of the ties in the first round of the FA Cup was Halifax -v- Hartlepools. The weather forecast was for rain.
From the Telegrams In Brief column, The Times of 18 October 1930:
A violent earthquake shock was felt yesterday morning in the district between Coquimbo and Valdivia, Chile, with its greatest intensity in the Aconcagua Valley. The probable epicentre was in the mountains between Chile and Mendoza. There was very slight personal and material damage.
We also learned of Communist disturbances in Berlin, increased taxation in Western Australia, Mr. Lloyd George gave a long and boring speech, and the highlight of the week-end in the National Programme was Eldorado. Selfridge's announced that it would not take part in the "anachronism" of tipping, "a relic of the days when tradesmen and shopkeepers had not learned to distinguish clearly between charity and wages." The weather forecast was for rain.
From The Times of 14 July 1936:
EARTHQUAKE IN CHILE
BUENOS AIRES, July 13
At 7.20 (local time) this morning the observatory at Villa Ortuzar recorded a strong earthquake shock with its epicentre between 750 and 1,000 miles to the west.
SANTIAGO, July 13 - Much damage was done by an earthquake this morning at Taltal, the southernmost nitrate port in Chile, where the post office, a hospital, a school, and about 100 houses collapsed. Carabineers have been sent to prevent looting. No reports of casualties have yet been received. - Exchange.
Elsewhere, we learn that the Spanish government had been secured by "pure Republicans"; that the quarterly telephone rental of £1 per quarter would include 50 penny calls; and a stuffed crocodile was for sale, 8ft 10in; £10. Applicants were asked to call Cockrell Hop 2946. The weather forecast was for rain.
From The Times of 8 May 1939:
MORE EARTH TREMORS IN CHILE
SANTIAGO DE CHILE, May 7
Violent earth tremors were again felt in Chile yesterday morning throughout the provinces of Talca, Nuble, and Concepcion, and especially round Chillan. Many buildings damaged in the previous earthquake collapsed in San Carlos, Parral, Chillan, and other towns, but there was no loss of life.
Elsewhere in that day's paper is news of Lord Lucan unveiling a statuette of Bishop Bingham in Wilton; the cricket correspondent refuted a suggestion that the Worcester ground is perpetually under water; a letter from Henry Durant of the British Institute of Public Opinion defended his organisation's failure to predict the winner of the Batley by-election after conducting an opinion poll; and the highlight of radio's National Service was commentary on the final round of the Gold Cup of Bridge by Terence Reese from the Sackville Hotel in Bexhill. The weather forecast was for rain.
Addendum, 29 February
Further investigation has unearthed a fifth contender, which was printed during Claude Cockburn's final year at the paper. It was cited by Stephen Winkworth in his 1986 book More Amazing Times
as the one most likely to have won a contest, probably Most Boring Telegram Printed.
From The Times of 6 August 1929:
An earthquake shock was felt yesterday between Illapel, to the north, and Talca, to the south, in Chile. No damage was done.
Also in this edition: Mr. Carrington of Ecchinswell near Newbury was complaining about a proposed by-pass at Theale; Mr. Bernard Shaw warned against expecting anything from the English Socialist movement, for it was imbued with capitalistic ways of thought; traffic on the bank holiday included many motor-coach trips to seaside resorts; the highlight of the radio schedule was a comedy in two acts by Mr. A. A. Milne, entitled Wurzel-Flummery
; there was an appeal for Unwanted False Teeth, which were urgently wanted for our Dental Aid Work - apply to Ivory Cross, 67a, Welbeck-street, W.1. The weather forecast was for rain.
