misprint or urban myth?

[hiflier]

I once heard that a newspaper report said something like the following: '...Crowds cheered as Quen Victoria pissed over Westminster Bridge.' Does anyone have chapter and verse of this quotation?

[squarebear]

No mention of it in Google. I fear someone is tricking you.

[douglas9401]

I think someone's misunderstood the royal we.

[jno]

it was in The Times and has been well attested - in fact you could probably search the Times website and find it, but I think you have to subscribe. As I recall, there was a big search for the compositor responsible (the one who typed it in metal) but he was never tracked down.

[jno]

actually, on second thoughts: Bill Bryson mentions it in his book Mother Tongue but says it may be apocryphal (he says it related to the opening of Clifton Suspension Bridge). He confirms one parliamentary report - this is the one I was thinking of - from January 1882 which ended "The speaker then said he felt inclined for a bit of f***ing." This was not a misprint; but the compositor was never found.

Bryson worked for The Times so he would know about this.

[Invictas]

She was on her way to Waterloo, and decided to Water the bridge instead!
She didn't want to be incomoded.

[VHG]

I have a book called "Keep taking the tabloids" by Fritz Spiegl (now dead) from 1983 where he takes a light hearted look at the style of writing used in newspapers.

He tells the story about the Times from 23rd January 1882 where on page 7 there was a report (word for word) of a long boring discussion from parliament. It was 10,000 words with no large headlines and no photographs. It must have been a terrible job for the person who put the page together using the metal letters one by one.

Anyway part way through the typesetter got bored so wrote "The speaker then said he felt inclined for a bit of f**king. I think that is very likely (laughter)".

The paper went out without the word censored. He actually prints the page in the book but you cannot read the words as they are too small.

Three days later the Times issued an apology, but the person was never caught.

Fritz also (on the same page) tells the Queen Vicrtoria p*ssing story, but does not back it up with any proof which makes me think it may not be true (or wishful thinking).

[VHG]

whoops just noticed jno has already told the story from the times. sorry.

[naomi24]

Sounds like something the policeman from 'Allo 'Allo might have said. :o)

[sir.prize]

And the worst typo ever? Probably The Times's write-up of the opening of Waterloo Bridge by the Prince Regent on 18 June 1817, when, due to a stray vowel, the report claimed that 'The Royal party then pissed over the bridge.' The entire composing-room staff was (reportedly) sacked next day."

source: http://grammar.about.com/od/tz/g/Typo-term.htm

[jno]

well, there's a date; anyone with a sub might like to check it out on the Times website.

[anotheoldgit]

It's 'all water under the bridge' by now.