Bill Cameron
Banned
There was something about how it was a fishing boat that Titanic saw and not the Califorian. Released records apparantly show her in the area somewhat illegially.
Eternity,
Rubbish.
The Ship That Stood Still covers this topic rather exhaustively, it's more of a text book than a work of popular history. There were no ships between Californian and Titanic. None, as is nada, zilch, and zero.
As for the silly suggestions of an "illegal fishing boat", the "illegal" bit once again highlights the propensity of myth makers to presume modern concepts in the actions of historical people. Without international fishery regulations in place, how could the boat somehow be illegal?
But nothing about German coal ships that I can recall
That's because there were none. It's an interesting intersection between the huge Titanic mythos and the long term national German We're Constantly Belittled, Ignored, Dismissed, and Shrugged Off Even When We Try To Help mythos/inferiority complex however.
By the way, I'd love to hear your explanation about how pumps aboard the two German cruisers could assist Titanic. I'm sure it will be just as informed as your HSF Lunge at the Channel thread.
Bill