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Here's What's in a Name.
Names have figured frequently in coincidences, one of the most remarkable rases being that recorded of a series of men named Hugh Williams, whose escapes from shipwreck are recorded by an English chronicler.
On December 5, 1664, according to this authority, the English ship Menia was crossing the Straits of Dover and capsized in a gale. Of the eighty-one passengers on board, one was saved; his name was Hugh Williams.
On the same day of the same month, in 1785, a pleasure-boat was wrecked on the Isle of Man. There were sixty persons on the boat, among them one Hugh Williams and his family. Of the threescore, none but old Hugh Williams survived the shock.
On August 5, 1820, a picnicking party on the Thames was run down by a coal-barge. There were twenty-five of the picnickers, mostly children under twelve years of age. Little Hugh Williams, a visitor from Liverpool, only five years old, was the only one who was saved.
Now comes the most singular part of this singular story: On August 19, 1889, a coal-laden craft, with nine men, foundered in the North Sea. Two of the men, each of whom was named Hugh Williams, an uncle and nephew, were rescued by some fishermen, and were the only men of the crew who lived to tell of the calamity.
The Charm Named Hugh Williams By George H. Bratley 1907
Mystic force(s) will often attach itself to a name, irrespective of the temperament of the individual bearing it. In 1664, on December 5th, the ship "Menai" was crossing the Straits, and capsized in a gale. Eighty-one passengers were on board, and only one was saved. His name was Hugh Williams. On December 5th, 1785, a schooner was wrecked on the Isle of Man. Sixty persons were aboard, among them one Hugh Williams and his family. Only one survived the shock, and that was old Hugh Williams. On August 5th, 1820, a picnicing party on the Thames was run down by a coal barge. Of the twenty-five picnicers, most of whom were under twelve years of age, only one child, aged five, returned to tell the tale. His name was Hugh Williams. On August 19th, 1889, a Leeds coal barge, with nine men, foundered. Two of them were rescued by some fishermen. They were an uncle and his nephew, and both were named Hugh Williams.
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