The Titanic on This Day in History

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This Day in History: The ship that "God couldn't sink," the RMS Titanic began its sea trials on this day in 1912. We all know the fate of the Titanic, but did you know that a book was published 14 years prior that foreshadowed what happened to the Titanic. Morgan Robertson wrote "The Wreck of the Titan: Or, Futility" where his fictional ship (the Titan) sank in April in the North Atlantic, and there were not enough lifeboats for all the passengers. There are also similarities in size, speed, and life-saving equipment. After the Titanic's sinking, some people credited Robertson with precognition and clairvoyance, which he denied.

In 1917 a similar puzzling and mysterious incident occurred. Miriam French, an American woman, was on board The City of Athens, sailing from Cape Town, Africa to America. During her voyage Mrs. French amused herself by writing a story about the ship and imaginary passengers, and ended the tale by having the ship strike a mine and sink into the sea. Two months later The City of Athens met that exact fate.