in 1898, Morgan Robertson released 'Futility', a short novel that detailed the voyage of the 'Titan', an ocean liner which struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean and sank. Fourteen years later, the ocean liner RMS Titanic hit an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean and sank.
There are many parallels between the two events, that stretch much farther than just a similar name and similar locations.
Did 'Futility' predict one of histories greatest maritime disasters?
There are many parallels between the two events, that stretch much farther than just a similar name and similar locations.
Did 'Futility' predict one of histories greatest maritime disasters?
Another Unsinkable Ship?
Titanic towed from the harbor. On an Aprils night, more than a century ago, a vast ocean liner was making a transatlantic voyage. This unsinkable ship was the largest of its type ever constructed but, tragedy was about to strike.
During the night the ship struck an iceberg on the starboard side, causing the entire vessel to shudder as it punctured the hull. Water quickly began to well over the decks as passengers scrambled for the life boats.
Unfortunately some safety requirements were flaunted due to the owners and operators taking great faith in the indestructibility of the ship. There were less than half the required number of lifeboats to cover the passengers and crew.
More than half of the passengers and crew lost their lives as the ship sank...
Sound familiar?
Well it should, and it shouldn't. The previous events took place in Morgan Robertson's 'Futility' first published in 1898. Futility is a short novella that details the transatlantic crossing of the fictitious 'Titan', an ocean liner and the largest ship afloat.
During the night the ship struck an iceberg on the starboard side, causing the entire vessel to shudder as it punctured the hull. Water quickly began to well over the decks as passengers scrambled for the life boats.
Unfortunately some safety requirements were flaunted due to the owners and operators taking great faith in the indestructibility of the ship. There were less than half the required number of lifeboats to cover the passengers and crew.
More than half of the passengers and crew lost their lives as the ship sank...
Sound familiar?
Well it should, and it shouldn't. The previous events took place in Morgan Robertson's 'Futility' first published in 1898. Futility is a short novella that details the transatlantic crossing of the fictitious 'Titan', an ocean liner and the largest ship afloat.
'Titan' VS 'Titanic'
Name changed to cash in on the tragedy. Described as ‘unsinkable’, the titan sank after being struck by an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean on an April night in the late 1800's. With not enough life boats for all of the passengers and crew, over half would perish in the freezing cold waters.
This is incredibly similar to the fate of the real 'RMS Titanic'. The Titanic was the worlds largest passenger liner, which struck an iceberg and sank in the early hours of April 15, 1912; a full fourteen years after the book 'Futility' was published. As with the 'Titan', there were less than half of the required lifeboats for the passengers and crew, and more than half lost their lives in the cold waters on the North Atlantic.
Both vessels were travelling at similar speeds (22.5 Knots Titanic, 25 knots Titan), both were about 800 feet long, both had a similar passenger and crew capacity (about 3000 people max), both had less than half the required number of life boats, both were considered unsinkable, both were struck by an iceberg on the starboard side, both sank about 400 miles from Newfoundland, both had more than half of their passengers and crew drown in the tragedies.
And, of course, there are the very similar names: 'Titan' and 'Titanic'.
With fourteen years between the two 'events' was it coincidence or something more?
With the event of the Titanic's sinking, the publishers of 'Futility' attempted to cash in, by making small changes such as the ships tonnage and to the cover of the book. A subheading was added to the title, changing it from 'Futility' to 'Futility, The Wreck of the Titan' or in some cases just 'The Wreck of the Titan'.
However that was the only real change made to the book.
This is incredibly similar to the fate of the real 'RMS Titanic'. The Titanic was the worlds largest passenger liner, which struck an iceberg and sank in the early hours of April 15, 1912; a full fourteen years after the book 'Futility' was published. As with the 'Titan', there were less than half of the required lifeboats for the passengers and crew, and more than half lost their lives in the cold waters on the North Atlantic.
Both vessels were travelling at similar speeds (22.5 Knots Titanic, 25 knots Titan), both were about 800 feet long, both had a similar passenger and crew capacity (about 3000 people max), both had less than half the required number of life boats, both were considered unsinkable, both were struck by an iceberg on the starboard side, both sank about 400 miles from Newfoundland, both had more than half of their passengers and crew drown in the tragedies.
And, of course, there are the very similar names: 'Titan' and 'Titanic'.
With fourteen years between the two 'events' was it coincidence or something more?
With the event of the Titanic's sinking, the publishers of 'Futility' attempted to cash in, by making small changes such as the ships tonnage and to the cover of the book. A subheading was added to the title, changing it from 'Futility' to 'Futility, The Wreck of the Titan' or in some cases just 'The Wreck of the Titan'.
However that was the only real change made to the book.
'Titanian'
The original cover of 'Futility'. But wait it gets a little bit weirder...
In 1935 the 'Titanian' was crossing the North Atlantic when its lookout, William Reeves, spooked that he could not see ahead in the misty night, panicked and sounded the alarm. The Titanian very soon came to a complete stop, but not before hitting an iceberg.
Luckily the damage was not great, but icebreakers from nearby Newfoundland needed to be called in to free the ship.
So there you have it, three similarly named ships, placed years apart all making for some weird trinity of coincidence, synchronicity or bizarre prediction.
One final strange note.... William Reeves, the lookout that saved the Titanian... he was born 15 April 1912.
The same day the Titanic Sank.
In 1935 the 'Titanian' was crossing the North Atlantic when its lookout, William Reeves, spooked that he could not see ahead in the misty night, panicked and sounded the alarm. The Titanian very soon came to a complete stop, but not before hitting an iceberg.
Luckily the damage was not great, but icebreakers from nearby Newfoundland needed to be called in to free the ship.
So there you have it, three similarly named ships, placed years apart all making for some weird trinity of coincidence, synchronicity or bizarre prediction.
One final strange note.... William Reeves, the lookout that saved the Titanian... he was born 15 April 1912.
The same day the Titanic Sank.
Ashley Hall 2012
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