Titanic Fact 29: William Stead

On board Titanic was a man named William Stead. He was on the way to America to attend a peace conference after he was invited by President Taft. What's peculiar about the story is that Stead unknowingly described his own death in 2 of his stories. In one, "Pall Mall Gazette," he wrote a story about a ship that sinks and doesn't have enough life boats for its passengers. Stead wrote that, "This is exactly what might take place and what will take place, if the liners are sent to sea short of boats".

The second story he wrote in 1892. It was a fictional novel entitled, "From the Old World to The New." In it, he tells of a ship named the Majestic that sinks in the North Atlantic after it hits an iceberg. Another ship comes to pick the Majestic's survivors. What makes this story of intriguing is the captain of the rescuing ship was named, E. J. Smith. This is strange coincidence since the Titanic's captain was named, Edward. J. Smith. William Stead was among those lost in the sinking. It was rumored Stead was supposed to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize later that year. He was last seen setting in a chair, reading a book. Another report says that he was later seen with John Jacob Astor. Stead's body was never recovered.