The Daily Mirror April 17, 1912

LAST MINUTE CHANGE OF MIND .

Why Mr. Norman Craig,K.C. M.P., Cancelled His Passage.


NO DEFINITE REASON.


Mr. Norman Craig, K.C., M.P. for the Isle of Thanet, was perhaps the luckiest passenger
who actually booked to travel by the Titanic.
At the very last moment he decided, for no definite reason, not to make the journey.
When the first lists of those who were on board were published after the disaster the name
of Mr. Craig was given as one of the victims.
But the famous K.C. was safe and sound, playing golf, and in entire ignorance of the anxiety
he was causing his friends or of the terrible fate of the Titanic.
"I certainly booked my passage on the Titanic", Mr. Craig told The Daily Mirror yesterday.
" and up to the day before I fully intended sailing. My intention Was just to make the trip out
on her for a blow of fresh air, and to return as quickly as possible on the Mauretania.

STILL LONGING FOR THE TRIP.
" At the last moment I suddenly decided not to sail. I cannot tell you why; there was simply
no reason for it. No ; I had no mysterious premonitions or visions of any kind.
Nor did I dream of any disaster. But I do know that at practically the last moment I did not
want to go."
"I was not absolutely decided about it then. for I found myself still hankering after the trip."
" Having finally decided I cleared off into the country away from all news It was not until I
returned home on Monday evening that I heard anything of what had happened."
" I certainly did congratulate myself, but at the Same time it was a shock to me, for I had
arranged to go with friends-a husband and wife. They sailed, and I am afraid he is amongst
the missing."


AMBASSADOR'S GOOD FORTUNE.

(From our own correspondent)
Paris, April 16, K.C.. Robert Bacon, the departing United States Ambassador, said today
that he had intended to leave Cherbourg on the Titanic, but owing to the postponement of his
final audience with the President of the Republic until today was obliged to change his plans.
" My wife my daughters and myself," said the Ambassador.
" have had a very happy escape, and to-day we received a large number of telegrams of
congratulation on our good fortune."


DISASTER ANTICIPATED.

An extraordinary story of a passenger's presentiment of coming disaster to the Titanic
was related yesterday to The Daily Mirror by a well-known solicitor.
" Barely a day before the Titanic sailed, " he said, " a wealthy business man came to me,
and considerably surprised me ,by asking if I would consent to be a guardian to-his two
little boys.
I naturally asked him what he meant, - and he replied tomorrow, I and my wife are sailing
on the Titanic. I cannot tell you why, but I feel that something is going to happen, and that
we shall never see our children again".
" It is impossible to shake off this feeling. In these circumstances, it will afford me
considerable relief if you will consent to act as guardian,"
"I haven't any doubt that all this sounds very absurd, and even my Wife laughs at me but I
do not like sailing feeling that my boys are not left in anyone's care, supposing that
something should happen"
"Up to the present," concluded the solicitor, " neither his name nor that of his wife appear
among the saved;"
Two other apparently well-authenticated cases of premonition of the disaster are related.
One man who sailed from Southampton, said to be a fireman named Coffey, having grave,
indefinable misgivings, left the boat at Queenstown.
Another, a steward, is stated to have told his wife before his departure
that he wished he had not signed on.


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