My father Missed the boat . While this is not a story of the Frasers or the MacGillivrays, it is a very interesting prelude to James William Fraser's transatlantic crossing, a preliminary business trip in preparation of his Tasmania assignment.
JWF would leave one hundred years ago today on April 17, 1912 on the SS Carmania. As noted in the above story, She left Liverpool, England on April 6, 1912, arriving in New York City on April 14, 1912, an eight day transatlantic trip. Do we not wonder if JWF shared the same Presbyterian philosophy of predestination as Mr. Nesbit, boarding his ship just 2 days after the sinking of the Titanic in the same ice field through which he would pass?It is noteworthy that JWF would be traveling on a ship powered by steam turbines, rather than coal, since he was on his way to harness water power for Tasmania. The Cunard Line explains the origin of the Carmania here.
In another family history, JWF's journal is quoted:
Wednesday. April 17. Sailed for England at 3 PM on the Carmania. Jennings brought to steamer 2 boxes of cigars and a bottle of whiskey. Turned cold with rain, blew hard, rough evening. Felt good after lying down to rest.
There was no mention of the Titanic.
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