Thank you for listening to The Dog Studio, where we discover there’s more to dogs than meets the eye. I’m your host, Radek Blažo.

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“As the Titanic sank into the icy waters, Rigel, a big, black Newfoundland dog, swam in the sea. Amid the chaos, the brave dog navigated through the cold, dark waves, barking relentlessly. His calls echoed across the water, guiding a lifeboat to safety. In the pitch-black night and mist, Rigel’s barking became the beacon that led rescuers to those desperate for salvation. His courage in the face of disaster ensured that a small group would survive. His loyal spirit would live on in the memories of those he saved.”

This is the story of Rigel, a black Newfoundland dog who is said to have saved lifeboat number four during the tragic sinking of the Titanic.

To this day, this story remains one of the most famous canine legends tied to the disaster of the so-called “unsinkable” ship.

Newfoundlands are water dogs. They were originally bred to retrieve fishing nets from the icy waters surrounding Newfoundland Island in Canada.

According to the tale, Rigel belonged to Titanic’s First Officer William Murdoch. When the Titanic sank, the dog swam tirelessly in the freezing sea, searching for his master. Unable to find him, the dog stayed near lifeboat number four.

When the rescue ship Carpathia arrived about three hours later, it struggled to locate the last lifeboat. The waters were still, and the mist was thick. The passengers on the boat were exhausted, freezing in the icy weather. Most of them were dressed hastily, with many wearing only coats over their nightdresses and pajamas. They were all too weak to make any sound, let alone scream for help.

Remarkably, it was Rigel, swimming next to the lifeboat, who started barking from the water. He was relentless, persisting in his barking, knowing there was help nearby in the thick mist. His instincts were correct. The officers on Carpathia heard the barking from the water and found the last remaining lifeboat. Thanks to the dog’s efforts, the lifeboat was discovered, and everyone aboard was saved.

The water was cold as ice, and Rigel must have been swimming in it for at least three hours. He was too heavy to be lifted into the lifeboat. The passengers must have been afraid to even try—if anything went wrong, they would all risk their lives.

This story first appeared in the New York Herald on April 21, 1912. The eyewitness of this account claimed the dog was pulled aboard the Carpathia, too. To everyone’s surprise, he was completely untouched by his swim—it was as if he didn’t mind the cold at all.

The story of the heroic dog Rigel was an instant hit all over the world. To this day, people are moved by it. However, as inspiring as this tale is, there’s a huge twist: many historians believe Rigel never existed.

Records from the Titanic contain no mention of this dog. Some even say that neither First Officer Murdoch nor his wife Ada ever owned a Newfoundland. Many believe the story was a fabrication by the newspapers of the time. Titanic stories were selling newspapers all over the world, and a heroic tale like this was bound to be a hit. Some even suggested that newspapers were paying survivors for stories. It would have been easy money for anyone to make up such a tale.

However, in 1962, during a BBC special marking the 50th anniversary of the Titanic tragedy, an intriguing discovery was made. Reporters interviewed the granddaughter of John Brown, an officer aboard the Carpathia. According to her, John Brown often spoke of a black dog barking in the water, guiding the ship to the final lifeboat.

Brown even had proof of his story. He was the one who, in the end, adopted the dog after it was fished out of the water. Described as a large black Newfoundland, the dog lived out the rest of his days on Brown’s rural home in Scotland. Since he never knew the dog’s original name, Brown simply named him “Captain.”

Whether this story is true or just a myth, we may never know. Yet it continues to capture the imaginations of many. There are several books written about Rigel, including a children’s fairy tale. For some reason, people just can’t get enough of this legend of the brave Newfoundland who may have saved lives that fateful night.

The Titanic story has captivated the world for over 120 years, with its tales of bravery, tragedy, and loss. While most of the focus has been on the human passengers, there were also 12 dogs aboard the Titanic. The dog list includes a Great Dane,  St. Bernard, a Fox Terrier, an Airedale Terrier, two Pomeranians,  Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Toy Poodle, Chow Chow,  French Bulldog, and a Pekingese.

Of all these dogs, only three of them survived. Each of them comes with their own and unique story.

One of the most well-known passengers on Titanic was John Jacob Astor, a prominent real estate mogul from New York, the owner of the Walder Astoria hotels. On Titanic he travelled with his Airedale Terrier, Kitty. Kitty was described as a loyal companion, always by Astor’s side during walks and even accompanying him to business meetings. Neither of them survived the sinking of the ship.

All the dogs aboard the Titanic were owned by first-class passengers. This is important to remember given the time period. In the early 20th century, pets were often symbols of wealth and status. These dogs were cherished companions. Some even received a special accommodation aboard the ship.

It was John Hutchinson, the ship’s carpenter, who was responsible for taking care of the dogs. The larger dogs were kept in kennels built into the boat. All the dogs were exercised daily on the deck.

However, the smaller dogs had a different life on board. Even though it was forbidden by the rules, these smaller dogs lived in cabins with their owners.

One can only imagine these ladies refusing to part with their beloved little pets, unable to bear the thought of them living in a kennel. After all, the Titanic was a symbol of luxury and status. And that is exactly what these pets represented to their owners as well. As luck would have it, this small act of rule-breaking turned out to be lifesaving for these dogs in the end.

One of these small dogs was Lady, a female Pomeranian owned by Margaret Hays, a wealthy American woman returning home from Europe. Lady stayed close to Margaret throughout the voyage. She was also one of the lucky dogs that survive the sinking of the Titanic. When it came time to evacuate, Mrs. Hays wrapped Lady in a blanket and carried her to lifeboat number 7. Some accounts say that, at first, no one on the boat realized Mrs. Hays was carrying a dog.

Another dog that received first-class treatment and survived was a Pekingese named Sun Yat-sen, owned by publishing magnate Henry S. Harper and his wife Myra. As we discussed in a previous podcast, the Pekingese were regarded highly, and Sun Yat-sen’s survival is a powerful example of this esteem. When asked after the tragedy about evacuating dogs before humans, her owner Harper simply responded: „There was a lot of room on the lifeboat, and nobody had any objection.“

There was a constant entertainment on the Titanic, during the voyage. Even an informal dog show had been planned for April 15, 1912.  Unfortunately, the event never happened, as the ship struck the iceberg that night.

Of the dogs that did not survive the sinking, most were housed in the kennels. Although the dogs were freed by a steward during the chaos on board, after the ship hit the iceberg.  Many survivors reported that the dogs were running up and down the decks trying to find a way out during the disaster.

One of the dogs that didn’t make it was a French Bulldog named Gamin de Pycombe, owned by Robert William Daniel. Gamin had been purchased in England just a week before the voyage for 150 pounds—equivalent to about $19,000 today. Gamin was among the dogs freed from the kennels but tragically did not survive. Though his owner did, and later claimed $750 in compensation for the loss of his valued French Bulldog.

A French Bulldog also appeared in the Hollywood film Titanic directed by James Cameron. Originally, there was a scene that depicted the dog swimming in the ocean alongside Rose and Jack in the final scene of the movie. However, the director reportedly cut the scene out of the movie, fearing viewers might be very disturbed seeing a dog in distress, fighting the freezing waters during the tragic sinking.

Another notable passenger aboard the Titanic was Samuel Goldenberg, a distinguished English dog show judge and breeder. He and his wife were traveling to America, where Samuel was scheduled to judge the prestigious French Bulldog National Specialty just a week later.

The couple survived. The escape from the sinking ship was not without drama though. As the lifeboats were being loaded, Samuel hesitated to board. His wife was in the boat, crying for him to come and asked for his goodbye. In a tense moment, Samuel was thrown overboard by the chairman of the White Star Line. Luckily Samuel was able to grab the ropes on lifeboat number 5 and pulled himself in.

The Goldenbergs arrived safely in New York. Shortly after, they continued their journey, and Samuel fulfilled his commitment to judge the French Bulldog specialty show. Strangely enough, the show was held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

The most heartbreaking of all the Titanic dog stories is that of Ann Elizabeth Isham. She was a first-class passenger born into a prominent Chicago family. Isham later moved to Europe, and at the time of Titanic’s voyage, she lived in Paris. Her life was one of the city’s elite social circles—parties, dinners, and luxury.

She decided to visit her brother, a prominent lawyer, in the U.S. As a member of the European nobility, she chose to board the Titanic. Alongside her was her beloved companion, a Great Dane.

When the ship struck the iceberg on April 15th, Isham, as a first-class passenger and a woman, was offered a spot on a lifeboat. The rule at that time was “ladies and children first.” However, there was one condition: Isham could come, but her dog could not accompany her to the boat.

This must have been a heart-wrenching decision. Isham chose to stay with her dog. She returned to the ship. This decision cost her her life. She died that night.

Her body was reportedly found days later in the wreck of the ship. She was still holding onto her beloved Great Dane.

This is a poignant image of the depth of her love for her dog. And it’s something many listeners of this podcast will understand.

Tragic moments like this remain a testament to the powerful bond between humans and their animals, even in the face of disaster.

Thank you for listening to The Dog Studio. I am Radek Blažo. For more information about us, visit dogstudio.sk.

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