RMS Titanic’s maiden voyage and its unconsidered canine passengers
The year was 1912. It was a golden age for ocean passenger liners. The White Star Line had just launched its latest Olympic class super liner, RMS Titanic, the largest and most luxurious ship afloat at the time. There were an estimated 2,224 crew and passengers on board. Most passengers were travelling to America to start a new life.
Then on the 14th of April, 4 days into her maiden voyage, the unthinkable happened. Titanic struck an iceberg at 11.40pm and sank 2 hours and 40 mins later, in the early hours of the 15th April, with the loss of more than 1,500 human lives. This is the tragic story that the majority of people will know. But what many people may not be aware of, was that there were also canine passengers onboard.
There were in fact 12 dogs aboard RMS Titanic. Some of the richest people in society were aboard the ship, and they travelled with their canine companions. Titanic was equipped with excellent kennel facilities on F deck; the dogs were well cared for and took daily walks on deck. Some of the dogs lived with their owners in their staterooms and there was even a dog show scheduled for April 15th (which sadly never took place).
There were only 3 dogs that survived the sinking. All the surviving dogs were small dogs that were being cared for in their owner’s rooms. All kennelled dogs were sadly drowned, but not because they had drowned in their kennels. Either a crew member or passenger actually released all the dogs as the ship was sinking. There were reports by passengers who survived the sinking saying dogs were seen running up and down the length of the ship as she sank, adding to the sense of chaos as the ship went down.
The lucky survivors were Lady (or Bebe depending on different reports), a Pomeranian owned by Margaret Bechstein Hays, she was wrapped in a blanket and smuggled onto lifeboat 7. Sun Yat Sen, a Pekingese belonging to Myra and Henry Harper, a publishing magnate, escaped with his owners on life boat 3. After the sinking when asked about saving the dog Mr Harper is reported to have said, “There seemed to be lots of room, and nobody made an objection”.
The final survivor was another Pomeranian, owned by a New York clothing magnate Martin and Elizabeth Rothschild. Mrs Rothschild boarded lifeboat 6 and kept the dog hidden until rescued by the Carpathia. Initially the dog was refused entry onto the rescue vessel, but Mrs Rothschild insisted. These were the lucky ones. Sadly (at least) nine other dogs perished on the Titanic.
William Carter, a coal magnate from Philadelphia lost his two dogs; a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and an Airedale Terrier. Harry Anderson a New York Stock broker lost his Chow Chow. Helen Bishop lost her toy dog Frou Frou, she was forced to abandon him in her cabin, to much mutual distress. The little dog held onto her dress to prevent her leaving. After the sinking Mrs Bishop reported, “The loss of my little dog hurt me very much. I will never forget how he dragged on my clothes. He so wanted to accompany me”. John Jacob Astor lost his Airedale called Kitty in the disaster. And there are reports it was John Jacob Astor who actually released the dogs from kennels after Madeleine Astor sent him to get Kitty.
There was a brindle champion French bulldog named Gamin de Pycombe belonging to Robert Daniel, an affluent banker on board. Gamin was actually staying in his owner’s cabin. Another passenger, Edith Russell, heard him whimpering in his cabin after the ship had been hit. She said she patted and calmed him down and then put him to bed. She later reported that he was very obedient and looked at her ever so sweetly as she left the cabin. Had she known then how much danger they were both in, she would have taken him with her.
Another passenger later reported having seen a French bulldog swimming for his life in the freezing water, so some one must have let him out, however the poor little dog is presumed to have drowned. Allegedly, first officer William Murdoch had a Newfoundland named Rigel who, according to the New York Herald, withstood the freezing waters and barked to get the attention of the Carpathia crew which helped the rescuers locate the lifeboats and save many lives. (Though there are no records to support Rigel actually being on board at the time of the sinking).
The saddest story must belong to first class passenger Ann Isham, who brought her Great Dane aboard the Titanic in Cherbourg. She refused to leave the sinking ship without her beloved dog, who was too big to fit onto the lifeboats. She was one of only five first class female passengers to perish on the Titanic. Survivors later reported seeing her hugging her dog on deck as the ship went down.
Allegedly, her body was later found frozen in the water with her arms still wrapped around her beloved dog. A true testament to the bond between dogs and their owners.
James Dutfield BVSC MRCVS
Credit: thecheshiremagazine.com