1. The ship’s canine hero
The Fateful Night: As the Titanic met its catastrophic fate on that chilling April night in 1912, many stories emerged from the tragic event. Among them was the tale of the ship’s first officer, Lieutenant William Murdoch. Murdoch, a seasoned mariner, was overseeing the ship’s course when the fateful iceberg appeared. But another heartwarming tale intertwined with Murdoch’s story was that of his loyal Newfoundland dog, Rigel.
It is said that after Murdoch perished, Rigel, with remarkable stamina and bravery, swam alongside lifeboat number four for an astounding three hours in the frigid North Atlantic waters. The narrative takes a dramatic turn when the rescue ship, Carpathia, nearly missed seeing the lifeboat. If not for Rigel’s persistent and powerful barks, the people in that lifeboat might have faced an even graver peril.