Rigel

The sinking of the Titanic is a tragedy that resulted in the

loss of people. There is a story that the loss would

have been even worse if not for the presence of a large

black Newfoundland. This Newf, Rigel, was supposed to have

accompanied his master, the first officer Murdoch, on board.

When the ship went down Rigel began a vain search for

his master. Knowing the excellence of Newfs at water rescue, if

the Newf had been there and there was any possibility of rescue,

I am sure that Rigel would have come through. When the SS Carpathian

came steaming directly at the fourth lifeboat, it was Rigel's barking

that alerted the Captain of the Carpathian to stop engines.

When Rigel was brought on board he began to bark for his

lost master until he was taken below.