A Canine Eulogy to the Titanic:
The ship’s log says that twelve dogs boarded The Titanic
Airedales
a King Charles Spaniel
Fox Terrier
Chow Chow
a Poodle
French Bulldog
Great Dane
a Newfoundland.
Two Pomeranians and a Pekingese were smuggled off in lifeboats concealed in blankets
a Scottish Deerhound deboarded moments before leaving port
the captain returning the dog to his young daughter.
One woman lived the rest of her life haunted by the memory of her Poodle clinging to her pajamas as she left her cabin. The rip of fabric. The panicked cry. The scritch of nails on the wood of the cabin door.
Another left a lifeboat after being told her Great Dane was too largeto be permitted to join her. Their bodies were found, days late. The woman frozen, still clutching her dog.
Who made the right choice?
Someone opened kennel doors freeing them to run the sinking decks.
As myth (and some newspapers) would believe
Rigel the Newfoundland companion of the First Officer who went down with the ship
Web footed
Rudder tail
Water resistant coat
dove into the icy waters and rescued
Lifeboat number 4 with his barking when fog hid it from the rescue ship. Two hours after the sinking he was guided aboard as well but (I believe) not before bringing the pack:
Airedales
Chow
Poodle
Dane
Fox terrier
French bulldog
King Charles Spaniel to sit safely
not lost
But at the fin of
Poseidon’s throne.
Every evening there had been a canine parade
above deck, passengers arranged their schedules to watch the promenade.
Had the ship not
sunk
there was scheduled to be a
dog show
The next day. Frivolity
for the entertainment of the passengers. No kennel club endorsement
Instead
Airedales
Chow
Poodle
Dane
fox terrier
French bulldog
King Charles Spaniel
Paraded the sandy floor
But the ocean was best in show
