What the three survivors had in common was that they were small enough to have gone unnoticed by people left behind by the lifeboats. Two were Pomeranians, and one was a Pekingese. Edgette writes: “One Pomeranian named “Lady,” bought by Miss Margaret Hays while in Paris, shared the cabin with and was wrapped in a blanket by Miss Hays when the order was given to evacuate.” The Pekinese, named “Sun Yat-Sen,” was the companion of Myna Harper and her husband Henry S. Harper, heir to the Harper & Row publishing firm.
The dogs that didn’t make it included a King Charles Spaniel, a few Airedales, a Fox Terrier, a French Bulldog and a Great Dane. The woman who owned the Great Dane refused to leave him behind and died with him. Some witnesses said she had her arms frozen around her dog in the water following the sinking, but no firm evidence has been found to support the claims. We, however, find it believable.
Legend has it that a Newfoundland named “Rigel” who belonged to the First Officer was able to withstand the freezing waters. As the rescue boat “Carpathia” approached, “Rigel” was able to bark loud enough enabling the saving ship’s captain to locate the lifeboats. Edgette says this is completely false. There is no record of William Murdoch ever having had a black Newfoundland on board, and no account from the survivors of the Titanic mentions Rigel.