by Lorna Olitch
April 14/15, 2012 commemorated the 100 anniversary of the sinking of the famous ocean-liner RMS Titanic. It based on true historical events of what happened that fateful night. Many people lost their lives. It is written from Rigel's point of view.
April 14/15, 2012 commemorated the 100 anniversary of the sinking of the famous ocean-liner RMS Titanic. Here is a story I wrote to honour all the people and their beloved pet dogs who perished on that fateful night. This is a children's story about First Officer William Murdock's Newfoundland dog Rigel. The story is a legend based on a true historical event that happened right after the sinking of the doomed ship. It was said to be that this dog heroically saved a lifeboat of people who narrowly survived from being rammed by the rescue ship Carpathia in the deep darkened and frigid waters of the Atlantic. Rigel was reportedly hailed as a major factor in preserving a number of lives that night and preventing them from becoming themselves victims of the ill-fated Titanic. You may find that the style that this story is written in is a bit unusual. That's because I've written it from Rigel's point of view. He was as the legend tells us, a survivor of the tragedy himself and so lived to tell his tale as the narrator.
My 4-year-old nephew has taken an interest in Titanic, and he loves this book! It's very age-appropriate, which is a challenge considering the subject matter. We read it together a few times a week!
f you know (and of course) love, Newfoundland dogs----whether this story is true or not does not matter! What matters is the more people particularly Parents and Kids who hear or come into contact with Newfs---the better for the Parents and Kids---and the Newfs. Still used throughout the world for water rescue (especially in Canada) these incredibly hard-working and eager-to-please dogs (went with Lewis and Clark, Napoleon, and the fields of battle in many armed conflicts)(google Sgt Gander a WWII troop dog that saved its Canadian unit in Hong Kong)---do I believe Rigel saved lives by alerting the rescue ship coming for Titanic survivors----YES I DO! Story great for kids or adults....
