“BETTY” THE DOG SAVED THE LIVES OF 38 CREWMEN OF A TORPEDOED SHIP

“BETTY” THE DOG SAVED THE LIVES OF 38 CREWMEN OF A TORPEDOED SHIP

By Wilbur S. Forrest UPI Correspondent.
London July 20, 1915.

Thirty eight members of the crew of the British cargo steamer Caucasian, torpedoed off the British coast, owe their lives to a diminutive Pomeranian dog.
The story was told today at headquarters of the National Canine Defense League where Captain Robinson of the Caucasian was awarded a silver medal for saving the life of the dog and consequently the crew.
The Caucasian was torpedoed after a submarine had pursued the vessel for an hour. While the crew was swarming into the boats Captain Robinson handed “Betty” his wife’s ten month old Pomeranian dog to the second mate directing that the animal be placed in a life boat. The mate handed “Betty” to a member of the crew who accidently dropped her overboard.



When the captain entered the boat he saw the little dog swimming toward the submarine. He immediately jumped into the water and swam about a quarter of mile. When he reached the dog he placed it on his shoulder and was surprised to find that he was within a few yards of the submarine. The German officer of the craft, standing on the deck, addressed him in imperfect English.
“I had made up my mind to blow up your lifeboats because you did stop your ship, but I will not do so as a reward for your brave swim to save your little dog.”
Captain Robinson swam back to his lifeboat and the submarine proceeded on its search for other victims.
The crew were picked by the British steamer Inglemoor but immediately were forced to take again to their own boats as the submarine returned and torpedoed the Inglemoor.
Captain Robinson with his dog, and crew, were finally rescued by another steamer and landed in Benzance.

Correspondent Wilbur S. Forrest is one of the London staff of the UPI bureau, he was in charge of the Cleveland bureau of the United Press up to the time of his transfer, early in 1915, to the other side. Forrest was the first American Correspondent to reach Queenstown after the Lusitanian was torpedoed and his graphic story gave the American press a splendid picture of that disaster.