The Goldenbergs

Two of the people who survived the sinking of the Titanic were Samuel and Edwiga Goldenberg. Lovers of the history of the French Bulldog know what an important role the Goldenbergs played in the development of the breed both in Europe and the USA.
They had “the eye” to find in a puppy its possible virtues. There affix “Nellcote” produced numerous good dogs. When they went to France in 1904, before moving permanently to this side of the Atlantic, they found a puppy called Nellcote Gamin. This pup would become the father of the breed in the USA, and is also to be found in English pedigrees through American imports between the years 1913 and 1916. Hunk’s Bequest was a son of Nellcote Gamin. Also such affixes as Silpho have in their history this famous Frenchy.
The Goldenbergs moved from Riverdale-on-Hudson, New York to Nice, France in 1908 and contiinued their success with the French Bulldog and the English Toy Spaniel. They travelled to Cherbourg to board the Titanic, as they had an appointment to attend the Annual Show of the French Bulldog Club in the USA where Samuel would be one of the three judges charged with officiating at the Special.
When the Titanic struck the iceberg they were among the first on deck, probably because, being such experienced travellers, they quickly realised the extent of the danger. According to reports in “New York Herald” and “Kennel Gazette”, Samuel, with the help of Mr. Bruce Ismay, helped his wife aboard a lifeboat. Edwiga begged Samuel to join her in the boat, but he reminded her of the order “Women and children first!”. As the lifeboat was being lowered over the side, only half full, Edwiga implored her husband “ For God’s sake, say goodbye to me!” Realising that there were no women or children in the immediate vicinity, Ismay called to one of the officers. Together they took hold of Samuel and physically threw him overboard. from where he was able to swim to the lifeboat.
The “Carpathia” rescued them and they arrived in New York on April 18th just one day before the show, time enough to change clothes and attend the Waldorf Astoria, where the Annual show was scheduled for the 20th. The winner was Gamin’s Riquet. Nothing would have stoppped Samuel doing his duty as a judge. Both Samuel and Edwiga were judges of the breed in France and England.
Nellcote Polo and Nellcote Miss Columbia were two of their famous dogs in France. Polo was never beaten and Miss Columbia, a bitch imported for the USA and bred by the Noswal affix, soon got her Ch. ticket. Compiled and adapted from breed archives by Pilar Hannan