The submarine that set out to visit the wreck of the Titanic has been missing since Monday. On board: an American, a Frenchman, a Briton and two British-Pakistanis. But also Stockton Rush, the pilot. Untraceable, the search is intensifying as oxygen supplies could run out this Thursday. But as hopes of finding survivors dwindle, a sad coincidence has just been reported by The New York Times.

 

Indeed, Wendy Rush, wife of Stockton Rush, the pilot of the missing submarine, is related to passengers on the Titanic: she is the descendant of a couple of passengers who were present at the time of the sinking. Their names were Isidor, wealthy co-owner of Macy’s clothing and cosmetics stores, and Ida Strauss.

  

Both died heroically in the shipwreck: according to witnesses at the time, Isidor refused to board a lifeboat, as women and children had not been able to board before him. His wife chose to stay by his side and die, together. The story was adapted into James Cameron’s film Titanic.

  

Isidor refused to board a lifeboat while women and children remained unrescued, and his wife Ida chose to stay by his side. A story immortalized in James Cameron’s film Titanic.