Timeline Article: The Cries of the 1500

When Titanic sank, she left 1500 people at the surface. Some were lifeless bodies, and some were struggling in the freezing water, waiting for a lifeboat to return and help them. It was the sound of the screams from these poor souls that would haunt the Titanic survivors forever.

"The agonizing cries of death from over a thousand throats, the wails and groans from the suffering, the shrieks of the terror-stricken, and the awful gasping for breath of those in the last throes of drowning, none of us will ever forget to our dying day."

First Class Passenger
Colonel Archibald Gracie


"The sounds of people drowning are something that I cannot describe to you, and neither can anyone else. It's the most dreadful sound and there is a terrible silence that follows it." 

Second Class Passenger
Eva Hart

Third class passenger, Frankie Goldsmith was nine years old when Titanic sank. He was traveling with his mother and father. His father perished in the sinking. After the disaster, Frankie and his mother settled in Detroit, where he grew up near Tiger Stadium. When the Tigers played, the roar of the crowds reminded him of the sound of the Titanic victims screaming as they struggled in the water. Consequently, Frankie never took his children to baseball games.

Even though the people in the nearby lifeboats could hear these horrible sounds, only one lifeboat will go back to help.

Timeline Article: Third Class Passengers Try To Reach the Lifeboats

Monday, April 15, 1912
1:48am


As Titanic takes on water, the Third class passengers struggle to find their way to the lifeboats. Racing the water through a maze of corridors and other obstacles deck by deck. To make things even more difficult, many of the Third class passengers didn't speak English, and therefore could not read the navigation signs posted throughout the ship.

"One myth that still persists to this day is that of locked gates extending from floor-to-ceiling between the Third class areas and the rest of the ship. It must be noted that there is no evidence, either documented or from the wreck, that any such barriers existed. Bostwick gates and other physical forms of separation were in place at various locations throughout the vessel, but their primary purpose was to clearly mark points through which Third class passengers could not pass, as many could not read. Gates were not intended, nor were they constructed, as a means of forcible confinement or physical restriction."

Excerpt from: Titanic: The Ship Magnificent Volume Two

By: Bruce Beveridge, Scott Andrews, Steve Hall, and Daniel Klistorner

Eventually, some of the Third class passengers make it up to the boat deck using the First class staircase or the Second class staircase, but only to find that just 6 out of the 20 lifeboats are all that remain.

Timeline Article: Third Class Passengers Panic

Monday, April 15, 1912
1:15am

Still waiting deep down in the heart of Titanic are the Third class passengers. To these passengers, the fact that Titanic is sinking is obvious and they begin to panic...

Video Provided By: James Cameron's Titanic Explorer 

"One myth that still persists to this day is that of locked gates extending from floor-to-ceiling between the Third class areas and the rest of the ship. It must be noted that there is no evidence, either documented or from the wreck, that any such barriers existed. Bostwick gates and other physical forms of separation were in place at various locations throughout the vessel, but their primary purpose was to clearly mark points through which Third class passengers could not pass, as many could not read. Gates were not intended, nor were they constructed, as a means of forcible confinement or physical restriction."

Excerpt from: Titanic: The Ship Magnificent Volume Two

By: Bruce Beveridge, Scott Andrews, Steve Hall, and Daniel Klistorner

Timeline Article: Titanic Floods Rapidly As Third Class Passengers Prepare to Evacuate

Monday, April 15, 1912
12:20am

As Titanic takes on water, the damage spreads rapidly. A bulkhead collapses near the bow on E deck spilling water into Third class cabins and into the crew quarters.

Following their stewards orders, Third class passengers prepare for evacuation. Much to their disbelief, they find that they have to wait to reach the boat deck.

"One myth that still persists to this day is that of locked gates extending from floor-to-ceiling between the Third class areas and the rest of the ship. It must be noted that there is no evidence, either documented or from the wreck, that any such barriers existed. Bostwick gates and other physical forms of separation were in place at various locations throughout the vessel, but their primary purpose was to clearly mark points through which Third class passengers could not pass, as many could not read. Gates were not intended, nor were they constructed, as a means of forcible confinement or physical restriction."

Excerpt from: Titanic: The Ship Magnificent Volume Two
By: Bruce Beveridge, Scott Andrews, Steve Hall, and Daniel Klistorner

Timeline Article: The Third Class Party

As the wealthy passengers enjoy their Sunday dinner, 

the Third Class General Room is a different story...

Video Provided By: James Cameron's Titanic Explorer

Timeline Article: The Third Class General Room

The Third Class General Room was the main public area for the third class passengers. There were other gathering areas, but this room was where they planned most of their public events during the voyage. The General Room was located on the starboard side in the stern section of the ship. It was about 36ft x 35ft with painted enamel white paneling on the walls. There were teak wood benches and other furniture around the perimeter of the room, and 2 long rows of benches that spanned the length in the center. This room would have been busy with many languages and nationalities. Within these walls the uncertain world becomes a smaller and friendlier place. No matter where they come from, the third class men, women, and children are united in their journey to America.

Timeline Article: Titanic Leaves Queenstown for America

Thursday, April 11, 1912
1:30pm 

Titanic raises anchor for the last time and makes for open sea. The ship leaves Queenstown with over 700 emigrants in Third Class, most of which are Irish families seeking a better life in America.

Timeline Article: Titanic Arrives at Cherbourg, France

Wednesday, April 10, 1912
Sunset
After leaving Southampton, and traveling 77 miles to the south across the English Channel, Titanic arrives at Cherbourg, France. Titanic was so large that she had to ride at anchor in the deep water because the docks were too shallow.

So the White Star Line ordered 2 tenders to be designed and built by Harland and Wolff to serve the Olympic Class ships. These tenders were named, Nomadic and Traffic. They were assigned to ferry passengers, luggage, and mail bags from the Cherbourg docks to the much larger ships. Nomadic, served the First and Second Class passengers, while Traffic served the Third Class. 

Nomadic still exists today. She is the only surviving White Star vessel.

By 8:30pm, Titanic departs Cherbourg. She rises anchor and turns to the north. Her lights sparkle against the night sky as she sails back into the English Channel. Her next stop is Queenstown, Ireland.

Still shot from the 1997 movie "Titanic".
Nomadic is shown along side Titanic.

Map showing Titanic's route from
Southampton, England to Cherbourg, France.

Featured Article: Passengers Explore Their Floating Palace

A la Carte Restaurant

The near collision with the SS New York was an exciting send off from Southampton, but many of the passengers are too busy with their first lunch to watch the maneuvers outside. On a ship, meals are the perfect social event. Most First class passengers knew each other due to the frequent crossings they had to make per year.

It was also a good time to make new friends as well. First and Second class passengers had many lounges, reception rooms, smoking rooms, and libraries to congregate. The Third class passengers had fewer options, but all the classes had access to a designated deck space. As Titanic leaves Southampton and begins to cross the English Channel, the passengers are eager to explore their new floating palace.

First Class Elevators