6 People in 1912 were very aware The of their class, or position, in soci- ety. Class was determined by family background, wealth, and Classes of education, among other things. On the , the price of a 1912 passenger’s ticket said a lot about that person’s position in society.

r THE spared no expense to make its first-class rooms as opulent as possible. They came complete with thick carpets and overstuffed sofas and chairs. First-class pas- sengers had at their disposal a gymnasium, swimming pool, squash court, Turkish bath, and library.

FIRST-CLASS STAIRCASE

r THE PRESS CALLED (Portsmouth, NH:(Portsmouth, Heinemann). classroom use only. be reproduced for This page may the Titanic the “mil- lionaires’ special” because there were so many wealthy people traveling first-class. Their

combined fortunes Toolkit The Comprehension were around $500 JOHN JACOB ARCHIBALD BUTT ISIDOR AND IDA Scotland’s LUCY million ($9 billion ASTOR, New York Military advis- STRAUS He was a NOELLE MARTHA today). Among the millionaire, and er to Presi- founder of DYER-EDWARDS, rich and famous wife MADELEINE dent William Macy’s depart- THE COUNTESS OF people were the (He died; she Howard Taft ment store. ROTHES (She following: survived.) (He died.) (Both died.) survived.)

Builders put The Titanic com- The Titanic’s MARCH the finishing APRIL 2 pletes its sea trials, APRIL 10 maiden voyage touches on the Titanic. then sails from Belfast, Northern begins in and ends 1912 Ireland, to Southampton, . in Cherbourg, France. 6 © and Anne Goudvis from Stephanie Harvey 2005 by 24 Lesson 10: Titanic (5 of 12) From Kids Discover — Titanic, © 2005. All rights reserved. 7

l RUNNING A GIANT the passengers’ machine like the needs, and 289 Titanic required firemen, trimmers, more than nine and greasers to The TITANIC could carry up to 3,547 people, yet hundred workers. carry and shovel it carried only 16 lifeboats and 4 collapsible Among them were coal into the boil- boats with canvas sides—enough for just 1,178 nine officers to ers and lubricate people. At the time, British laws stated that the supervise the moving parts of TITANIC had to carry only 16 lifeboats. By carry- crew, 390 stew- the ship. Seated ing the 4 collapsible boats, the TITANIC was ards and stew- at far left is Cap- actually carrying more than the law required. ardesses to serve tain Smith.

“My pretty little cabin with its electric heater and pink cur- tains delighted d THE TITANIC’S rooms were sim- d MOST THIRD- spare. However, me. Its beauti- second-class ple but attractive, class, or steerage, the Titanic fea- ful lace quilt, rooms were as with mahogany passengers were tured private cab- and pink cush- ions, and pho- good as first-class beds and linoleum poor people leav- ins for two, four, tographs all rooms on other floors. Second- ing Europe for a or eight people, round, it all ships. Most sec- class passengers new life in the not 40, as was looked so ond-class passen- also had their own U.S. Their accom- the case with homey.” gers were profes- library and several modations on the many other trans- SURVIVOR LADY sionals—teachers, other beautifully lower decks were atlantic liners. LUCILLE DUFF doctors, and busi- decorated public GORDON, FIRST- nessmen. Their rooms (below). CLASS PASSENGER

“Everything was new. New! Our cabin was r STEERAGE just like a big passengers came (Portsmouth, NH:(Portsmouth, Heinemann). classroom use only. be reproduced for This page may hotel room, it from many differ- was so big. ent countries. The dining room was (In fact, the ship beautiful—the carried people linens, all the of 24 different FIRST-CLASS bright polished nationalities.) BEDROOM silver you can The Comprehension Toolkit The Comprehension During the early cashed in on it. imagine.” 1900s, immi- On the average, SURVIVOR RUTH gration to the U.S. a ticket on the BECKER, 12- exploded, and Titanic cost steer- -OLD YEAR shipping compa- age passengers GYMNASIUM SECOND-CLASS PASSENGER nies, like the two months’ pay. White Star Line,

The Titanic leaves Cherbourg on The APRIL 11 April 10 and arrives at Queens- APRIL 13 Titanic town (now called Cobh), Ireland, around noon on gets the first of seven ice the 11th to pick up the last of its passengers. warnings from other ships. Around 1:30 p.m., the Titanic departs for New York. 7 © and Anne Goudvis from Stephanie Harvey 2005 by From Kids Discover — Titanic, © 2005. All rights reserved. Lesson 10: Titanic (6 of 12) 25