The latest thing about the Titanic intriguing me is the issue of class discrimination in loading the lifeboats. I've seen the film a few times, and up till yesterday I thought it was clear that more 3rd class children would have survived (53 died) if there hadn't been discrimination. But, when I read a detailed analysis on survival rates, that comes into question. Sex and age were the biggest factors in whether one survived; class played a much smaller role. In fact, many more 3rd class MEN than 3rd class children survived. I encourage you to see www.anesi.com/titanic.htm and give me your feedback.

-- Bob Gregorio (rgregori@pacbell.net), January 11, 1998

Answers

Bob:

The class discrimination aboard the Titanic was borne more out of mindset than out of established policy, but it was there nevertheless.

The casualty figures published in Lynch and Marschall's "Titanic: An Illustrated History" demonstrate the following:

CLASS/GENDER: TOTAL ABOARD LOST SAVED % SAVED

1ST CLASS MEN 173 119 54 31.2% 1ST CLASS WOMEN/CHILDREN 156 11 145 92.9% 2ND CLASS MEN 157 142 15 9.5% 2ND CLASS WOMEN/CHILDREN 128 24 104 81.3% 3RD CLASS MEN 486 417 69 14.2% 3RD CLASS WOMEN/CHILDREN 224 119 105 46.9% MALE CREW 876 682 194 22.1% FEMALE CREW 23 3 20 86.9%

(The figures published by Lynch and Marschall do not differentiate between women and children).

TOTALS BY CLASS TOTAL ABOARD LOST SAVED % SAVED

1ST CLASS 329 130 199 60.5% 2ND CLASS 285 165 119 41.7% 3RD CLASS 710 536 174 24.5% CREW 1079 685 214 20.1%

The class figures alone demonstrate that first class passengers had a higher survival rate than third class. In addition to the bare statistics, there are numerous stories of gates and barriers from third class being locked and guarded (those scenes in the film were ***NOT*** made up); of third class passengers having to climb up the cargo cranes to reach 2nd class space; of 2nd class passengers being told by crew, "your boats are on your own deck." Only two organized efforts to bring third class passengers (women and children) up to the boat deck have been documented in all the literature I am familiar with. The first effort occurred shortly before 1:00 AM (over an hour after the collision). Both were led by the same crewman, steward John Hart, who led a total of 55 third class women and children to the boats.

It is beyond dispute that a higher total percentage of women and children survived; the order was, "women and children first." As for the higher survival rate of third class men over third class children, this is easily explained--a number of male passengers jumped and swam to lifeboats as they were rowing away, something a child would be more reluctant to do. But the fact remains that a third class woman or child had to overcome a number of obstacles, and a one hour handicap, to reach a lifeboat.

-- Kip Henry (kip-henry@ouhsc.edu), January 11, 1998.

ARRGH!

I just went back and looked at the figures in my previous post, and the editor crunched them together. For the benefit of all interested, here they are again:

1ST CLASS MEN: TOTAL ABOARD: 173 LOST: 119 SAVED: 54 % SAVED: 31.2%

1ST CLASS WOMEN/CHILDREN TOTAL ABOARD: 156 LOST: 11 SAVED: 145 % SAVED: 92.9%

2ND CLASS MEN TOTAL ABOARD: 157 LOST: 142 SAVED: 15 % SAVED: 9.5%

2ND CLASS WOMEN/CHILDREN TOTAL ABOARD: 128 LOST: 24 SAVED: 104 % SAVED: 81.3%

3RD CLASS MEN TOTAL ABOARD: 486 LOST: 417 SAVED: 69 % SAVED: 14.2%

3RD CLASS WOMEN/CHILDREN TOTAL ABOARD: 224 LOST: 119 SAVED: 105 % SAVED: 46.9%

MALE CREW TOTAL ABORAD: 876 LOST: 682 SAVED: 194 % SAVED: 22.1%

FEMALE CREW TOTAL ABOARD: 23 LOST: 3 SAVED: 20 % SAVED: 86.9%

(The figures published by Lynch and Marschall do not differentiate between women and children).

TOTALS BY CLASS:

1ST CLASS TOTAL ABOARD: 329 LOST: 130 SAVED: 199 % SAVED: 60.5%

2ND CLASS TOTAL ABOARD: 285 LOST: 165 SAVED: 119 % SAVED: 41.7%

3RD CLASS

TOTAL ABOARD: 710 LOST: 536 SAVED: 174 % SAVED: 24.5%

CREW TOTAL ABOARD: 1079 LOST: 685 SAVED: 214 % SAVED: 20.1%

Sorry about the mess.

Kip

-- Kip Henry (kip-henry@ouhsc.edu), January 11, 1998.

In regards to discrimination, I believe I saw on the Harland and Wolff website that 3rd class passengers were not locked up. Yet, many of the movies portray this, and I have not read anything by a historian in regards to the truth or fiction of this matter. Anybody have any ideas?

-- Jeff (JTrayner@pacbell.net), January 14, 1998.

Note to Jeff Trayner:

Go read either of Walter Lord's books ("A Night to Remember" and "The Night Lives On") and you'll see several accounts of the steerage passengers being locked below decks.

-- Kip Henry (kip-henry@ouhsc.edu), January 15, 1998.

Class discrimination was and is the way of life in England. They still have a monarcy! It was accepted and expected by all on board (with the possible exception of Jack) that first class passengers were to be loaded first, then second class and steerage. Nobody questioned that process until it becme obvious the ship was sinking. It is hard for Americans to understand the ridigity and repression of a class society.

-- Linda Davis (Ashokan@ulster.net), January 20, 1998.