Second Class Passengers

[Natoya]

This is where you will find information on the Second Class of the Titanic.

[Natoya]

(Note: This will be kind of messy at first, cause I'm just gathering information for Yami. This will be fixed up later.)

The Titanic - Second Class Passengers

Passengers travelling second class on the Titanic enjoyed a luxury that rivalled first class on other liners. Titanic was also the first ship to have an electric elevator for second class passengers.

A second class ticket cost about £13

The following passengers are the most well known second class travellers.

Lawrence Beesley:

Lawrence Beesley was a public school teacher travelling to America for a holiday. He survived the disaster in lifeboat 17 and was one of the first people to publish an account of the sinking and rescue.

Eva Hart:

Seven year old Eva Hart was travelling to America with her parents. Eva's mother had a premonition and refused to sleep at night during the voyage. Eva and her mother were saved in lifeboat 14. Eva never saw her father again.

Juozas Montvila and Thomas Byles:

These two men were Roman Catholic priests who conducted services for second class passengers. After the sinking they both helped other passengers to safety, heard confessions and prayed. Both died in the tragedy.

Charles Aldworth:

Charles Aldworth was first class passenger, William Carter's chauffeur. Carter's Renault 25 motor car was stored in the cargo hold. Charles Aldworth did not survive.

There were 285 second class passengers on board - 168 men, 93 women and 24 children

118 second class passengers survived the disaster - 14 men, 80 women and 24 children

It has often been said that traveling in second-class on Titanic was like traveling first-class on earlier ships. There is more truth to this than is commonly realized. The fabric patterns and furniture styles that were modern in the 1890s and 1900s were now out of date and quietly demoted for use in second-class public rooms and cabins.

These second-class cabins were placed on the saloon, upper, middle, and lower decks and were outfitted with two or four berths built into the walls and screened by curtains. It was not uncommon for strangers to book rooms together in order to secure the least costly ticket prices. Curtains, as shown in the photograph at left of a second-class cabin on the Olympic, afforded a measure of privacy in an otherwise very small space.

While first-class had the luxury of hot and cold running water, second-class still made do with the old fashioned washbasin, modified for steamship use. Because floor space was at a premium in the second-class cabins, the washbasin was affixed to the wall as part of a mahogany cabinet. When in use, the passenger folded down a pivoted ceramic basin exposing a spigot (00/0039). Pressing the lever drew a stream of water from a metal tank (94/0291) kept behind the mirror, which discharged into the basin for washing. The soap was kept in a dish (00/0110) placed nearby for convenience. When done, the passenger simply folded the basin back into the cabinet and a pour spout directed the wastewater into a canister hidden at floor level. Bedroom stewards were responsible for keeping the supply cistern full of wash water through a supply funnel (00/0128a), and for hauling away the waste. Hot water was brought by the steward in a pitcher and used sparingly.

Another distinction between first- and second-class was that the latter was never provided with private bathrooms. Public facilities were located adjacent to each block of cabins. Chamber pots (93/0096) were kept in each cabin, but these were primarily for seasickness rather than for their traditional on-shore use.

Franz Pulbaum was a passenger in this class. His baggage was recovered during Expedition 1993.

1. Smoke Room

After dinner, the gentlemen of the second class could retreat from the Dining Room to their Smoking Room.

This room was decorated in Louis XVI style and it had oak panelling with daido rails. Linoleum tiles were specially designed for the room and were unique to the ship.

2. Library

After dinner, travelling second class women would part company from their partners and often sought in the Library. This was the equivalent of the First Class Reading and Writing Room. The room was excellently appointed filled with mahogany furniture. A large book case was situated at the forward end opposite the bulkhead. Large windows had silk curtains hanging. The rich fabric of the Wilton carpet gave a snug feel to the room.

3. Second Class Dining Room

The Dining Room was 71 foot long and it could seat 2394 people at one sitting. The room had oak panels with pivoted sidelights which provided a great elegance dining room. There was a piano in the room to entertain diners. All the furniture was mahogany with crimson upholstery.

4. Second Class Accommodation

Second class accommodation was provided in either two or four berth rooms. A maximum of 550 passengers could be accommodated. The rooms were fitted in enamel white with mahogany furniture.

The Staterooms of the second class were very similar to the standard cabins of the First Class.

However when comparing the size of room, staterooms and galleys etc. it must be remembered that the Titanic and Olympic set entirely new standards of transatlantic travel. The second class or middle class would have been treated in exactly the same way as the first class passengers would have been on other contemperary shipping lines.