81. PROMENADE DECK
Like several other passenger ships and riverboats, the RMS Titanic had a promenade deck located right under its top deck, which was allocated for use of generally all passengers who wish to stroll along the walkway and enjoy the view outside.
For wealthy passengers who chose not to mingle with others, four “Parole Suites” were available at a premium price of over $4,000 in 1912, equivalent to almost $100,000 today. It may not sound good for money management, but those cabins had their own private promenade decks measuring 50-foot, for the exclusive use of guests lodged in the expensive suite.
82. STANDARD SINGLE BED CABIN
Titanic offered 39 private suites, 30 of which were situated on the Bridge Deck while the other 9 could be found at the Shelter Deck. Each suite had up to five different rooms including two bedrooms, two wardrobe rooms and a private toilet with bath facility. These suites were luxuriously decorated in French monarchy theme such as the periodic styles of Louis XVI, Louis XV, Georgian and Queen Anne.
Aside from the private suites, Titanic also held 350 standard cabins for first-class accommodation, which had single beds and were cheaper than the private suites. Financial advisors tend to advise affluent people to choose these rooms instead of the far more expensive option.
83. CRUISING ON THE WATER
For its maiden voyage, the “Millionaire’s Ship” carried about 6,000 tons of coal. Almost 690 tons were burned each day as crew members shoveled them into boilers for continuous steam powder production during day and night; not only for mere gas but also, for electricity use.
One theory that surfaced during the investigation of Titanic’s tragic fate pointed to the fire which began in one of the ship’s coal bunkers 10 days before its voyage. Some authors believed that the constant burning may have compromised the ship’s structural integrity and worsened the impact when an iceberg collided with it. But most experts disagreed with such theory, arguing that the coal bunker fire actually helped slow down its sinking.
84. THE MARCONI COMMUNICATIONS ROOM
Marconi company provided the communication facility of RMS Titanic and a Marconi room was placed to serve as the operator’s cabin and to contain the main equipment and emergency transmitter to bridge communication via distress signals. It was noted that the SOS codes sent helped save several passengers as nearby ships came to rescue them.
As part of the investments, two Marconi employees were onboard to operate the facility during its first voyage. These were Junior Wireless Operator Harold Bride and Senior Wireless Operator Jack Phillips. Bride survived the tragedy, but Phillips was not as lucky and died due to exposure.
85. LOWERING THE LIFEBOATS
The Titanic carried 20 lifeboats which could seat 1,178 people. But despite being more than Bureau of Trade’s mandate that a ship must provide lifeboats for 1.060 people, it still was not enough to account for all the 2,208 passengers on board the Titanic.
Incidentally, due to lack of proper training, the lifeboats left with only a little more than half its capacity, further increasing the degree of fatalities. Boat 6 left with only twenty-eight people against its full capacity of 65. Among its passengers were Robert Hichens, who was put in charge of the boat, Frederick Fleet, the lookout, Margaret Brown and Ruth DeWitt Bukater, who immediately jumped on board the lifeboat.
86. SURVIVORS ON CARPATHIA
Credit goes to Cunard Line’s transatlantic passenger steamship named RMS Carpathia, which was very instrumental in saving most of Titanic’s survivors. Its commander, Captain Rostron, immediately rose up from bed upon receiving a report from wireless operator Harold Cottam that Titanic was in distress. After a very brief moment of disbelief at what seemed impossible, the thoughtful captain engaged his whole team, including those off-duty, to rescue the passengers of Titanic as fast as they could.
Carpathia reached Titanic’s position at 4 am and survivors got onboard from 4:10 am until 8:30 am. Many years later, the deeply religious captain answered reporters’ inquiries about his heroism saying, “A hand other than mine was on the wheel that night.”
87. PASSENGERS FLEEING ON LIFEBOATS
Women and children were given first priority in boarding the lifeboats. But because the scheduled training for crew members was canceled, the lifeboats were filled way below capacity as the crew got worried that the boats might not be able to support its full capacity. Most were launched with only half its allowed headcount, and one even sailed away with only 12 passengers.
Based on the circumstances surrounding the sinking of RMS Titanic, Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) had been modified and part of the improvements was requiring every seacraft to have sufficient lifeboat to rescue all passengers and crew members. Any human rights lawyer would advocate such a provision.
88. PASSENGERS BEING RESCUED BY CARPATHIA
Carpathia, the passenger ship built by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson in Newcastle England, had been transporting passengers since 1903. Coincidentally, it was also out on voyage when the ship’s wireless operator received distress signals from the Titanic and reported it to their commander, Captain Arthur H. Rostron, who immediately instructed his team to launch a rescue.
Like the thoroughness of a moving company but limited in size and resources, Carpathia was able to rescue 700 people out of the 2,500 passengers of Titanic. Its crew members and officers did everything to make the rescued individuals feel comfortable but found it impossible to console women who lost their loved ones.
89. SPARSELY FILLED LIFEBOAT
Investigators of the tragic cruise surmised that, had the lifeboats been sufficiently filled and proper training been given to its crew members, survivors of the Titanic would have doubled in number. Photos of the lifeboats floating on sea for almost two hours while waiting to be rescued showed that there were plenty of flooring space to accommodate additional passengers.
The freezing temperature outside was endured by those survivors before they were transferred to the Carpathia, where they were given blankets and hot drinks to warm them up until the rescue ship reached New York and brought the passengers to safety.
90. LIFEBOATS AT PIER 54
The Titanic was expected to dock in New York, at the White Star Line-owned Pier 59, which was the planned final destination of the star-crossed ship’s maiden voyage. After the tragedy, the surviving passengers indeed stopped by Pier 59 but only to drop off Titanic’s lifeboats. It then continued to travel southwards and docked at Pier 54, which was a Cunard Line Pier, a few blocks away from its supposed disembarkation point.
As the Carpathia docked at Cunard’s Pier 54, a large crowd was waiting for their arrival and were anticipating news about their family or loved ones who joined the cruise, as well as insurance companies checking on their policyholders.