Deck restrictions 3rd class

[Mona Carol-Kaufman]

I know that some stuff about this subject has been covered before, but I don't think my question has been answered.

I'm wondering if those in the third class, before the ship took off, were allowed to wander onto the upper decks - specificually on the deck areas not the inside areas.

Thanks a lot for any help you can provide

 

[Matthew O'Brien]

Mona,

This is only speculation, but I would guess not. I understand that in order to prevent the spread of infectious disease, American law prohibted third class passenegers from entering the public areas of the upper two classes, including deck space. I imagine that because Titanic was bound for an American port, these restrictions would have been strictly enforced. White Star would probably not have allowed them entrance even if there were no laws to obey; I am sure that the first class passengers would not have appreciated their presence, nor would they pay large sums to mingle with a class of people they avoided on shore. Also, before being allowed entrance to the vessel, third class passengers would have to pass the health inspections, they would probably only have minimal time after this to board the ship and get settled in, not enough free time to tour the ship, even if they wanted to.

Again, this is only speculation and I will be happy to be proven wrong.

Hope this helps,

Matt

 

[Mette Hjermind McCall]

Matt & Mona,

Just a simple question from a Titanic novice; Were 3rd class passengers not allowed on any of the decks at all? (before the sinking of course).

Best, Mette McCall

 

[Erik Wood]

One might want to do some digging. I believe there are health codes that where in place at the time saying that the third class had to be restricted to certain areas of the ship. Perhaps Inger Sheil will pop in and give us some better idea.

 

[Michael H. Standart]

I think you'll find that they were allowed up on deck in areas set aside for third class...such as both well decks and the poop deck. Inside the ship, they were restricted to the accomadation and public rooms set aside for them.

 

[Camron Miller]

Third class passengers would never have been allowed in second and first class areas, including deck-space, due to the risk of infectious disease spreading. If third class passengers had come into contact with any first class passengers, then every first class passenger would have to be quarantined - a public relations disaster. Quarantining the rich and famous of the day would have been inconceivable. Therefore, steerage were restricted to their own decks. However, I understand that second class passengers were allowed to tour first class public rooms prior to sailing, to get a glimpse of the first class accomodation. This was a sort of compensation for those who would otherwise have been travelling first class on another, less expensive White Star ship, reduced in status through no fault if their own. Winnie Troutt mentions visiting the reading and writing room, and trying to convince her companion to "borrow" some of the linen stationary.

 

[Mette Hjermind McCall]

Michael,

Where on the ship were the poop and well decks located?
Best,
Mette.

 

[Michael H. Standart]

Take a look at any photo of the ship and you'll see them. The forward well deck are located at the base of the superstructure. The poop deck is that raised portion of the hull located all the way aft.

 

[George Pastarmatzis]

HI EVERYONE!!! IN THE 1997 FILM, WE SEE A LOT OF MICE RUNNING AWAY ALONG WITH JACK AND HIS FRIENDS. WAS THAT HISTORICALLY CORRECT? COULD MICE EASILY BE FOUND IN PASSENGERS' QUARTERS, EVEN IF IT IS ONLY THIRD CLASS STEERAGE? THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!

 

[George Pastarmatzis]

sorry for the all caps letters, my mistake!!!

 

[Michael H. Standart]

Rats actually, unless the mice were on steroids, and yes, there were rats on the Titanic, if some accounts about children chasing them are to be believed. It was a bit hard to keep them off in that day and age.

 

[Christina Bellamy]

Hello
I've read the following:

"This, incidentally, is why US immigration regulations insisted that the Third Class passengers were strictly segregated from Second and First during the voyage."

does anyone have any material that they can point me to online that I could use as a reference please?

Thanks
Tina

 

[Derek Jackson]

Hi Christina,

There's a bit about the immigration regulations regarding steerage passengers on Park Stephenson's Titanic website:

http://titanic.marconigraph.com/mgy_faqs.html

I would trust it 100% since he really knows his stuff!

 

[Augusto Félix Solari]

I have a question, when the ship sank,few third class passangers (specially women) managed to get into the first class area of the ship and the boat deck and escape in a lifeboat. They even shared boats with first class passangers and accomodations on board the Carpathia. As far as I am concerned no one got sick nor a quarentine took place. Wasn't this enough to retire such classist regulations?

 

[Michael H. Standart]

>>Wasn't this enough to retire such classist regulations?<<

Nope. "Classist" has little to do with it. The regulations had everything to do with the fact that a lot of immigrants were coming, and in a lot of instances, running from places where there were signifigent problems with health and sanitation. Some very serious diseases such as typhus, typhiod, cholorea, plague, and other "fun" bugs were a very real problem.

All else aside, second class were not permitted in the 1st class either and the first class was not permitted to go into the second or third class. The restrictions were both ways.

That didn't always stop the violations or the attempts, but they were there.