Gates and Half-Empty Boats

Third-class cabins were buried deep in the hull, with no direct route up to the boat deck. The few barriers between decks were waist-high gates built to satisfy US immigration rules, not floor-to-ceiling locks meant to trap anyone — and stewards reported many were simply left open. The real obstacles were the maze-like layout, the language barrier, and the near-total absence of crew to guide people up. Many third-class passengers didn't even know the ship was sinking until water was already flooding their cabins. By the time they found their way to the boat deck, most lifeboats were gone — many of them launched half empty.

At $4,350 — equivalent to over $100,000 today — the most expensive parlor suite on the Titanic cost more than a small house. At the opposite extreme, third-class immigrants paid roughly $36 for a berth and ate in shifts because the dining rooms were too small. The class divide persisted in the lifeboats: third-class survival rate was 25%; first-class was 62%.