"A man who has a million dollars is almost as good as if he were wealthy"

XIV

The old ocean liners were literally floating cities. These cutaways not only illustrate that fact, they also very clearly illustrate the strict social hierarchy that existed in early 20th Century Amero-European society.

Titanic is the most well-known of the great steamers of her time and most available information about steamships is about Titanic. Despite her legendary status, size, and rich appointments, she was, in structure, layout, and function very typical of an ocean liner of her day.

In this partial cutaway of Titanic's forward rooms, we can see the Boat Deck where the lifeboats were kept and the funnels or stacks stood.

The top interior "A" or "Promenade" deck contained the Bridge or command center, but was otherwise strictly First Class space aft of the Grand Staircase.

"B" deck includes the most luxurious cabins aboard ship (hidden behind the arched windows); the open space visible is a private promenade deck. To obtain one of these exclusive "B" deck suites (of which there were only two) would cost $109,000 per occupant in today's money --- for a less than weeklong trip. Other First Class rooms were further aft on "B" deck, as were the First Class public rooms.

"C" deck was divided between the less expensive First Class cabins and the most expensive Second Class cabins. As a rule of thumb, the further aft one's cabin was the less expensive it was.

On "D" deck we can see the Second Class public rooms. Less expensive Second Class cabins were further aft.

In this cutaway, "E" deck is clearly the preserve of the Third Class or steerage passengers. Compared to most other ships, Titanic's Third Class accommodations were relatively luxurious.

"F" deck also has Third Class accommodations, cheaper than "E" deck's. On "F" deck, passengers shared space with luggage rooms and the space for the ship's stores.

"G", or the "Orlop Deck", contained the Royal Mail Post Office, the cargo holds, and the on-board telephone exchange for First Class.

A view of "E" , "F" and "G" decks, further aft, roughly amidships between the third and fourth funnels. (Although Titanic had four funnels or stacks, only three were for engine exhaust. The furthest one aft pulled vented air from outside down below decks.)

In this cutaway, the Second Class public rooms can be seen on "E" deck, while cheaper Second Class cabins are in this section of "F" deck.

This section of "G" deck reveals a partial view of the ship's galleys, the offices of the Master-At-Arms, crew accommodations, and the Third Class Dining Room.

"H" deck (never referred to as such) was called the "Tank Top" and held the Engineering subdecks, the coal bunkers, the furnaces (the front ends of the large cylinders) and the boilers (the back ends of the large cylinders).

Coal was brought from the bunkers by "Trimmers" and was then shoveled into the furnaces by "Firemen" . The burning of the coal heated the water in the boilers, and that in turn produced the steam to drive the engines that turned the ship's three propellers that moved the whole show through the water at around 25 miles an hour.

It was sweaty, filthy work, and the men who labored seven decks below John Jacob Astor while he ate caviar and squab and talked about how he ruled his world ("A man who has a million dollars is almost as good as if he were wealthy") were collectively called "The Black Gang" because they were covered in coal dust. They were mostly lower-class Britons from Southampton or Liverpool, though a few were from the numerous Colonies of the British Empire, which was at its peak just then. They were paid shillings and pence a day, and made only a few Pounds Sterling per trip.

When the Titanic sank, White Star charged the Black Gang's families for their company overalls. Very few of The Black Gang survived. Most of them stayed below to keep powering the lights and the wireless. White Star also charged the musicians' families for their uniforms. The musicians on the Titanic were and are considered heroes. They played literally until the ship sank beneath them, trying to quell panic.