Illustration of the Titanic

Illustration by Mark Oliver

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Inside the Titanic

The story of the Titanic began years before its one and only voyage. Construction of the massive ocean liner had started in 1909. Over the course of more than two years, thousands of men worked on the ship. Many worked six days a week, from early morning until late evening. 

Building the biggest ship in the world was dangerous work. Eight men died, and more than 200 were injured. In the end, they transformed a giant steel hull into a floating palace.  

With the most advanced safety features at the time, the Titanic was thought to be unsinkable. Sadly, that was not the case. On April 14, 1912, as an iceberg scraped the side of the Titanic, some of the ship’s rivets popped out. Water began pouring into the ship. Before long, it was destroyed. 

Take a look inside the Titanic to find out more about what happened on the night it sank.

A Final Call for Help

In the Marconi room, radio operators sent and received messages using a machine called a telegraph. At about 10:55 p.m. on April 14, crew member Jack Phillips (below) received a warning about icebergs nearby. He was so busy that he ignored it. When the ship hit an iceberg, Phillips quickly sent out messages asking for help. Thanks to him, a ship called the Carpathia rescued hundreds of survivors. Phillips did not make it.

Maurice Savage/Alamy Stock Photo (message); Universal Images Group/Getty Images (Phillips)

Jack Phillips (left); A telegram asking for help sent from the Titanic

On the Lookout

The ship’s lookouts stood high above the deck on a platform called the crow’s nest. At around 11:40 p.m., the lookouts spotted an iceberg. They rang a bell and telephoned to warn the captain and crew. But it was too late—the Titanic was too close to the iceberg to avoid it.

A Frantic Escape

At first, when the Titanic hit the iceberg, most ­passengers had no idea how much danger they were in. Once it was clear that the ship might sink, people scrambled to get into lifeboats. 

Frightened passengers and crew soon realized that not everyone would be saved. There were enough lifeboats for about 1,170 people, far fewer people than were on board. Many of the boats were launched before they were full. Only about 700 people made it into lifeboats.

Carl Simon/United Archives/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The ocean temperature was 28 degrees Fahrenheit, about as cold as an ice cube. It was cold enough to kill someone in 15 minutes.

First-Class Cabins: Key to Survival

Passengers on the Titanic were separated into three classes: first, second, and third. First-class guests had the fanciest rooms (below). They also had the best chance of surviving. First-class cabins were located near the top of the ship, close to the lifeboats. There were no lifeboats near the third-class cabins. Third-class passengers had to find their way through a maze of staircases to the top of the ship. 

Godong/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

First-class passengers: 322

  • 201 survived
  • 121 died

Second-class passengers: 277

  • 115 survived
  • 162 died

Third-class passengers: 709

  • 176 survived
  • 533 died
  1. Based on the article, describe one decision or action that likely contributed to the tragedy.
  2. Why didn’t passengers get in the Titanic’s lifeboats right away?
  3. Which class of passengers suffered the greatest loss of life in the disaster? Why?
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