I don't think they did. The odd gate might have been locked, but I heard most of the steerage passengers died because they were locked deep down in the ship, and it was harder to navigate their way to the top. Also, a lot of those in third class were immigrants, and didn't speak English, which added to the confusion.
Titanic's third class passengers were not intentionally locked below. That is a myth created over the years by newspapers and film makers. No orders were ever given to lock them up so they would drown. The "gates" shown in movies in reality did not exist in passenger areas on Titanic. Third class passengers had easy access to the boat deck via the second class stairs. The second class stairwell was opened up for the third class fairly early after the collision. Yes, the crew gave them direct access to the boat deck. Some crew members actually escorted groups of third class passengers to the boat deck. Also, third class had there own open deck space on the forward and aft well decks, and on the poop deck at the stern. Basically they were allowed to go outside anytime they wanted, so they were by no means lokced down below to drown. Gates locking passengers inside would have been against Board of Trade regulations, and therfore, if the ship did have these gates, she would not have been permitted by law to carry passengers. Think outside the movies and into reality for a second here folks. As for so many of them dying, it was more likely caused by a lack of communication. Most did not know how to get to the boat deck and were not given any instructions on where to go or what to do. Also, it's safe to say that a great deal of them did not think the ship was in any danger until it was too late. First and second class had constant access to the boat deck and knew exactly were to go in an emergency. Very few third class passengers were informed of where to go and were pretty much lost in the commotion. Like I said, lack of communication. As for the crew, they were far too busy dealing with a sinking Titanic to waste there time securing passengers so that they would drown.
I think they did. Most of the third class and staff died. First class and Second made it out, mostly. Third class was treated like street rats, and the upperclass thought that they diserved to live more than them because they had money.
yup they did, it was ridiculous becasue all of the stuff about "white star line property" ect really happened. it was all a matter of class. the stuards and officers didn't see it as locking them up, but they saw it as a matter of class. many stuards were simply following orders, some did unbolt stairwell gates near the end, but the vast majority as well as officers, didn't believe that she would actually sink, until right up until the end and so tryed to fill the boats with the first class, making the loss of life far more vast in 3rd class, for example only 1 child died over the whole of 1st and 2nd class (2 years old helen lorraine Allison)
they may or may not have.
im not sure.
but that isnt essential to why so many died.
they hardly had half of the amount of life boats on the ship that they were supposed and most of the lifeboats did not get completely filled.
they were made to hold like 72 or some number like that and some left with as few as 12.
also, once they got into that freezing water if you hadnt gotten on a lifeboat, there wasnt much to do to keep warm.
you were going into the water NO MATTER WHAT.
you could not elude that icy ocean. some grabbed pieces of the ship and floated on that but still the air was extremely cold.
hypothermia
drowning
they did lock up third class but not so they couldn't get to the lifeboats. they did this so diseases from third class could not spread to the other people who did survive.
Yes the locked passengers below. The gates were usually locked. I was on a British ship as a child in mid 50's and they had gates locked to prevent passengers from getting up to 1st class. We were 2nd class.
