Part 6/8:
As the evening of April 14 unfolded, many third-class passengers were likely enjoying their routines, perhaps unaware of the impending tragedy. The ship’s initial impact with the iceberg sent ripples through the passenger compartments, causing confusion and fear. Eyewitness accounts reveal the chaos that ensued, with crew members struggling to enforce order and direction as lifeboats began loading.
Tragically, a significant portion of third-class passengers did not survive the disaster, with approximately 536 lives lost—the highest percentage of any class aboard the Titanic. Many passengers, like Gershon Cohen and Daniel Buckley, recount harrowing accounts of survival, demonstrating the instinctual drive to seek safety amid the chaos.