What were some of the fundamental, or main, differences between crew members and their various jobs on the Titanic? Cite textual evidence to explain your inference.
One of the fundamental differences between crew members on the Titanic was their job positions and responsibilities. The ship's crew consisted of various roles, each with their specific duties.
According to the Titanic crew manifest, there were different job titles such as sailors, stewards, firemen, engineers, and deckhands. These job positions indicate the diverse tasks they were assigned on the ship. For example, sailors were responsible for the navigation of the ship and ensuring its safe journey. In contrast, stewards were in charge of attending to the needs of the passengers, serving meals, and maintaining cleanliness in the cabins.
Additionally, the numerous job roles also indicate varying levels of expertise and qualifications. The engineers, for instance, were highly skilled individuals responsible for operating and maintaining the ship's engines. This can be inferred from the testimony of Second Engineer John Henry Hesketh, who was questioned during the British Titanic Inquiry. He specifically mentioned his duty of overseeing the engines and ensuring their efficient functioning: "I am employed in connection with engine-room work; I am second engineer, and, as such, I have to do with the manipulation of the indicators and the engines."
Furthermore, the crew members' different job positions also suggest distinct working conditions and living arrangements. For instance, stewards were allocated separate quarters, while the firemen worked in the boiler rooms, subject to extreme heat and dangerous environments. This is evident in the testimony of Fireman James Johnson during the U.S. Senate Inquiry, where he described the challenging working conditions in the boiler rooms: "Well, it was very hot, it was like working in a caldron of boiling water."
In conclusion, the various job positions on the Titanic represented different roles, responsibilities, and working conditions for the crew members. From sailors navigating the ship to stewards attending to passenger needs and engineers maintaining the engines, each crew member had distinct duties based on their expertise and qualifications.