The RMS Titanic was one of the most famous passenger liners in history. When it sank in 1912 after striking an iceberg on its maiden voyage, more than 1,500 people perished in one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters. While the ship is well known for its tragic demise, many people may not realize that the Titanic was carrying live cargo in addition to human passengers – specifically horses.
The Purpose of Horses on the Titanic
During the early 20th century, it was common for luxury passenger liners like the Titanic to transport horses across the Atlantic. These horses were not typically aboard for leisure or racing purposes. Rather, they served practical functions at the ships’ destinations.
On the Titanic, the horses were destined for New York City. There they would be used for transportation needs, pulling carriages, hauling freight, and providing personal conveyance before the widespread use of automobiles.
Beyond transportation, some of the horses may have been intended for agricultural work, entertainment venues, police use, or other utility purposes upon arrival in the United States.
How Many Horses Were Booked Passage on the Titanic?
According to maritime historians, the Titanic had capacity for around 50 horses in its stable facilities. The actual number of horses scheduled to travel on its doomed maiden voyage was somewhat lower, however. Most accounts indicate there were between 12 and 20 horses booked for passage from England to New York.
Breakdown of Horses by Class
The horses on board the Titanic were not lodged all in one class. Based on records and eyewitness accounts, the horses were divided as follows:
- 12 horses in first class accommodations
- 4 to 6 horses in second class accommodations
First class horses stayed in nicer stalls near the top, while second class horses resided below. The total number of horses ranges from 16 on the low end up to potentially 20 horses maximum.
Who Owned the Horses?
The horses belonged to various owners, but were overseen by two primary passengers:
- Col. John Jacob Astor IV – Astor was one of the richest passengers onboard the Titanic. He owned four prize racehorses that sailed in first class comfort.
- William Carter – Carter was a prominent polo enthusiast. He escorted the remaining horses, said to belong to other unnamed wealthy owners.
In addition, Olive Potter and her husband managed the horses during the voyage. They occupied cabins near the stables.
What Happened to the Horses When the Titanic Sank?
When the Titanic collided with the iceberg at 11:40 PM on April 14, 1912, the impact and subsequent flooding was felt throughout the ship. While the human passengers had access to lifeboats, there was no ability to evacuate the horses from the sinking liner.
Tragically, accounts indicate that all horses aboard the Titanic died when the ship foundered at 2:20 AM on April 15. They remained trapped in their first and second class stalls and presumably drowned.
The bodies of the deceased horses were never recovered. They remain at their watery grave site two and a half miles below the surface of the North Atlantic.
Regulations After the Disaster
In the wake of the Titanic tragedy, maritime safety measures were reformed and new regulations put in place. One such change was a ban on carrying horses and other live animals on passenger steamships.
The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, ratified in 1913, stipulated that only guard dogs could accompany passengers on ships. Transporting horses and livestock was prohibited.
This regulation stayed in effect for decades after. It was not until the 1960s that cruise lines again began allowing passengers to bring pets and other companion animals aboard ships.
Why Weren’t the Horses Saved?
Many questions linger as to why the horses of the Titanic were not released from their stalls as the ship sank. At least some of the horses may have been able to swim free of the wreckage had they been given the chance.
There are a few factors that likely contributed to the horses’ tragic fates:
- General chaos – There was much confusion and panic as the Titanic took on water.
- Not enough lifeboats –With most lifeboats launching well below full capacity, there was no place to put animals.
- No time – The ship sank rapidly, in less than 3 hours from hitting the iceberg.
- No standard procedures – Crew had no emergency plan for how to evacuate animals.
Sadly, it seems the horses were overlooked in the frenzy to get human passengers off the sinking liner. Their stalls essentially became their tombs that night.
The Legacy of the Titanic Horses
The unfortunate horses that perished in the Titanic disaster hold a unique place in its history and lore. They were unwitting victims of the tragedy, drowned by circumstance with no ability to escape the foundering ship.
Their presence and loss provide insights on the Edwardian era practice of shipping live animals on ocean liners. The Regulations that followed prohibited this practice, sparing other animals from meeting similar deadly fates at sea.
The mythic quality of the Titanic endures over a century later. While the human stories draw the most attention, remembering the horses also pays tribute to the full scope of lives lost on that fateful night.
Though they could not be saved, the souls of the Titanic horses live on as part of its legend.
Conclusion
The Titanic horses have captured public fascination along with the human tales of the disaster. Though their full stories can never be known, historians have pieced together a reasonable record of their fate. About a dozen horses were housed in first class, with a handful more in second class stables. Sadly, regulations and lack of preparedness prevented the horses from having any chance of escaping the sinking ship. The sinking of the Titanic marked the end of shipping live horses as cargo and passengers on liners, sparing other animals from similar tragedy in the future.