Sailing on Saturday
Millions of travellers passed through Liverpool on their way to or from North
America. Until the 1950s, for most people, liners were the only way to cross
the 3,140 miles to New York. Some spent the night before sailing in the
city's hotels and boarding houses while many arrived on the boat trains
with only hours to spare.
Riverside Station & Royal Liver Building seen from liner at Liverpool landing stage
© University of Liverpool
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Passengers often called in to the Cunard Building at the Pier Head or White
Star's headquarters in James Street to make last minute arrangements,
change money and collect mail and telegrams. They could relax over coffee and a
newspaper in the first class lounge.
In the early 20th century emigrants had to pass a medical examination in the
doctor's office before being allowed to board the ship. If found to be
'unclean', they were given an antiseptic bath and a hair cut.
The basement of the Cunard Building housed the luggage stores. Passengers had to
forward heavy trunks, marked 'not wanted on voyage', a week in
advance. Once the liner was ready for loading, these items were stowed in the
hold.
Before joining their ship, passengers had to pass through the Customs Sheds to
have their travel documents checked. When a liner arrived from New York, the
sheds were at their busiest as people queued to have their luggage examined.
Many people had to save for years to buy their ticket. The price of a first
class ticket on the Queen Mary in 1936 could keep a family with three children
in food for over a year. Where passengers ate, slept and amused themselves
depended on which class of ticket they bought. Who you were and what you could
afford was displayed on your luggage.
On sailing day, the Landing Stage was a throng of passengers, well wishers, cab
drivers and porters. There were stacks of mail bags and mountains of luggage
'wanted on voyage'. Third class passengers boarded first and First
Class last. Inexperienced travellers queued for hours beside their gangway.
Last minute arrivals dashed towards their ship, as 'All ashore who are
going ashore' was announced.
Cargo
Most passenger liners carried some cargo especially lighter goods that were
valuable or wanted in a hurry. The latest fashions, films and books crossed the
Atlantic in both directions. Families on the move arranged for their furniture
and personal effects to travel in the hold.
Liverpool dockers loaded some surprising cargoes. They have included everything
from zoo animals to theatre sets, to gold and silver bars destined for banks
and governments. From the 1920s cars became a regular part of a liner’s
cargo and were hoisted on board by crane.
When the Titanic sank in 1912, White Star rushed over a copy of her cargo list
from Liverpool to New York on the Mauretania. It included:
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A case of toothpaste,
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34 cases of athletics goods
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8 cases of orchids
- 4 cases of straw hats
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1 case Edison gramophones
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856 rolls of linoleum
- 76 cases dragon's blood
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63 cases of champagne
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2 cases of tennis balls
- 3 cases of hair nets
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318 bags of potatoes
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1 case of raw feathers
- 3 cases of rabbit skins
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1 case of auto parts
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1 barrel of earth
- 75 cases of anchovies
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100 cases of shelled walnuts
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107 cases of mushrooms
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