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The Titanic offered her first-class passengers a fully equipped and staffed Gymnasium on the starboard side of the Boat Deck. In addition to the usual outfit of Indian clubs, rowing machines, and stationary bicycles, the Titanic had a full complement of electrical exercise equipment under the supervision of gym instructor T.W. McCawley, shown in the photograph from the Father Browne Collection at left above. Two mechanical horses (one rigged side saddle for ladies) simulated the motion of equestrian exercise. Advertisements for the Gymnasium on the Olympic showed passengers mounted on these exercise steeds dressed in full riding regalia. With their ride out of the way, the hearty could proceed to the undulating “camel,” a device geared to the strengthening of backs and the toning of abdominal muscles. After a workout like that, mechanical hammers were at the ready to massage out the muscle kinks.
It was in this room that Colonel Astor waited with his young and pregnant wife Madelaine for the launching of the lifeboat that would carry her to safety. Prevented from entering himself, he handed her his gloves as protection against the cold and stepped back to meet his fate.
No artifacts have been recovered from the gymnasium.
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