Andrew Henderson

Andrew Henderson of "Whitehall" near Elkton, Cecil County, MD. They removed to Baltimore.

also noted to be from Frenchtown

He and Miss Susan Ward had dinner at Mount Harmon with Sidney George Fisher and Mr. Charles Tilghman on August 30, 1818.

Andrew F. Henderson was the co-founder with Captain Edward Trippe of the Union Line which in 1813 started the first steamboat service between Baltimore and Frenchtown.

The Medora of the Old Bay Line was making her trial trip on April 14, 1842, when her boiler exploded. Her forward deck, on which Andrew F. Henderson, president of the company, other officials of the firm and invited guests were gathered, was blown 40 feet in the air. Twenty-six persons were killed and 38 injured. It was the worst disaster in Chesapeake Bay steamboating history.

DEATH: Baltimore County, Maryland - Newspaper Abstracts

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Baltimore American & Commercial Daily Advertiser

Baltimore, Maryland

Friday, April 15, 1842

Published every morning at No. 2 South Gay street, by Dobbin, Murphy & Bose

AWFUL STEAMBOAT EXPLOSION!

FEARFUL DESTRUCTION OF LIVES

   It is our melancholy duty to record the most fearful and fatal Steamboat explosion which has ever taken place on the waters of the Chesapeake. The new and splendid steamboat MEDORA, built for the line between this city and Norfolk, was yesterday rendered a wreck by the explosion of her steam-boiler, attended by a fearful destruction of human life.

   The Medora was just completed, and preparatory to being turned out from the hands of the machinists, a number of persons were invited to join her on an experimental trial. The day being pleasant, it is supposed that probably one hundred or more, were on board, including some of the Directors of the Steam Boat Company and their friends, and a number of the hands engaged in finishing the vessel, putting in the machinery, &c,and otherwise connected with the construction or sailing of the boat.

   Soon after three o'clock, pm. the boat was about to start from the wharf of the engine builder, Mr. John WATCHMAN, on the south side of the basin, on the proposed trip. A gentleman who was on board informs us that the engine had only made the second revolution, in order to back the Medora from the wharf, when the boiler exploded with a loud noise,carrying upwards a considerable portion of the upper deck and those upon it, and blowing the smoke stacks high into the air. The main force of the explosion was almost exclusively towards the head of the boat, and the portions of the boat around the boiler were torn to pieces. The boiler itself, an immense one of iron, was thrown crosswise on the deck.

   The boat was instantly enveloped in a cloud of scalding steam, which was inhaled by some with fatal consequences, while others suffered externally in their persons from its effects. Our informant was in the after part of the boat, where the steam had no injurious effect. He states that several persons jumped overboard, and that one of them was drowned. The boat immediately settled in the water until her hull rested on the bottom of the river.

In the centre and forward part of the boat there was a fearful destruction of life and limb. Some of those on board were blown high into the air and fell on shore, in the water, and on the boats lying near by. Others were crushed with the splintered timbers; others scalded with the steam; while those below the decks, not having time to escape, were either suffocated by the steam or drowned when the boat sunk.

When we reached the scene of desolation we found a large number of persons, among whom were several physicians, busily engaged in endeavoring to assist the injured, and carrying away those who were dead or dying. So great was the confusion that prevailed, and so little was known as to the number and names of the persons on board, that no complete account could be obtained. We annex a list of all those who we reinjured or killed, as far as could learn them. There are no doubt some who were on board, whose loss will only be known by their not returning to their homes.