Edgar Samuel Andrew

Who was Edgar Samuel Andrew?

Edgar Samuel Andrew was a 17 (seventeen) year-old English-Argentinian passenger who tragically perished aboard the RMS Titanic on its ill-fated maiden voyage in 1912. Born to English parents in Argentina, Andrew’s life was cut short as he embarked on a journey to attend his brother’s wedding in the United States.

Early Life and Family

Edgar Samuel Andrew was born on March 28, 1895, in “El Durazno” (San Ambrosio), located in the Province of Córdoba, Argentina. His parents, Samuel and Annie (Robson) Andrew, were originally from Whitby, Yorkshire, England, making Edgar a child of two cultures.

Education and Travel

Studies in England

In 1911, at the age of 16 (sixteen), Edgar embarked on a significant journey that would shape his educational path. He arrived in New York from Argentina on May 5, 1911, aboard the Vasari. This trip was not his final destination, however, as he was en route to Bournemouth, England, where he would pursue his studies.

A Fateful Change of Plans

A year after beginning his studies in England, Edgar received an invitation that would ultimately lead to his untimely demise. His brother Alfredo invited him to attend his wedding in the United States. The invitation came with an additional opportunity: a potential working position at his future sister-in-law’s company, Fisher & Norris Anvil Works, located in Trenton, New Jersey.

The Titanic Journey

How did Edgar end up on the Titanic?

Edgar’s original plan was to sail on the Oceanic, scheduled to depart on April 17, 1912. However, a coal strike forced a change in his travel arrangements, leading him to book passage on the Titanic instead.

Edgar’s Premonition

In a poignant letter dated April 8, 1912, Edgar wrote to his friend Josey Cowan, expressing an eerie foreshadowing of the tragedy to come:

“You figure Josey I had to leave on the 17th this (month) aboard the ‘Oceanic’, but due to the coal strike that steamer cannot depart, so I have to go one week earlier on board the ‘Titanic’. It really seems unbelievable that I have to leave a few days before your arrival, but there’s no help for it, I’ve got to go. You figure, Josey, I am boarding the greatest steamship in the world, but I don’t really feel proud of it at all, right now I wish the ‘Titanic’ were lying at the bottom of the ocean.”

Boarding the Titanic

On the morning of Wednesday, April 10, 1912, Edgar arrived in Southampton by train and boarded the Titanic as a second-class passenger. His ticket details were as follows:

• Ticket Number: 231945
• Price: £11 10s (11 pounds, 10 shillings)

Edgar’s Last Communications

The Barbershop Postcard

On the afternoon of April 10, while the Titanic was en route to Cherbourg, Edgar purchased a postcard from the ship’s barbershop. He sent this postcard to his brother Wilfred, who was back on the family farm in San Ambrosio, Argentina.

A Message from the Reading and Writing Room

Later that same day, Edgar penned another message, this time from the ship’s reading and writing room:

“From this colossal ship I’m pleased to greet you. I’ll be arriving in Ireland today, where I will spend a few hours. On its first trip I’m inaugurating this… (illegible).” - Edgardo

The Tragic End

Edgar Samuel Andrew, at just 17 (seventeen) years old, lost his life when the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912. His body, if recovered, was never identified. The postcard and letter he wrote have remained cherished possessions of his family, serving as poignant reminders of his final days.

A Century-Old Discovery

In a remarkable turn of events, nearly 90 years after the Titanic’s sinking, a piece of Edgar’s life was recovered from the ocean depths. In April 2001, RMS Titanic Inc., the salvor in possession of the Titanic wreck, made an astounding discovery. They found and restored a suitcase belonging to Edgar Andrew. Among its contents was a school book bearing his name, providing a tangible link to the young man’s truncated life and studies.

Edgar Samuel Andrew’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the many lives cut short by the Titanic disaster, each with their own unique tales of hope, ambition, and unfulfilled dreams.