Mr Edgar Samuel Andrew was born in "El Durazno" (San Ambrosio), Province of Córdoba, Argentina, on 28 March 1895, the son of English parents, Samuel and Annie (Robson) Andrew, from Whitby, Yorkshire.
Courtesy of Enrique Dick, Patricia Andrew, Argentina
On 5 May 1911, Edgar arrived in New York from Argentina on board the Vasari to visit his brother Alfredo. He would then go on to study in Bournemouth, England. A year later he was invited by Alfredo to attend to his wedding in the USA and, eventually, stay for a working position in his fiancée's (Harriet White Fisher) company (Fisher & Norris Anvil Works, of Trenton, New Jersey). He was supposed to board the Oceanic but owing to a coal strike he was forced to change his ticket and go aboard the Titanic instead.
On April 8, 1912, Edgar wrote a moving letter to his friend Josey Cowan from Argentina:
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.
On the morning of Wednesday, 10 April 1912, Edgar arrived in Southampton by train and boarded the Titanic as a second-class passenger (ticket no. 231945, £11 10s). On the afternoon of that same day, while on their way to Cherbourg, Edgar bought a postcard in the barbershop, which was sent to his brother Wilfred on the farm in San Ambrosio. Later on, in the reading and writing room, he wrote:
"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.
Courtesy of Enrique Dick, Patricia Andrew, Argentina
Edgar Samuel died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified. Both, the post card and the letter have remained in the family.
In April 2001 RMS Titanic inc. salvors in possession of the Titanic wrecksite claimed to have found a suitcase belonging to Edgar Andrew and were restoring it's contents.
Notes
1. The passenger list and casualty lists give his age as 16, family sources indicated his age at the time as 17.
