Submitted and transcribed by Dee Gabler Deesroots@aol.com <A HREF="http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~chesapeake/">Dee's Chesapeake Genealogy</A> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~chesapeake/ Transcribed by Dee Gabler on June 4, 2002 Source: Microfilm held at Enoch Pratt Free Library, Cathedral Street, Baltimore, Maryland. ____________________ The Sun, Baltimore, Thursday morning, April 21, 1842 Page 2, columns 2 & 3 THE MEDORA As we intimated the other day, the question of the ownership of the Medora is one with which we have no desire to meddle. It is a question between private parties, and one of whose merits we can know nothing except on information; but as it may possibly be found to have been in some degree connected with the cause of the disaster, it may not be improper to state the substance in brief of some information received from a source which we consider accountable for it. It is alleged that the Company's agent, Mr. Moale, took possession of the boat some days before, gave all orders respecting her, and in the presence of a third person, on the day before the explosion, ordered Ramsay on board to take charge of the engine, telling him he would be assisted by Ferguson, who had been engaged to run two or three trips to Norfolk. It is also stated that it was by the agent's orders the boat was hauled out into the stream two or three hours before the time of starting; and being fastened to the wharf by two small lines, the engine could not be worked; and to this circumstance our informant in part attributes the sad accident that occurred. How far the inference may be correct, those skilled in such matters can better judge than we. The following is another affidavit touching the matter of the explosion, which however does not seem to throw much additional light on the subject. A.G. RAMSAY's AFFIDAVIT - City of Baltimore, Sct. - On the 19th day of April, 1842, before me the subscriber, one of the Justices of the Peace of the State of Maryland, in and for said city, personally appeared Albert G. Ramsay, and made oath on the Holy Evangely of Almighty God, that he had been engaged by the company before the keel was laid to take charge as engineer of the Medora when completed, and after his return from North Carolina, was frequently on board and considered the boilers and engines of the first order. Was on board the various trials; the engines worked very well; saw as high as twenty-two inches of steam on her at the trials; had no charge of the engine on the day of the explosion; was standing aft on board on the day of the explosion; was standing aft on board on the day of explosion; saw Mr. Moale coming across the basin; walked forward, and as he passed the steam guage discovered that it stood at nine inches; did not touch the stick to ascertain if there was more; on looking down into the fire room, discovered that they had commenced firing a-fresh, turned aft to go on upper deck. Just after turning, met Mr. A. F. Henderson, who was trying the guage cocks; after Mr. Henderson left, he took hold of the cock, and trying it himself, found that the three cocks had water, he immediately went alone on the upper deck and walked aft; supposed he was there eight or ten minutes when he saw Capt.. Sutton run on deck to back the boat out. Deponent went on the starboard side of the upper deck, and saw Alexander Watson, engineer of the Gosport, standing near the wheel house; went up to meet him and began a conversation; heard the backing bell ring; discovered gruise cock on the cylinder top leak a little; got on a block about a foot above the deck, to put his hand on it to stop the cock. The engine made about 1 1/2 evolution, when I heard the explosion, thinking that it was the steam pipe that had exploded; looking round after hearing the report, saw that the deck and every thing was gone, and went to stoop down without looking beneath, I fell to the bottom of the boat; having presence of mind enough, and knowing where I was, I got up and saw and caught hold of the excentric rod, and climbed to the upper deck, through where the connecting rod works. The first person I met was Henry Snyder, and three or four other acquaintances; he remained on deck two or three minutes, and was taken off by Mr. George Jury, in a small boat. Mr. Cragg and deponent had no conversation during the evening nor had any arrangement or understanding been made between Ferguson, Cragg or himself, as is reported in the papers of the 19th of April, nor does he know any thing about the changing of the weights on the lever, was therein stated, or of any additional weight having been added, as deponent had no more to do with the engine or boilers than he has stated in the first part of this deposition. Subscribed to before A. H. Pennington. ______________ A GOOD SUGGESTION AND A GOOD EXAMPLE - A correspondent, who signs himself "Howard," but who, it will be seen, is an instructor of youth, has sent us a communication addressed to this professional brethren, in which he suggests the propriety of making contributions in the several schools of the city, in aid of the necessitous widows and orphans who have been rendered destitute by the late mournful event on board of the Medora. His pupils (30 in number) have gathered as the fruits of their juvenile berrificance, the sum of $3.70. Now computing eight schools to each ward, (a very moderate calculation he thinks) and averaging each $3.70, we have the handsome sum of $414.40 towards alleviating the afflictions and providing for the wants of those who stand so much in need of pecuniary assistance. Besides the noble act itself conveys a beautiful moral to the youthful mind worth ten-fold the amount involved. It is to be hoped that this suggestion and example will not be lost on the teachers of the city. ______________ RELIEF OF THE SUFFERERS - The following is a list, as far as has come to our knowledge, of the committees appointed to the different wards to make collections for the benefit of those who are sufferers by the explosion of the boiler of the Medora. Second Ward - Capt. M. Kelly, David T. Montsarrat, Wm. Bennett, John Dutton, James Wheeden, D.W. Hudson, Thos Smyrk, Wm. Muirhead, Capt. Wm. Bennett, John E. Stansbury, Christopher Hergesheimer, Alfred Adams, Robert A. McAllister, Bernard McDonough, George F. Knotts, Geo. C. Baker, Wm. Thompson, Robert Wier, Jonas Friedenwald, Geroge Fasthe, Thomas Spencer. Third Ward - Stirling Thomas, Robert B. Verden, S.D. Legrand, Charles Ingram, James Whiteford, Jefferson Rusk, John M. Smith, Maybury Turner, H.F. Turner, Thos. Pindell, Mr Gracey, and Jos. Owens. Fourth Ward - J.J Corner, Capt. John Patrick, J. Loyd, John Kettlewell, F.W. Sweeny, Captain A. Mullin, A. Mathiot, David Wheeler, C.C. Egerton. Fifth Ward - Samuel Wilson, Hugh Bolton, Jos. Matthews, John Rogers, Dr. Snodgrass, James Lovegrove, John Isler, Thos. W. Saunders, Wm. Willey, Samuel Rankin, James T. Wilkinson, W.H.H. Turner, James Roach, Wm. Johnson, N. Brewer. Sixth Ward - James Harker, Peter Wilcox, C.A. Medinger, David Hubbard, Robert Howard, Darius Stansbury, Abraham Sliver, Thos. J. Dallam. Seventh Ward - Adam Ross, Simeon Alden, Jas. A. Henderson, James Ninde, John Wilson, Wm. H. Cole, jr., Andrew E. Warner, jr., Robert M. Welch. Ninth Ward - Britain Chase, Thomas H. Sewell, Wm. Heckrotte, Alex. Gould, jr., A.H. Pennington, John Fitzpatrick, Samuel Lucas, Daniel Schwarzauer, Capt. Wm. Patterson, Jos. Donovan, Asa Needham, Wm. Skinner, Capt. George Sumwalt, Washington Ennis, Wm. Addison. Twelfth Ward - C.D. Slingluff, Francis Burnes, G.W. Norris, Joshua Stinchcomb, N.L. Wood, Hy. Wigart, John W. Berry, Peter Mason, Horatio Miller, Wm. Webster, Michael Christopher, Jas. T. Watson, James Essender, ELijah Jean, Matthew Clark, John Lockard, James Peregoy, Jos Brown, Joshua Sumwalt, James Dixon, Matthew Turner, John P. Brotherton, William McCurley, Reuben Aler. Thirteenth Ward - Richard Marley, A. Duvall, Charles Hoffman, John Rickter, Nathan Warfield, W. A. Hack, Thos. Jerret, John Blackston, Valentine Dushane, Thomas Mules, David Taylor, and D.J. Ford. ______________ LOCAL MATTERS McAlear's Body Found - The body of the unfortunate Francis McAlear was, after a long and preserving search, found yesterday morning, about 9 o'clock. It was lying in the hulk of the Medora, partially concealed by a remnant of the boiler. To all appearances, the individual had been instantly killed by the explosion, the sufficient cause of death being apparent in a severe cut or fracture across the fore part of head, the only particular injury found upon his person. He is supposed to have been the only one missing, and accordingly, the efforts of the Calvert Beneficial Society were constantly and strenuously exerted amidst the inclemency of the weather, until crowned with success.