Steamboat Jenny Lind

Memorial to Jenny Lind disaster at Alviso Marina County Park

The steamboatJenny Lind was a ferry that exploded in San Francisco Bay on April 11, 1853 while on course to San Francisco from Alviso, California, killing many residents of Alviso and San Jose. The boiler exploded as the steamboat passed the Redwood City inlet (about 37°32′N122°11′W / 37.54°N 122.18°W / 37.54; -122.18 ), minutes after dinner was called for the passengers. ^[1] The worst of the casualties were among the women and children who were seated first at dinner. At least 31 people were killed. ^[2]

History

Built in San Francisco in 1850, ^[3] the Jenny Lind was named for Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind, made famous in the United States by PT Barnum. The destruction of the Jenny Lind was a major reason for building the San Francisco and San Jose Railroad. ^[4]

Victims of the Jenny Lind Explosion

• Thomas Godden, land owner in Santa Clara County and second husband of Maria Encarnacion Ortega de Sanchez
• Jacob David Hoppe, contributing founder of The Daily Alta California , signatory of the Constitution of California and first postmaster for San Jose ^[4]
• Thomas J. Kell (1829–1853), nephew of Bernard Murphy ^[5]
• Bernard Murphy (1818–1853), the son of Martin Murphy Sr., a pioneer of California and a Santa Clara County land owner ^{[4] [6] [5] [7]}
• Noah Ripley, prominent San Francisco resident ^{[4] [6]}
• Christopher A. Shelton, botanist who brought first beehive to San Jose.
• Thomas W. White, second mayor of the Pueblo of San Jose.

References

1. Britton-Warren, Claire (April 11, 2011). "The Tragedy of the Jenny Lind". KQED. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
2. Nolte, Carl (April 25, 2013). "Blog: The tragedy of the Jenny Lind steamboat". SFGate . Archived from the original on April 26, 2013.
3. Carlson, Eric. "Old Port of Alviso: Jenny Lind". SanJose.com. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
4. Nolte, Carl (April 12, 2013). "Jenny Lind ferry disaster commemoration". SFGate . Archived from the original on July 24, 2025. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
5. "Explosion of the Steamer Jenny Lind". The New Orleans Crescent. 1853-05-10. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-11-15– via Newspapers.com.
6. "Explosion of the Steamer Jenny Lind: Eighteen Lives Lost and Thirty Persons Badly Scalded". The Shasta Courier. April 16, 1853. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-11-07– via Newspapers.com.
7. Castro, Doris (July 27, 1968). "There Were These Two Irishmen, See..." The Record . p. 34, 57. Retrieved 2025-11-23 – via Newspapers.com.