Volume One - Into the Victorian Age - The official opening of the docks . . .

The William Cory unfortunately met with an accident on Tuesday evening, which caused her to be the means of doing considerable damage to the dock. She intended to leave the dock at high water on that evening, being fully loaded. About six o'clock she was moved from the dock into the basin, so as to be in readiness to go out. The tide by this time was not half in, consequently, there were several yards difference in depth between the water inside and outside the basin gate.

The captain had left the vessel for Cardiff, intending to return in time to take her out of the basin himself. But those in charge, instead of exerting merely the small degree of power required to move the steamer from the dock to the basin, put the engine in motion, so as to propel her with such force that she came violently in collision with the corner of the coping, which was carried away, and her bow glancing off, struck the top of the gate on the side nearest Cardiff, ripping off the platform bridge and tearing the plates of sheet iron which form the top of the gate. The damage was variously estimated at from £50 to £100.

As if this was not enough illuck for once, a seaman of the William Cory fell into the basin shortly after, being drunk, and after being rescued, seeing his cap in the water, was insane enough to jump in again after it, but was again got out safely." Cardiff Times [019] Friday, 16th June 1865.

	Read all 'bout it! - Frightful Quarry Accident at Cardiff - The Standard - 16th September 1865.

Following the opening of the docks, trade was a little slow for some as this report from the Cardiff Times [019] dated the 22nd June 1866 implies:

"The Steamer Bessie.- It may perhaps be remembered that this little steamer was sank some months ago. She has since been raised, and pays us regular visits. The docks have been opened twelve-months, and although a goodly number of ships have entered during that time, the tradespeople generally complain that they do find in spring, what they expected it would bring."