• September 1884 - Lundy Island - "Saturday - Sheltering in Lundy Roads - Venetienne as of Cardiff - South-west gale; thick hazy ; rough sea. - Sunday - Sheltered in Lundy Roads - Venetienne s.s., of Cardiff - Wind - S.W., strong ; hazy ; sea rough." Western Daily Press l [022] 29th September 1884.

So, was this steamer actually the same s.s. Venetienne built at Penarth?

• November 1885 - Foundering of a Cardiff Steamer - Safety of the Crew - "Intelligence was received in Cardiff on Saturday morning that the screw steamer Venetienne, Captain Gorvan, belonging to that port, had foundered at sea, and the crew were saved. It appears that the Venetienne was on a passage from Newport to St. Malo with a cargo of coal, when, about midnight on Wednesday last, the ship foundered in a somewhat mysterious manner, the captain and crew, who lost all their effects, having barely time to escape in one of the boats. A heavy sea swept over the vessel as they were getting the boat out, and one of the crew was severely injured. The shipwrecked men were for several hours exposed to the pitiless gale which blew so heavily on the Cornish coast that night. They tried to attract the attention of a passing steamer but were unsuccessful ; they were fortunate enough, however, to get within hail of a sailing vessel, which turned out to be the schooner Village Belle of Penzance, bound for Runcorn. The men, eight all told, were assisted on board. some of them, who turned out of their berths with scarcely any clothing on when their ship went down, were in a very exhausted state ; but, thanks to the kind attention of the captain and crew of the schooner, they soon revived. Liverpool was reached on Sunday, and the shipwrecked men were landed there. The Venetienne was a screw steamer of 153 tons net register, and was built at Penarth by the Penarth Shipbuilding Company in 1881. Messrs Hooper, Campbell, and Co., of Mount Stuart-square, Cardiff, are the registered owners. The injured seaman was taken to the Hospital and the remainder of the crew were taken in charge of the Shipwrecked Mariners' Society's local agents." Western Mail [064] 10th November 1885.

The Cardiff Times ran a very similar story but added - "She left Newport, Mon., on Tuesday last, and at half-past eleven the following night she was off Longships when she suddenly careered to one side, and it was at once apparent that she was sinking. The pumps had been sounded, but no water was detected in the vessel, and those on board were at a loss to understand the cause of the disaster. they, however, had to make every effort to get in a boat, as the steamer was going down quietly. Owning to the list, a heavy sea came over the vessel." Cardiff Times [019] 14th November 1885.

• December 1885 - Loss of a Cardiff Steamship - Board of Trade Inquiry at Cardiff - "A Board of Trade inquiry into the foundering of the steamship Venetienne, of Cardiff, was held at the Cardiff Town-hall on Tuesday. Mr. R. O. Jones, the stipendiary, presided, and he was assisted by Captains Wilson and Anderson as nautical assessors. Mr. Waldron appeared for the Board of Trade, and Mr. Vachell represented the manager and managing owners. From the evidence of the various witnesses it appeared that the vessel was built by the Penarth Slipway Company, at Penarth, in the year 1881, and her registered tonnage was 129 tons. She left Newport on the 3rd of November last, with 250 tons of coal, for St, Malo. Her draught of water was 10ft, 2in. aft and 9ft. 6in. forward. Captain Gorvan said he held a certificate of competency. When he left Newport the vessel was in very good trim, and the weather was rainy and the wind westerly. After passing Nash Point the wind freshened and became more southerly. When they got down to Mount's Bay the wind went back to north. Before they got to Lundy the vessel was labouring heavily. He left Lundy about seven o'clock in the morning. About mid-day she laboured much heavier, but the wind being so far north witness thought it prudent yo go on. When about six miles form the Longships they encountered a very heavy sea, and the vessel rolled considerably. Witness became anxious and examined the vessel to see if she was making any water. He found she was, and then gave orders to the engineer to drive full speed ahead for the purpose of going into Mount's Bay for shelter. >> click here to go to the next page in our story >>