Volume One - Into the Victorian Age - Some newspaper reports from the 1890's

The captain's cabin was entered with some difficulty because it was full of smoke. Clothing and other portable articles were removed. As to the origin of the fire, nobody professes to be able to explain, but it is significantly stated that she had been a petroleum vessel, and that as she must still be saturated with it to some extent, it is probable that a gas was formed which might have ignited from some trivial (though unexplained) cause. The gas issuing from the coal would, of course, make the vessel still more inflammable. It has not been ascertained if any light was brought into contact with this gas, but it is suggested that the coal trimmers use candles, which they stick up against the side of the vessel, and that one of those lighted candles might have dropped onto the coal, and so caused the conflagration. It is understood that the ship is insured." South Wales Star [159] 27th March 1891.

• June 1891 - Mysterious Disappearance from Penarth - "On Saturday night a man named Jones, residing at Penarth, and engaged as a foreman by the Windsor Slipway Company, did not return to his home at the usual time, and on enquiries being made it was found that he had left work later than usual, and got on his way home as far as the ferry across the River Ely. This he is known to have crossed with safety, as he was particularly noticed by the ferryman, who had a conversation with him. Since that time he has not been seen or heard of. The next day, however, a hat was picked up in the basin of the Penarth Dock, and it is feared that he has fallen in and been drowned. Captain Pengelley, dockmaster, on Wednesday let water out of the basin, in the hope of recovering the body, if the unfortunate man had been found, but on examination nothing was found." Evening Express [157] 11th June 1891.

• June 1891 - the Mysterious Disappearance from Penarth - "The body of the man Jones, who disappeared from Penarth on the night of Saturday last week, was found floating in the Penarth Dock on Tuesday morning by Dock Police-constable D. Hole, J. Sanders, and W. Toye (berthing-master). An inquest on the body was held at Penarth Police Station on Monday before Mr. E. B. Reece, coroner. - the widow, Sarah Jane Jones, residing at 54, Maughan-street, Penarth, said that the deceased was 33 years of age and a foreman employed at the Windsor Slipway. She last saw him alive on the 6th inst. at 4.30, when he left to go to work. She expected him home about 11.30, but as he did not turn up she made enquiries, and was told that he left the works between nine and ten o'clock. - Other evidence having been given, Dr. Charles Aitken, Penarth, said that he had examined the body of the deceased, and found a wound over the right eye 2in. long. In his opinion the wound was caused by striking a substance in falling before death. In his opinion death resulted from drowning. - An open verdict was returned." Evening Express [157] 11th June 1891.