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

• December 1894 - Swede Hangs Himself with a Manilla Cord - "On Wednesday afternoon at Penarth Police-station Mr E. B. Reece, coroner, held an inquest over the body of a sailor, named G. G. Anderssen, who was found on Wednesday forenoon suspended from a manilla cord in the forecastle of the steamship Capulet, now lying in Penarth Dock. The body was identified by the master, Captain Ellis, who said the deceased had served under him for the last six months, and had signed on for the next voyage. He had never known him to be addicted to drink. A watchman, named Wm. Wells, deposed to deceased's coming aboard and asking for the wheelhouse key to get some clothes. These he took to the forecastle, where he was found on Wednesday at noon by a dock policeman, named Josiah Saunders, hanging from a crook with his knees touching the floor. After the policeman had cut the man down he searched his pockets, but found only 2½d., together with the following letter:- "My dear Amy. - You Won't see me no more. i hope you will Be happy When i an gone. - - G. G. Anderssen." - A verdict of "Suicide whilst temporarily insane" was returned." South Wales Daily Post [210] 27th December 1894.

• January 1895 - Development at Penarth - A Dry Dock to be Constructed - "The Taff Vale Railway Company have long had in view the necessity for a second entrance to their dock at Penarth, in case of collisions or accidents which occur rendering the existing entrance temporarily useless. This would, according to engineering authority, involve the expenditure of a large amount of capital, which would be practically unproductive. We understand, however, that the directors of the Taff Vale Company have overcome the difficulty by making arrangements for the construction of a dry dock to the westward of the existing entrance to the Penarth Dock, and extending southwards towards the channel. The Taff Vale Company have taken a lease of the ground now occupied by the Penarth Ferry Company, upon which engineering shops will be erected. The Taff Company were bound to give 90 days' refusal of this portion of the foreshore to the Penarth Shipbuilding Company, who have declined the option. The dry dock will be 650ft by 80ft. and sufficiently large to take any vessel which can go into the Penarth Dock. A company is being formed for the purpose of constructing the dock, and the concessionaires have been given until the end of February to prepare an offer to the Taff Vale Company for the ground defined by them. With a strong directorate of shipowners the company should prove a profitable investment. As it will be connected with the basin of the Penarth Dock, the new dock will afford another entrance in case of emergency." - Penarth Chronicle and District Advertiser [375] [361] 26th January 1895.