Volume One - Into the Victorian Age - Some newspaper reports from the 1870's

• April 1871 - Smuggling - A Ship Seized - "Three Maltese seamen belonging to the Swedish ship Malta, now lying in Penarth Dock, were charged with smuggling. William Picken, custom-house officer, said that on the 15th inst. he went on board the ship in company with two other officers. In the forepart of the vessel they found a large quantity of foreign manufactured Cavendish tobacco. He asked each of the men if the tobacco belonged to them. They all denied any knowledge, except the three Maltese prisoners in custody. The weight of the tobacco found altogether was 242 lbs. Mr. T. Miller, collector of customs, applied for a remand, as the quantity being so large, and not in parcels of 80 lbs. each, rendered the captain and the whole ship's crew liable to a fine of £100 each. the ship has been seized. The case was adjourned until Monday next." Cardiff Times [019] 22nd April 1871.

• June 1871 - Penarth Docks  - In consequence of the great strike among the steam coal colliers of South Wales, nearly the whole of the coaltrimmers employed at the Penarth docks are out of work. Very little coal is coming down, and the vessels have to wait for cargoes. - Engineering [627] [499] 16th June 1871.

• September 1871 - The Fatal Steamboat Explosion at Cardiff - Inquest - "The inquest on the body of Captain George Bellamy, who lost his life on board the steam barge John, while leaving the Ely Tidal Harbour for Bristol, on Friday, the 1st. inst., was again resumed at the Windsor Hotel, Bute Docks, Cardiff, on Thursday, before Mr. E. B. Reece, deputy coroner. The same jury were again swore, and retired for a short time to examine the boat, which is now lying in the slip at the Bute Docks.

The first witness examined was Josiah Langdon, a seaman, residing at Bristol. He said : I was on board the steam barge John, belonging to Mr. Jos. Brain, of Bristol, on Friday, the 1st inst. She left the Tidal Harbour with steam up between five and six o'clock laden with coal, on her way to Bristol. George Bellamy, the captain, Wm. Hodge, engineer, Edward Thompson, seaman, Wm. Bentett, passenger, and myself were on board. When the explosion occurred we were about three-quarters of a mile from Penarth Head. The captain was standing at the tiller, and the engineer was on the companion ladder. I was on the foreside of the boiler. We were going about the rate of fives miles an hour, which was our usual rate. There was a loud report from the explosion, but it was more like a rushing noise. I did not see the captain or the engineer after the explosion. We made a search amongst the debris but could not find either of the bodies.