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

The bridge had a parapet 2 ft. high, and the men, probably startled by the light from the engine, must have got onto the parapet, and jumped from it. There was a space 4½ ft. wide, where they could have stood while the train passed. the evidence of Mr. Nell proved that in the case of Elliott death was caused by fracture of the skull, the bone being completely smashed in ; and in the case of Brown he died from concussion of the brain. He stated also that the night was one of the darkest he had ever known. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death." Cardiff Times [019] 20th June 1874.

• September 1874 - Extraordinary Conduct of a Captain - "The James Immersey, an American vessel, left Penarth Dock on Wednesday, bound for Rio, with a cargo of coals, and a crew of 12 of different nationalities, the captain being an American. The crew were partly intoxicated. On getting into the Channel the captain ordered one, an Italian, to do something, but the Italian did not understand, or refused to do so, and the captain took up an iron bar and knocked him down on the deck. He then struck two others violently, and they, fearing their lives jumped overboard and swam to shore, a distance of two miles, and were picked up by Inland Revenue Officers. They say the Italian never moved after being knocked down. The vessel has gone on." Cambrian [241] 25th September 1874.

• October 1874 - The Extension of the Penarth Dock - "At the monthly meeting of the directors of the Taff Vale Railway Company, an influential deputation, consisting of Messrs C. H. Page, J. Cory, E. C. Downing, J. Guthrie, J. H. Wilson, Alex. Dalziel, A. S. Lucovich, J. H. Hollyer, J. Marychurch, W. Marychurch, T. O. Riches, J. Moore-Ferrier, W. Lewis, and other gentlemen connected wit the shipping trade at Cardiff and Penarth, waited on the directors, for the purpose of presenting upon them the necessity for further dock extension at Penarth.

Major Page introduced the deputation, and briefly stated the views of a large number if gentlemen connected with the export of coal respecting the absolute necessity for increasing the facilities for shipping coal. Mr. Riches followed, laying a clear and lucid manner the object sought for before the directors, proving that the present dock accommodation was inadequate, and that it fell on the Taff Vale Railway Company, in view of the large expenditure which they were at present incurring in . . .