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

A young man, named John Hamilton, belonging to the Killoghan, on seeing John Malone, one of the crew of the Atlanta, hanging by his leg, with his head under the water, jumped into the dock, and swam to him. Ge raised his head out of the water. Malone was groaning, and apparently in great pain.

He was much burnt about the face, and his head was much injured. A boat came up in a few minutes, and took him on shore, but he died shortly afterwards. Mr Clode, butcher, Penarth, kindly opened his stores near the lock gates, and here the dead and injured men were conveyed. Dr Nell, of Penarth, was on the spot in a few minutes, and had temporary beds, formed of bedding from the inhabitants, placed for the reception of the injured. The dead bodies, under his directions, were at once conveyed to the dead-house. Captain Pengelley, the dockmaster, with the dock-gatemen, and assistance, were there shortly after the explosion, and under their directions the Atlanta was removed from the dock to the basin, as it was feared that she would take fire, or that injury to other shipping in the dock might result from other explosions.

William Allen, one of the seamen, was found on the deck of the cabin, very badly burnt about the arms and legs. Henry Rose, the second mate, was also found close to the other and badly burnt. Antonio Pedro made his escape from the hold - how he does not know, but he was severely burnt. John McVeigh, a seaman, is much burnt about the face and arms. He is also much injured besides. Peter Lyons, is much contused from pieces of timber falling on him. Donald McKerrel, the carpenter, was much injured on the back and hips. After having received at the hands of Dr Nell all the assistance he could render them, they were conveyed in an omnibus and a wagon to the Hamadryad Ship, where they were at once attended to by the medical superintendent (Dr Hughes), who is of the opinion that though very seriously injured, all of them with care will recover.

The case of Alexander Muir, the mate of the ship Killoghan, is a distressing one. He wanted to see his wife who had come from Ayr to visit him before he sailed. He was crossing the deck of the Atlanta when she blew up. According to the statement of Duncan Ellisson, the steward of the Killoghan, and who was standing about ten yards off, Muir was blown over the mainyard, amid a number of pieces of timber. In descending, his head struck against the rail of his own vessel, and he then rolled on the deck, at the moment when a large piece of timber fell on his legs and fractured them. He was taken up, and removed to the watch house, where he lingered in great agony for several hours. He leaves a wife and several children.