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

He began spreading the coal about, while the other four men remained in the upper hold. A sixth man, David Davies, was on the upper part of the coal. On one side of the lower hold there was a vacant space where a man could stand, in a stooping position. The holes which formed the ventilators were partially blocked up with pieces of coal rolling into them, and there is no doubt that gas had accumulated in the vacant spaces. The coal was then fresh from the pit, and had been in the hold about 24 hours. O'Herne called for a candle to enable him to see better how to trim the coal.

David Davies, who was nearest the deck, went out of the hold, lighted a candle, and returned with it. He stated that he had no sooner handed the lighted candle to O'Herne than he saw the blue lights from the gas spreading around it, and, snatching off his cap, he threw himself on the face of the coal, and escaped with only his whiskers being burnt off and his hair singed. Evan Davies and Harry Peregrine were standing on one side of the upper hatch, and Jonah Davies and Henry Webber on the other. The gas exploded with great violence, sending up large lumps of coal to the height of the top of the mast, and then descending back to deck and breaking into fragments. The men on the coal tip ran away alarmed, and the crew who were on board also became much frightened, and ran to places of safety. The hold being open the full force of gas passed through it, and the vessel remained without injury.

The alarm soon brought a number of inhabitants of Penarth to the spot, and on its becoming known that several men were injured, a foreman belonging to Messrs Davis and Sons ran to the residence of Mr Nell, surgeon, and he being at home went immediately to the vessel. Captain Pengelley, the dockmaster, and the assistants at the Docks, were soon on board ready to render any assistance that might be required. All the men in the hold had taken off their coats and turned up their shirt sleeves, and when brought on deck they presented a frightful appearance. They were covered with coal dust blown upon them in a half melted state, and their faces and arms were severely burned. The hair had been removed by the scorching flame. Under the direction of Dr. Nell the men were conveyed from the hold to the lodge house at the end of the tip, where he attended them.

James O'Herne, though in the lower hold, where it was supposed that the gas had accumulated, though badly burned about the face, hands, and arms, is not seriously injured. Evan Davies and Harry Peregrine, who were standing at the fore part of the hold, received the full force of the explosion.