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

• November 1878 - Curious Accident at Penarth Dock - "The barque Gleneida, of Pembroke, U.S., was being discharged of ballast at Penarth Dock, early on Thursday, when she heeled over and fell against the quay. She was not damaged, and was righted in about half an hour. One of the crew received a severe injury through the hatches falling, fracturing his skull. He was attended to by Dr Nell, and removed to the Hamadryad Hospital Ship. He is not expected to recover." Cardiff Times [019] 9th November 1878.

• December 1878 - Penarth - Smuggling - "At Mr Morris's office before Mr James Wall - James Allen, master of the Penarth Dock and Harbour Company's steam mud dredge, was fined treble value and costs, amounting to £6 12s 6d, for having contraband goods on board. The said goods were transferred from a steamer called the Merthyr on board the dredge on Saturday last, and were seen by the coastguard officers, who rummaged the mud dredge and found the goods concealed in a coil of rope. The collector of customs prosecuted." Cardiff Times [019] 28th December 1878.

• December 1878 - The Case of Drowning at Penarth Dock - "An inquest was held at the Penarth police-court, on Monday - before Mr E. B. Reece, coroner - on the body of Mr Robert Walter, second engineer of the steamship Sheldon, of West Hartlepool, who was drowned during the fog on Friday evening. John Boulding, the third engineer, stated that deceased and himself were going ashore to post some letters about seven o'clock. They went across the plank from the steamboat to an abutment of the quay wall. Deceased being ignorant of the abutment, and not being able to see it, walked along the edge, and fell from the quay into the water. An alarm was immediately raised, but they could not find him. A verdict of "Accidentally drowned" was returned, the jury adding that the abutments of the quay wall should be protected by a chain. The Coroner promised to communicate with the proper authorities on the subject of the jury's recommendation." Cardiff Times [019] 28th December 1878.

• March 1879 - The Condition of Penarth Dock - "A Penarth correspondent writes:- There has lately been a considerable accumulation of mud at the entrance to Penarth Dock. On Monday afternoon the s.s. City of Durham, although only drawing 16 feet, was unable to get over the bank of mud which has formed at the end of the stage, and he was obliged to return to the Basin. This obstruction is a serious inconvenience during neap tide. In backing into the Basin the City of Durham got a hawser round her propeller, which had to be removed by a diver." Cardiff Times [019] 8th March 1879.

What was needed was a dredge, however, the Penarth Dock and Harbour Company have one. Maybe the crew were too preoccupied with their smuggling activities!