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

On Sunday night he came on board and told us that Carter, the Darkey, would take us all. Six of the crew then went with him, taking all their effects. Soon afterwards I, with James Leary and George Whitlow, deserted the vessel. I never intended to desert before Petterson persuaded me. I am now boarding at 167, Bute-street. We told Petterson that if we ran away we should get caught and punished, as we had signed on for the voyage.

George Whitlow, another seaman belonging to the same vessel, said that about mid-day on Friday, the 13th inst., the defendant came to him on board the vessel and told him that the captain had informed him that the whole of the crew might desert if they liked, so long as he did not see them. Witness said that he would not leave the vessel.

James Leary, another of the crew of the Squando, stated that he heard Petterson tell Whitlow that the captain had given them permission to desert if he did not see them. Bartholomew Furse, Mercantile Marine Officer, gave evidence, and Alfred Waycott, the captain of the Squando, denied that he ever gave permission to the crew, or any of them, to desert. The bench fined the defendant £10, or in default to go to prison for two months, with hard labour. The money was not paid, and the defendant was committed to gaol." Cardiff Times [019] 28th June 1879.

I wonder what it was like to be sentenced to hard labour - or perhaps, I wouldn't like to know! For ordinary seaman, however, I suspect that it was safer in prison than at sea. Throughout 1879 men continued to be drowned at the dock as the following vivid accounts illustrate.

• June 1879 - Penarth - Missing - "Festus Abraham Whitney, an apprentice on board the barque Alpheta, which left Penarth Dock a day ago, went away from the vessel on Thursday evening, about half-past nine, and has not since been heard of. He is 18 years of age, about 5 feet 6 inches high, dark complexion, thin, and with a long face ; dressed in blue Guernsey and cap. All his clothes and other effects were left on board the Alpheta, and it is feared that he has fallen into the dock." Cardiff Times [019] 28th June 1879.

• July 1879 - Penarth - The Drowning Case - "An inquest was held on Tuesday, before Mr Grover, on the body of Lawrence Lawrenson, who was drowned in the dock on Monday night. Deceased belonged to the ss Madgeburg and went on board about 11 o'clock and relieved the watchman on duty. Some time afterwards screams were heard, and deceased was seen in the water. Every effort was made to rescue him, but he sank. P.C. Davis recovered the body about an hour afterwards. The verdict was "Accidental death." Cardiff Times [019] 19th July 1879.