Volume Two - The Era of Optimism, Investment & Development - Coal gas explosions etc . . .

The ship was so much damaged that fears were felt lest any of the crew could survive the accident, but the exploring party nobly pursued their labours, descending into the ship ’s hold, cabins, and forecastle, in search of the dead and dying. Men were found shockingly burnt about the head, arms, and body. These were speedily landed, and placed in the store of Mr. Clode, butcher, who kindly lent his premises on Penarth Wharf for the use of the wounded.

Dr. Nell was soon in attendance, and ordered some of the cases to be removed without delay to the “ Hamadryad ,” hospital ship. Three cases, however, he retained, viz., that of Matteo, an Austrian seaman, Donald McKerrel, the carpenter, and Captain William Brown. The Austrian succumbed to the injuries he had received at 10-30 a.m., his body being removed to the Penarth mortuary. The carpenter was subsequently forwarded to the hospital ship very badly hurt, and Captain Brown, who also was much burnt about the arms and head, was conveyed to a private residence at Penarth.

While the wounded were being thus attended to, and that in a most efficient manner, by Dr. Nell, it was discovered that Mr. Whitworth, chief officer of the “ Atalanta ”, had been killed ; also an ordinary seaman, named John Hamett. Both bodies were carried to the mortuary.

At a short distance from Mr. Clode 's store another crowd was assembled around one of the dock lodges, wherein was found the mate of another ship, the “ Killochan ”, of Greenock, most dangerously wounded. He was in the act of shaking hands with Mr. Whitworth, of the “ Atalanta ", on that ship's deck when the explosion occurred. Mr. Whitworth was killed, and Mr. Alexander Muir, mate of the “ Killochan ", was thrown about 40 feet into the air. In alighting, his head came in contact with a spar, contusing the skull. His right leg was at the same time broken. He lies, as stated, in a hopeless condition.

As to the cause of this direful event, it has been clearly ascertained to have arisen from the accumulated gas from the cargo being ignited by a match lit by one of the seamen, named Antonio Pedro. He accompanied H. Ross, second officer of the “ Atalanta ", into the after hold. Mr. Ross carried a naked candle, and no sooner had Pedro struck the match to light the candle, than the explosion took place. Both of these men, who are badly burnt, are lying at the hospital ship.