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

The “ Atalanta ” is a ship of 1,116 tons register ; built at Richmond, United States, in the year 1857. She is the property of Mr. C. S. Caird, of Greenock, and was bound from Cardiff to Hong Kong. Strange to state, the ship that was alongside of the “ Atalanta " at the time, viz., the “ Killochan ”, likewise belonged to Greenock. - [1092] [499]

1887 - South Wales - The volatile nature of some of the constituents of Welsh coal, and their value for heat producing purposes, is unfortunately too frequently illustrated by such explosions as that just occurred on board the German steamship "I. H. Niemann,” in the Penarth basin, after taking in a cargo of this coal, and when on the point of sailing for Lisbon. The explosion was of such violence that the noise was heard and the flash seen as far off as the Cardiff pier head. One of the crew was severely burnt on hands and face. The frequency of these explosions would seem to call for greater attention to the subject on the part of captains engaged in the trade, as they can only occur through defective ventilation. - Industries [1098] [499] 10th June 1887.