Volume Two - The Era of Optimism, Investment & Development - Some newspaper reports from the 1900's . . .

Then she got mixed up in last Thursday's terrific storm, and, after dragging her anchors in the Channel, was threatening to become a wreck, when she was picked up by two tugs belonging to Messrs. Davies and Co., of Mount Stuart-square, Cardiff, and Messrs. Christie and Co., of Bute-street, Cardiff, which towed her into Penarth Dock. She now lies in a battered condition, and making water at the rate of 3in. an hour.

In the course of an interview with one of the victims, who was badly burnt about the body and hands, he stated that there were nine men on board at the time, including the captain. One of the crew had just removed the covering of the hatch, when there was a loud explosion, the deck of the vessel being blown high in the air, whilst some of the men were also carried into the air some distance, and the cook was blown into the hold. Not one of the crew escaped without some injury, but only the four mentioned were seriously hurt. The captain was also injured, but refused to go to the infirmary and went on board an adjoining vessel. The lifeboat, he said, had been thrown from its blocks and fell on the back of one man. The cook, a young negro, remained at his post. What was once his cook-house was little better than a scrap heap.

The cook told the following story:- I was sitting in the cook-house peeling potatoes. The captain stood over there (pointing to amidships), and a man was standing near him smoking. All at once the plates and things began to fall about, and I fell over. I remember nothing else, but when I came to I found my foot was badly scalded." We have ascertained from the Cardiff Infirmary that none of the men sustained any broken limbs, but that all of them were severely burnt about the face, arms, chest, back, and legs. After having his face and arms dressed, Klappin was able to leave and return to the ship, but the other three men were detained. Inquiries made at the Cardiff Infirmary at a late hour on Tuesday night elicited that the men who were injured are progressing satisfactorily." Weekly Mail [067] 19th September 1903.

• October 1903 - Crane Accident at Penarth Dock - "On Monday morning, about 11.45, as a T.V.R. steam crane was engaged in unloading pulp from the steamship Ivanhoe, the crane capsized and fell on to the deck of the Ivanhoe, doing serious damage to the bulwarks and deck." Cardiff Times [019] 3rd October 1903.