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

• August 1904 - Bad Crash at Penarth - Steamer Runs into the Dock Gates - Safe Working of the Dock Fortunately Not Impaired - "A serious accident occurred at Penarth Dock about 9 am, on Friday, by which a considerable amount of damage was done to the sea gates. It appears that the Romanian steamship Buccaresti was proceeding from the dock to the basin preparatory to leaving for sea when an order given from the bridge to go astern resulted in the vessel forging ahead. She dashed into the boom which is placed across the sea gates for the purpose of protecting the latter when vessels are being moved in the dock, and cut it in halve, and then ran into the gate, the force of the impact being such that the crash was heard some distance off. Fortunately the gates, although much damaged, were not forced open; otherwise it can be imagined that a disaster of an alarming character must have followed. Luckily no one was hurt, and the steamer does not appear to have sustained any serious injury. The damage, however, to the dock property is roughly estimated at £5,000, but until a survey has been made nothing definite is known on this point.

The steamer remained in dock pending inquiries as to the cause of the accident, and was permitted to proceed on Saturday.

Official information respecting the accident shows that it has in no way interfered with the safe working of the dock, vessels entering and leaving as usual. The greatest damage is above the water level, and this may be repaired without the slightest interference with traffic. Mr Samuel Thomas, the dock superintendent, who was summoned immediately after the occurrence, remained on the scene for some time, and when the Buccaresti had been taken back into dock the gates were tried, and fortunately swung without any perceptible difference in their movements. A steamer was docked the same night, and on Saturday vessels were worked in and out. The extent of the damage is difficult to estimate, but the cost of replacing the boom and repairing the gates will be very considerable. It is presumed that the cause of the accident was through mistaking the signal "Full speed astern" for "Full speed ahead." Cardiff Times [019] 27th August 1904.

• June 1905 - Penarth Dock Mishap - "Whilst employed in unloading a consignment of pulp for the manufacture of paper from the steamship Wilfred, at Penarth Dock on Tuesday, one of the bales fell upon a young man named Thomas Lewis, of Dock-road, Penarth, who was severely hurt, and conveyed to the Cardiff Infirmary, where he was detained." Cardiff Times [019] 3rd June 1905.