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

• August 1909 - Found Drowned at Penarth - "Mr D. Rees, Coroner, held an inquest at Penarth on Wednesday on the body of Frederick Caley (28), of Ramsey, Isle of Man, whose body was picked up in Penarth Dock on Monday. P.C. Howell stated that the seaman's discharge book and a letter from his mother were found upon the deceased, who was paid off at Cardiff on July 1st from the ship Charles T. Jones. The body was so decomposed that it was impossible to recognise the deceased. Norman Caley, brother, spoke to the handwriting of the letter. There was no evidence to show how the man met his death. The jury returned an open verdict." Cardiff Times [019] 7th August 1909.

• August 1909 - Sensation in South Wales - Local Investigation - "The discovery twice within a few weeks of explosives in cargoes of Welsh steam coal shipped at the port of Cardiff for the use of the British Fleet has created something like a sensation in South Wales, and has already provoked considerable discussion as to the need of more vigilant inspection of Fleet cargoes at the port of shipment. The steamer Fernhill, upon which the discovery of dynamite cartridges was made at Spithead on Wednesday, is an Admiralty coal transport of 3,800 tons dead weight capacity and is owned by Messrs W. J. Tillett and Co., Cardiff. She was loaded at the Penarth Dock and sailed for Portsmouth on Sunday night, arriving at her destination on Monday night. The owners on Tuesday received a communication from the master of the vessel reporting that 1,400 tons had been discharged into the cruiser Drake, and that on Wednesday he would commence bunkering H.M. cruiser Duke of Edinburgh.

Dynamite Not Used - When seen by our Cardiff representative late on wednesday night, Mr Tillett stated that he had heard nothing further from the captain of the Fernhill, but expected a full statement from him this morning as to the circumstances under which the discovery was made.

The owners of the colliery from which the coal was supplied were also seen, but they had heard nothing and were completely at a loss to explain how the explosive had entered the cargo. They pointed out, however, that if the explosives discovered were dynamite blasting cartridges they could not have reached the hold of the steamer direct from the colliery as no dynamite is at present used for any mining purposes in the South Wales coalfield. The explosives at present in use are scheduled by the Home Office to that department's mining regulations, and an examination of the list confirms the statement of the owners that no dynamite is permissible in the mine.