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

The explosive usually employed is not necessarily dangerous in its ordinary state and if by accident it was thrown into the fires of a warship or any other steamer it would not explode, but would simply fizzle. In the mine it is used for loosening roofs, but is invariably fired with detonators.

The practice is to serve it out to the workmen in small quantities and never in excess of 5lbs., to be used as required. While in the collier's charge the powder is kept in a coffee tim or canister, or some other handy utensil. For these reasons the theory that the cartridges have emanated from the mine through the carelessness of the workmen is discredited, and some other explanation of the discoveries must be sought for.

Possible Explanation - It may be stated as being suggestive of a possible, though not in this case a probable explanation, that it is not an unknown practice among sailors engaged in the foreign coal trade to carry on clandestinely and in a small way a contraband trade in gunpowder and other explosives, but, in the case of the s.s. Fernhill, as well as in that of the s.s. Frances Duncan, in whose cargo a somewhat similar discovery was made at Sheerness early this month, this theory is discounted by the fact that both vessels have been in the exclusive service of the Admiralty for some years past. It might be added that the cargoes of both steamers were loaded at the Penarth Dock, but the colliery which supplied the Fernhill is not one of the collieries which loaded the Frances Duncan.

Coincidences - An inscrutable mystery envelopes the whole matter, and it seems very doubtful that it will ever be satisfactorily cleared up. There are coincidences which, to say the least of them, three most remarkable are (1) the loading of both boats at Penarth Dock, (2) the discovery of explosives in vessels employed under Admiralty charters for the transport of coal to British warships, and (3) the discovery of the explosives practically in the heart of the cargoes. It may be relied upon that every effort will be made to solve the mystery, and it is not improbable that the Frances Duncan and Fernhill incident will lead to a stricter supervision of the loading of Admiralty cargoes at the port of shipment.