1881 - Loss of a Cardiff Laden Vessel - Board of Trade Inquiry at Cardiff - 'On Tuesday a Board of Trade inquiry into the circumstances attending the abandonment and loss by fire of the British sailing ship John Geddie, of Liverpool, were commenced at the Town Hall, Cardiff, before Mr R. O. Jones, and Captains Forster and Castle sitting as nautical assessors. Mr Waldron appeared on behalf of the Board of Trade. Neither the owner, Mr James Ledward, of Liverpool, nor the master, Captain James Alexander, also of Liverpool, were represented by solicitors. The master was, however, present, and in the course of the day gave evidence as to the circumstances of the fire.

Mr Waldron, in opening the case, said the John Geddie was a wooden ship, built in Nova Scotia in the year 1866. She was rigged as a barque and registered at Liverpool as of 650 tons. In the month of March last the John Geddie was at Penarth, and whilst there she took in a cargo of coal.

It appeared that on the 11th of March of last year Mr Sloggett, one of the officers of the Mercantile Marine, while crossing this vessel's deck, observed that she had no surface ventilation other than hatchways. Mr Sloggett called the master's attention to this and handed him a copy of the caution. On again visiting Penarth Mr Sloggett found that two cowl-headed ventilators had been placed on the deck. There was no thermometer.

On the 1st of February in this year the official caution was served upon the master of the vessel at Penarth, and also at the time when the crew signed the agreement to proceed to sea the master was served with a copy of a caution issued by the Board of Trade.

It appeared from the evidence, Mr Waldron proceeded, that the vessel was loaded with 1,007 tons of double- screened steam coal, wrought from the Ocean Collieries. The coal was shipped on the 27th, 28th, and 29th January, about 24 hours after it was wrought. In regard to the loading of the vessel she had one hold without any bulkheads, and though one of the stevedores stated that she was ventilated by hatchways only, he thought it would seem that these cowl-heads had been fitted.

During the time that the coal was shipped the weather was wet, and the coal got wet. The John Geddie, which leaked a good deal, was not filled right up in the fore end of the vessel, there being space left for some 40 or 50 tons or more.

She left Penarth on the 14th February, bound for Monte Video, and on the 14th April, in fine weather, when 300 miles south of Rio, she was found to be on fire, and was abandoned by the captain and crew a few hours later. No lives were lost, as all hands were taken on board a passing vessel.

The John Geddie on the previous voyage carried a cargo of crude oil, and a cask of it found in the dunnage was placed with rope and other materials in the fore peak. It appeared that the master had had frequent misgivings about the condition of the cargo, for he was in the habit of placing his hand and arm down the ventilators for the purpose of testing the ventilation. It appeared from what was subsequently stated in evidence that the fire was suddenly discovered, that there was no suspicion on board of any danger, that the hatches and ventilators were kept open during the voyage, except in wet and bad weather. The master said he adopted every precaution which experience suggested.

There was no explosion at any time during the voyage. as some question was raised as to the character of South Wales steam coal, Mr Wales, the Government Inspector of Mines, was called, and said that it was not subject to spontaneous combustion. Coal worked from the Ocean Collieries had never at any time contained a sufficient quantity of pyrites to cause spontaneous combustion.

In answer to Mr Waldron, Mr Wales said that when the vessel was saturated with crude oil (as this was stated to have been), it was very likely that there might be some action set up by the oil which he could not explain. The coal might be set on fire, but it would be after the ship itself had been on fire.

Evidence at great length as to the management of the vessel was given, and the court adjourned until to-day (Wednesday.)' - South Wales Daily News [325] [361] 20th July 1881.

1881 - The Burning of a British Barque - Conclusion of the Inquiry at Cardiff - 'The Board of Trade inquiry into the circumstances attending the burning and loss of the barque John Geddie, of Liverpool, in the South Atlantic, on the 14th of April last, was resumed at the grand jury-room of the Cardiff Town-hall on Wednesday.

As on the previous day, Mr. R. 0. Jones, presided, and was assisted by Captain Forster and Captain Castel, as nautical assessors. Mr. Waldron appeared behalf of the Board of Trade.

Mr. Waldron called the boatswain, William Krahtz, who, in reply to that gentleman, said the pumps were sufficient to keep the water from the coal.

Mr. Waldron then submitted the following questions for the consideration of the court:—

1. Whether the Ocean steam coal is of a dangerous character for shipment on long voyages.
2.Whether the coal shipped in the John Geddie contained pyrites, and was broken to any extent in it transport from the pit to the ship's hold, and whether it was shipped in a wet condition
3. Whether, when the vessel left Penarth, she was in a good and seaworthy condition ; and whether the pumps were so arranged as to keep the water she made from the coals?
4. Whether, having regard to the cargoes previously carried, and the state of the vessel's hold when the coals were shipped, the John Geddie was in a safe condition for a voyage to Monte Video with a cargo of Ocean steam coal?
5. Whether a thermometer was carried; and if not, whether the master was justified in proceeding to sea without one, and in trusting to the heat felt by placing his head and hand down the ventilators with a view to ascertain the temperature of the various portions of the cargo?
6. What was the cause of the fire which broke out on board the vessel on the 14th of April, and whether every possible effort was made to subdue it?
Mr. Waldron said he did not propose to ask the court to deal with the master's certificate.

The court, in answer to the foregoing questions, found as follows:—

1. The Ocean steam coal is not dangerous if proper precautions are taken.
2. There was practically no pyrites, and the evidence shows that the coal was not broken when shipped, but was shipped in a more or less wet condition.
3. Taking the age and description of the ship, she appears to have been in fair condition, and her pumps seemed sufficient for their purpose.
4. The internal woodwork of the ship appears to have been completely saturated with crude oil or petroleum, and, therefore, rendered the ship liable to take fire, and made it dangerous to carry any cargo liable to ignition.
5. The master states that he was not aware of any necessity for carrying a thermometer, and it was not proved that any Board of Trade circular containing the recommendation of the Royal Commissioners upon the point had been served upon him.
6. There is no evidence to enable us to say what was the cause of the fire.

We dismiss the theory of spontaneous combustion in the coal untenable. The probable cause seems to be that the woodwork of the ship, which. as already remarked, was in a combustible state, was ignited in some way or other which it is impossible to ascertain.' - The Western Mail [138] [361] 21st July 1881.