Volume One - Into the Victorian Age - Some newspaper reports from the 1880's

• July 1883 - Marine Patents - Applications - "Number 2738 - George Taylor, of Penarth, “An improved coal staith, or tip, for loading ocean-going steamers.”— Dated June 1, 1883." - The Shipping World [966] [716] July 1883.

• August 1883 - Penarth - Fatal Accident at the Dock - "Joseph Dyer, a labourer, of Salop-street, was on Saturday delivering goods at the Penarth Dock when he fell between two vessels and sustained a fracture of the skull. He was conveyed to the infirmary, where he died a few hours later." - Cardiff Times [019] 25th August 1883.

• May - October 1883 - The Eruption of Krakatoa - "The volcanic eruptions in the island of Java are thus described by an eye-witness, who, though escaping with his life, lost all his property :— "On the 26th, loud reports and detonations were heard from the direction of Krakatau, and towards evening the sea became unusually agitated, the water assuming a colour of inky blackness. No apprehensions, however, were entertained for the safety of the town, and nothing occurred during the night.

At 6 a.m. this morning Mr. Schint went down to the beach to look after the mooring of his boats. While engaged in this work an immense wave, about 30 metres high, swept without the slightest warning over Anjer, completely ruining the place, and penetrating inland to the distance of about two miles. Mr. Schint only saved his life by jumping into one of his boats, which was close at hand ; seven of his family, however, were among the victims of this flood. The few survivors made their way as best they could inland ; but, to add to the horrors of the scene, the atmosphere grew pitch dark, and boiling mud fell in showers.

At about 10 a.m. a second wave, supposed to be higher than the first (though its height could not be estimated, owing to the darkness), again swept over the place. By this time, however, most of the survivors from the first wave had gone inland. The coast of Java from Maoek on the north to Java's third point on the south-west has completely changed its configuration, the sea having encroached to the distance of about half a mile inland. Thousands of cocoa-nut palms have been destroyed, and banian-trees two hundred years old have been completely uprooted and swept away ; large masses of coral weighing 400 to 500 picols each have been carried four miles inland ; and behind Anjer a large lake of salt water has been formed."