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

• March 1887 - Extraordinary Accident at Penarth Dock - A Large Ship Capsized - "During the gale on Wednesday morning an extraordinary accident occurred at Penarth Dock. Lying abreast of the Penarth Slipway Company's works was the sailing vessel John o' Gaunt, 1,275 tons register belonging to Messrs Beazley, of Liverpool. She arrived at Penarth on Wednesday, the 16th inst., from Dundee in ballast. During a heavy squall about five o'clock on Wednesday morning the ship suddenly heeled over towards the quay-wall. Her foretopmast was carried away close to the lower masthead, while her foretopgallant-mast and fortopgallant-yard were broken in two pieces. Several of the officers and crew were in their bunks at the time, and narrowly escaped drowning. The second officer (Mr. A. E. Armstrong) states that he awoke by a loud crash, and found before he could get out of his bunk he found himself immersed in water. He got jammed between the life boat and the rigging, and was unable to extricate himself for fully three minutes.

On getting loose he swam to one of the booms, and climbed up a rope on to the wharf. His left arm was much bruised. It was found that the third mate, Mr. R. Crawford, was fast in his cabin, the door of which was locked. The second officer eventually descended through the cabin skylight, smashed open the door, and set the captive free. Two of the seamen and two cooks were also on board when the mishap occurred. One of the seamen, named Perries, in endeavouring to escape, fell into the water, but soon scrambled out again. The vessel still remains on her side, with her keel at least two feet out of the water. Her masts and yards are overhanging two or three of the railway lines, blocking all traffic thereon for the present. The whole of the deck works have been carried away, the cabin and bunks smashed, and the officers' effects irretrievably damaged. The accident is attributed to the fact of the booms not being of sufficient weight for so large a ship." - Weekly Mail [067] 26th March 1887.

• April 1887 - Capsizing of a Large Ship - "The “ John o'Gaunt ," a ship of 1275 tons register, while lying in the Penarth dock during a gale, heeled over on her side, broke her masts, and left her keel 2 ft. out of the water. The crew on board escaped with their lives. Although the vessel had sailed safely, in ballast only, from Dundee, defective construction seems too likely to account for such an extraordinary accident." - Industries [1098] [499] 1st April 1887.