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

• April 1889 - Shocking Accident at Penarth Dock - "A serious explosion occurred on Tuesday evening on board the steamer Advance, of Cardiff, which is taking in a cargo of coals at the Basin Tip, Penarth Dock. The manhole-door of the main boiler, owing to some cause not yet ascertained, blew out, and the steam scalded one of the foremen so seriously that death was almost instantaneous. Tipping operations were at once delayed, and communication was opened with the head office at Cardiff. Mr Boyer, the superintendent engineer, was immediately in attendance. The damage to the steamer has not yet been estimated. An inquest will be held on the body of deceased, whose name is Thomas Miller, aged 40, and a native of Liverpool." - Cardiff Times [019] 6th April 1889.

• April 1889 - "On Tuesday afternoon, three firemen aboard the steamship Advance at Penarth Docks were raking out the fire, and apprehending an explosion of one of the boilers, they gave warning and rushed away. The end of the main boiler was immediately blown out , and one of the men named Miller, a native of Birkenhead, sustained such injuries that he died in a few minutes. Great damage was done to the ship." - The Engineer [015] 5th April 1889.

• April 1889 - The Explosion in Penarth Dock - "The inquiry into the death of Thomas Miller. who was killed by the boiler explosion on board the steamer Advance, in Penarth Dock, last week, was resumed on Tuesday. The jury returned the following verdict: "That deceased met his death through extensive scalds caused by the explosion of the furnace boiler on board the steamer Advance, and also express the opinion that the second engineer erred in judgement in sending into the stokehole a man under the influence of liquor." - Cardiff Times [019] 13th April 1889.

• August 1889 - Electric Light at Penarth Dock - "Messrs J. B. Saunders and Company have been instructed to thoroughly light Penarth Dock with electricity. The whole of the dock and tips will be illuminated by lights of 2,000 candle power each. Each tip will contain four lights - two fixed and two moveable. The latter are for use at the ships' holds while loading or discharging. It is evident that the Taff Vale Company intend doing all in their power to keep pace with their formidable rival at Barry. May the trade be sufficient for each Company to pay a good dividend." - Barry Dock News [140] 16th August 1889.