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

Of this cargo she had taken in about 1,300 tons, and was about two feet short of her full compliment to bring her down to her water line, when a fire broke out between the middle and after hatch. The trimmers were below at work at the time, but so rapidly did the flames take hold, and so dense were the clouds of smoke, that it was with the greatest difficulty they managed to effect their escape. Great, however, as was their difficulty in putting a safe distance between them and danger, some of the crew seem to have fared even worse.

The thick smoke made its way everywhere with astonishing speed, and the cabins were quickly filled. The captain, whose wife was on board with him, going to the after cabin to fetch an overcoat, put out his hand in order that the sense of touch might serve to guide him in his search, when he encountered the steward, who had been unable to find his way out of the smoke. Meanwhile the alarm was raised that the ship was on fire, and Captain Pengelley, the dockmaster, and Mr. Langlois, his deputy, immediately boarded the vessel, and finding the fire was of no small moment, at once took steps to have her towed out clear of the shipping into the basin.

This was a task of some difficulty owing to the number of vessels near, but it was successfully accomplished. The dock reel, the Taff Vale hose, and the Penarth Fire Brigade, under Inspector King, were got to work, their efforts being well supplemented by the floating steam pump, the "Dragon," belonging to Mr. Edmunds, contractor, but in spite of their efforts, and mainly through the inaccessibility of the fire, it was evident they were not gaining, but losing ground.

It was then decided to scuttle the ship. For this purpose holes were cut in the vessel's side, but, unfortunately, there was not a sufficient height of water to cover the decks. This was between nine and ten o'clock, and the tide had then to rise some three feet, but as the vessel lay upon the bottom it was apparent that at no time would it be high enough to come anywhere near covering her, as was wanted.

Holes were cut in the deck close to where the greatest heat, in order that the hose might have better play. Still, in spite of all this, the fire gave every sign of gaining headway, dense volumes of smoke pouring from every opening, while thinner streams forced their way out on every hand. To the most hopeful at this stage the conviction was strong that the ship was doomed and that the fire must burn itself out. The crew managed to save most of their things, and were accommodated in the Seamen's Mission Chapel, near where the vessel was lying.