Volume Six - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - Select Aspects - Crossing the River Ely . .

1885 - "Fatal Boat Accident on Penarth Beach - On Tuesday night a boat accident of a very distressing nature took place off the Windsor Promenade, Penarth. It seems that at about half-past seven o'clock a young man named Hill, residing at Herbert-terrace, Penarth, went out for a row, accompanied by a party, in one of the boats belonging to the Penarth Boat Club. When not far from the shore the 'Iona', one of the tugs of the Penarth Ferry, passed, and the swell swamped the boat. A lady, one of the party, was rescued, and two others who were in the boat reached the shore. Hill, however, was not seen afterwards, and up to ten o'clock at night all efforts to recover the body were fruitless. The deceased was a member of the boat club, and was highly respected." Cardiff Times [019] 29th August 1885.

1885 - "Penarth - A Violent Fellow - At the Penarth police-court on Monday - before Mr. J. Corbett and Colonel Lee-Henry Lahey, a seaman, was summoned by Wm. McCulloch, a ticket collector, employed by the Penarth Ferry Company, for assault. Mr. David appeared to prosecute. From the evidence of the complainant it seemed that on the day in question he was on the company's landing stage at the Penarth Dock. the defendant had come across from Cardiff in one of the boats, and on being asked by the complainant for his ticket, he made no reply, but caught the complainant by the neck, struck him, and attempted to throw him over the landing stage. The defendant was fined 10s (50p) and costs." Cardiff Times [019] 5th September 1885.

1886 - "A Penarth Ferry Boat in Collision - On Saturday afternoon, when the 'La Belle Marie', one of Penarth Ferry Company's boats, was proceeding towards Penarth, she was ran into, stern first, by the tug-boat 'Fastnet', off the line of tug-boats near the entrance to the Cardiff Docks. The 'Fastnet' was preparing at the time to go out for a barque. The result of the collision was that a considerable portion of the framework of the ferry boat was smashed in. The passengers were naturally very much alarmed, especially those standing near the side which was struck." Cardiff Times [019] 19th June 1886.

1887 - Bradshaw's Railway Guide - Steamers - Penarth Dock to Cardiff. Fare, 3d., from Penarth Beach, 5d. The Iona or Kate - Daily (Sundays excepted) at 6 20, 7, 7 40 mrn., and every twenty minutes from 8 mrn. to 9 20 aft. - Bradshaw's August 1887 Railway Guide [499] [501] 

1887 - Steamers and Canal Boats : Penarth : Steam Ferry every 20 minutes from the Pier during tide. H. J. Vellacot, manager. [298]