Volume Eight - Pre-Victorian to the present day - more aspects - Storms and their effects . . .

• March 1892 - Ships in Hospital - 'The 'Tunisie' has been got off the rocks of Lundy Island and is safe, if not sound, in Cardiff dock. It is certainly a wonderful piece of work to have brought this vessel into port. She evidently grounded just about midships, causing great rents into both her fore and aft holds, as well as the engine-room. From a casual glance, it is almost plain that the bumping on the rocks forced her engines upwards, and no doubt they are badly twisted and bent that new ones will have to be provided. Whether the underwriters were wise in salvaging this steamer of course depends upon the amount of the insurance. New triple expansion boats can be built now at something like £7-10s a ton carrying capacity, and in these days compound boats can be begged.' - South Wales Daily News - [325] [361] 31st March 1892.

The Cardiff Times added further information about the condition of the vessel in a report on the 2nd April which has been shortened somewhat:-

• April 1892 - The Floating of the Tunisie - ' . . . . The cargo was largely jettisoned, and in the two main compartments stout wooden platforms were constructed as near the lower part of the hold as possible. These were made as water-tight as possible, and by the aid of three powerful eight-inch centrifugal pumps, the hold was kept sufficiently clear to allow of the steamer floating.

She was towed round by the tugs 'Falcon' and 'Sea Prince', while the 'St. Decamans' was in attendance. The pumps were kept going constantly, and though the bottom is smashed in fore and aft, the water did not gain on her. The damage above and below is most extensive, the main hatch combings being partially carried away, the saloon and cabin, with the steel bulkhead, being literally wiped out, and the engine-room and stokehole knocked about considerably. Below, the bottom is broken in innumerable pieces, and the plates fore and aft are bent and bulged in, while the stern frame is broken off altogether, and the bilge clogs are curled up like brown paper.

It speaks well for the staff at the Mount Stuart Dry Dock that they were able to float a hull so damaged. The work of repair is likely to be exceedingly costly, and 'Tunisie' being a steel vessel of 1,604 tons gross. She was built in 1882 by Messrs Ramage and Ferguson, of Leith. At the later stage of the salvage operations the French underwriters were represented by Captain Guignon.' - Cardiff Times [019] [361] 2nd April 1892.