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

picked up a lifebuoy with the name 'Alexandre, St. Malo,' on it, about five miles N. W. of Morte Point. The buoy has the appearance of having been a long time in the water ; the ropes and cords are all gone, but the painted letters are quite legible. It is now in the custody of the Customs House authorities at the Cardiff Docks.' - Western Mail [164] [361] 26th September 1884.

• April 1876 - The Loss of the s.s. 'John Boyle' - 'Captain Nance, of the screw steamer 'Roath' of this port which arrived at Penarth on Thursday night, from Jersey, reports that on Wednesday, at noon, 35 miles W by S of the Start, he passed through a large quantity of wreckage. The steamer was stopped and a boat lowered and manned. A lifebuoy, marked "s.s. John Boyle, of Cardiff" ; a chest of drawers, and steering wheel were picked up. The chest of drawers is supposed to have belonged to the mate, Mr. T. R. Watson, as his name was found on some books, handkerchief, &c. The articles were yesterday deposited with the Receiver of Wrecks, at the Custom House, Cardiff. The miniature portrait of a lady was also picked up from the wreck, and is in the possession of Mr. J. Ferrier, Cardiff, the chief engineer of the 'Roath'.' - South Wales Daily News [325] [361] 8th April 1876.

The s.s. 'John Boyle' was in collision with the 'Emma Lawson' on route from the Tyne to Gibraltar with a cargo of coal. She was built in 1872 and lies in the English Channel off the Start Point. Trinity House built a lighthouse there in 1836 marking one of the most exposed peninsulars on the English coast.