So soon after the removal of the packet station, it is interesting to see press cuttings which give a pretty good idea of what was happening in the port.

FP 6/2/1858: Our harbour has lately presented a very animated appearance, more than 100 merchant shipping in. As usual a large number of them are foreigners. The tug steamers have been busily employed in towing them, an accommodation of great importance where so many are congregated. There are also several vessels under repair.

On Saturday [20th] a new and handsome tug-steamer called the Dandy, purchased in London by Captain Handcock, for the purposes of the port, was brought down by Mr. Collins, Pilot, the run occupying but 40 hours from Greenwich.

FP Sat. 8/5/1858: Dandy steam-tug left here for Plymouth to tow down a hulk to assist in removing the hull of the Northern Empire. About 100 tons of Guano have been secured from her, and barges are employed hereon whensoever the weather will admit. The valuable help of a diver has materially aided in saving the speculators ... from a dead loss.

Two wharfs are named 'Northern' and 'Empire' - You can contact David Barnicoat Trinity Pilot, by e-mail for facts regarding Falmouth docks' history. David's father was master of the Tug Arusha

The screw steam packet Louisa, Captain Bennett commenced running yesterday with passengers and liberty of towing, (daily, except Sundays) to Truro Quay and back every tide, expected [journey time, each way]1 hour and the fares to be moderate.

About 11.30 p.m. Tuesday nigh last, Captain Bennett of the Falmouth and Truro steam packet Louisa left the King's Arm's Falmouth, to go on board his steamer, lying off the jetty-head, where there is no gaslight. The night was very dark, and about an hour after, the Policeman made an alarm that someone was groaning under the jetty. The tide was out at the time, and, on a search being made, Captain Bennett was found in a state of insensibility, and at once taken to the King's Arms and Mr. Donnell, surgeon, was immediately in attendance, and we are glad to say he is progressing favourably.

Messrs. Pool Skinner, and Williams are building a new tug for Messrs.Thomas, Bros.; and Messrs. Cox and Co. are making new engines for her.

FP 23/1/1897: Tug Confiance tender to HMS Defiance torpedo schoolship at Devonport arrived here {Falmouth] on Wednesday [20th] in search of Whitehead torpedo lost near Cadgwith Cove.

For some weeks the French have been engaged in the mackerel fishery off the coast of Ireland. During this week several French fishing boats put into this port for tugs, owing to contrary and light winds. The tugs Emperor, Dragon, Triton and Penguin were all engaged to tow the boats to Fecamp. [49.46N 0.23E - between Le Havre & Dieppe. (Chasse Maree route to Paris?) ]

Messrs. Pool Skinner, and Williams are building a new tug for Messrs. Thomas, Bros.; and Messrs. Cox and Co. are making new engines for her.

On Saturday evening the tug Triton left for Boulogne in charge of a French fishing boat laden with mackerel. Whilst returning from Fecamp, to which place the Eagle had towed a fishing boat, the Eagle fell in with another boat off Plymouth. After coaling there, she again proceeded to Fecamp. The Penguin and Emperor left for the same place on Sunday.

Inhabitants in the vicinity of the Quay were yesterday morning startled by the news that Captain Thomas Hunkin, of the tug Saxon, had died rather suddenly during the night. At about three in the morning he was taken ill with a fit. Deceased was well-known in local shipping circles, and has for many years been in the employ of Messrs Rowe & Sons

FP 29/5/1897: The well-known passenger steamer Wotton, trading for nearly 30 years between St. Mawes and this port, has just been fitted out and sold to Mr. James Watkins, of London, for French buyers, who intend running her in the passenger trade on one of the rivers at Havre. She will leave this port to-day.

Matthew Laity, ferryman, & 4 passengers, squall 10.30 a.m., capsized. Ernest Drew, errand boy for Mrs. S. Dunning, butcher of Arwenack Street, and son of John H. Drew, stoker on board the tug Victor, drowned.

During the past few days, the tugs Dragon, Victor and Penguin have been engaged in towing to Fecamp and Boulogne French fishing boats laden with mackerel from the Irish sea.

Captain James A. Rogers, of Plymouth, has recently returned from Rio de Janeiro, where he safely delivered a 65ft steam tug, Minas, from Falmouth, which port she left on November 8th, 1913. Arr. Vigo 11 p.m. 14th November, (after encountering S. & SW gales), Las Palmas 20th, to Dakar, whence another supply of coal was taken on board, for Pernambuco, arriving at Rio on Saturday December 12th. The small tug Minas was built to take the place of the Santiago, which foundered with all hands last November twelve months [i.e. in 1912].

Steamer Princess Victoria passing T.S. Foudroyant. [E. A. Bragg's Riviera Series, postmarked 1913. c. Kevin Wilkes]

Mr. J. S. Scoble of Coombe, on the River Fal, who has been visiting Falmouth for many years during the apple and plum season, had a very narrow escape from being drowned on Saturday. He was returning from Falmouth in a small boat when the weather became boisterous. Off Mylor point the boat suddenly filled and Mr. Scoble was in danger of losing his life.

Fortunately his predicament was observed by some boatmen, including Mr. Walter Morrison, jun., who happened to be in the vicinity in his motor boat. [ELSIE] He proceeded to the scene at the greatest possible speed, but Mr. Scoble refused to take hold of the rope that was thrown him, as the motor boat was travelling a little too fast. The steamer Princess Victoria next hove in sight and by careful manoeuvring Captain Stodden got his steamer alongside the waterlogged boat and rescued its occupant, who was little the worse for his adventure.

Meanwhile, Mr. Morrison picked up the empty fruit baskets and the boat's gear, which were some distance away. Mr. Scoble's only regret is that after being used to boats all his life, coming to Falmouth so often, and also engaging in local yacht racing, that "he was foolish enough to fill a boat."

FP Friday 25/9/1914: Another Captured German Ship at Falmouth - Captain's Attempt to beat a British Battleship.

The splendid four-mast barque Ponape, 2,177 tons, Captain Hamm. She is almost a new vessel, and had come home from 80 days from Iquique, bound to Antwerp, with a cargo of nitrate, [and] was captured on Saturday night [19-20th] by a British battleship. A prize crew was placed on board and the Ponape was taken in tow by the battleship and brought into Falmouth bay about 9 o'clock on Sunday morning.

Later in the day the vessel was taken in tow by the tug Dragon, and brought to an anchorage in Carrick Roads, the British white ensign being flown over the German flag. The capture is a valuable one, for nitrate is worth £10 to £15 a ton.

Within a few minutes of the anchoring of the Ponape, the German four-mast ship Goldbek, which was captured last Friday week, was towed out of the harbour by the tug Victor, en route for London, her original destination. The Ponape has been removed to an anchorage in Truro river.

The society's steamer "Red Cross" Captain Armistead Rust, formerly the Hamburg, arrived in Falmouth Bay about 10.30 on Wednesday night. [23rd]. She presented a very pretty appearance as she steamed into the Bay with several lights arranged on one of the masts in the shape of a cross.

Yesterday morning she was taken in tow by the tug Dragon and moored off St. Just. She had on board ten Red Cross units, consisting of 30 doctors and 135 hospital nurses. The staff of medical men comes from the John Hopkins' Hospital, Baltimore, which is the finest institution of its kind in the States. The nurses are drawn from the most highly trained in America, and not one is under twenty five years of age. The liner left New York last Saturday week.[12 Sept]

Steamer Aros Castle, which was run down by the steamer John Hardy last week and placed on a bank near the western breakwater, having been cut down to the water's edge, was re-floated on Sunday afternoon with the aid of the tugs Victor, Triton and Perran and towed alongside the eastern breakwater for temporary repairs.