The Cellardyke Echo – 14/10/2015

1835

Anstruther Easter – …. We have often regretted the want of an efficient police officer throughout the winter…. On Saturday nights the town is generally visited by gangs of the most disorderly young vagabonds from the neighbouring town of Cellardyke, who hesitate not to attack every female they meet, either with the most obscene language or gross personal maltreatment. Several instances have occurred of this since the fishermen have returned from the herring fishing, but, notwithstanding the knowledge of this, we regret to say that no steps have been taken by the public authorities to bring the offenders to justice.

1851

Skipper Adam Watson is called to Perth Court as a witness in a case against the Master of the Steamer Mars of Dundee which was run aground on the Rumness reef east of Crail . A girl called Katherine Sharkey lost her life that night..

Adam was fishing in his 38ft boat with 8 of a crew when hailed by the master of the Mars looking for a harbour to get coals. He was not informed that the vessel was sinking otherwise he would have taken crew and passengers aboard. Adam informed him that he could get the pilot out of Anstruther but this was taken no further.

The master eventually had the charge of culpable homicide dropped but was found guilty of culpable and reckless neglect of duty.

1865

The quickest passage of the season with new teas – The China Clipper ship, Min, Captain Smith (Cellardyke), arrived last Sunday after a very rapid passage from Foo-Choo-foo; and the Taeping, Captain MacKinnon, belonging to the same owners also arrived on Wednesday morning, beating every ship of the season in 102 days.

1869

The Effects of a loose tongue – At a burgh court, Bailie Brown, on the bench. James Haggart, better known by his soubriquet of Abernethy, was charged with breach of the peace, in so far as he used insulting and threatening language to James Watson, fishcurer, Cellardyke, and otherwise conducting himself in a drunken riotous manner near the east quay……. A witness supported James Watson’s evidence stating that had Watson not been a man with a mild temper, he would certainly have taken the law in his own hands, so unbearable was the language used towards him.. Found Guilty the defendant was fined 12s 6d or twelve days imprisonment, Bailie Brown reprimanded him saying this was the second disgraceful appearance before the bench in two months, and counselled him to refrain from drinking.

1876

The bankruptcy case of John Alexander Millar, boat builder Cellardyke is reported to be held 26th October and creditors to meet in the Tontine Hotel Cupar. 6th Nov.

1878

Burgh Court in Cellardyke – all the magistrates were on the bench when six schoolboys – John and George , sons of Robert Anderson, Alexander, son of James Moncrieff, James, son of James Parker, George, son of James Salter and William, son of William Melville, pleaded guilty to having in a mischievous frolic smashed the windows of the infant school. The poor little urchins, as they stood trembling in tears evinced great penitence for their thoughtless misdemeanour and after a pointed reprimand, they, or rather their parents were fined 2s each ..

1901

James Patterson Wallace, Cellardyke fisherman belonging to the Morning Star effected a most gallant rescue from drowning of a boy in Yarmouth harbour. The Morning Star was moored opposite the fish quay when the alarm was raised. The boy had fallen off the quay and passed under the keel of a steamer and rose to the surface some 80 yards down the harbour. Wallace, hearing the shouts from the crowded fish market though wearing seaboots and heavy clothing unhesitatingly plunged into the water and saved the boy who seemed dead. The Morning Star’s crew took the lad below and after prolonged exertions restored him to consciousness. Wallace’s heroic act was cheered by hundreds of admiring spectators

1930

The Gleanaway (KY40), the new type of fishing boat built to the order of bailie Carstairs, by Messrs J & G Forbes Sandhaven… has completed its speed tests off Cellardyke. It is believed its average speed was 11 ¼ miles per hour with approx. fuel consumption 3s 6d per hour. Should these figures be confirmed the installation of the diesel engine in this boat will mark a new era in the fishing industry, as the increased speed at a reduced cost of running is an all-important point for fishermen. The Gleanaway will leave next week for Yarmouth… (****NB A steam drifter was running at 8s 6d per hour . The Gleanaway cost £4100 to build, a wooden steam drifter was £4800 and a steel steam drifter £6200. The Gleanaway was to go on and set a record speed of return from Yarmouth doing the journey in little over 24 hours a standard drifter’s fastest return was upwards of 33 hours. )

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