1880
The Mournful tidings were flashed home on Wednesday, that early on the same morning, James Beat, master and owner of the deep sea going boat, Teaping of Cellardyke, had been drowned in the North Sea. The particulars of the lamentable event are briefly told – the Teaping KY 1611 , a fine craft of her class was only launched at Anstruther a twelvemonth ago. The crew mustered on Monday morning, but like others of the fleet, did not sail for the fishing ground till the evening tide. The land breeze freshened as the daylight sank on the horizon, and at daybreak the next morning the weather had so changed that the sky was black with the gathering storm. Undaunted, however, by his situation, the gallant young skipper went on with the errand of the day. This had been so far gained, and with the same unshaken resolution the boat was kept close to the wind in order to make the voyage home, and so night deepened in the wintry sea, with the gale over and anon rising in hurricane fury till the spray was cast like snowflakes from the tops of the surging billows, but with brave hand on the tiller, the little craft gallantly cleft her way as when the sea bird seeks her nest in the storm. The land at last is on the weatherbow, when about two o clock in the morning the order was given to bring the boat round on the other tack. This was the fatal moment, for gathering sternway as clipper craft will do in the eye of the wind. The tiller, as by the stroke of a wild bull, tossed the skipper there as he stood at the post of duty and danger, over the gunwale into the foaming sea. Two younger brothers and other friends are of the crew, and how eager then is the rush to the rescue, and an oar is thrown to the strong hand so eager and ready to grasp it. For a moment all seems well as the spar answers for a life stay, but it is not to be, the sailors glass is run, and a terrific billow strikes away his hold and buries him and his secret for ever in the in fathomed mysteries of the grave. It occurred about 8 miles to the offing of Stonehaven, when the crew, with a sorrow and distraction not to be described bore away for Aberdeen, from which a telegram bearing the fatal message was sent to the parish minister of Kilrenny, the Rev G S Anderson. Never, perhaps, has a pastor been called to a more trying and touching duty, as the young skipper from his earnest and affectionate sympathies had stood in a peculiarly tender relationship with Mr Anderson, who also had the fatal tidings to break to the young wife, soon to become a mother, busy at that moment in her father’s house with the hopes and duties of the morrow. ….. Skipper Beat although only about 25 was also one of the most resolute and self-reliant fishermen of Cellardyke, and , altogether, a more promising and useful life has seldom passed from amongst us. He was married about 13 months ago, and the liveliest sympathy is felt on all sides for the afflicted widow, who, with many friends is today weeping over his untimely fate. He was distinguished even in Cellardyke for his intelligence and public spirit, and we, indeed, remember that when Mr Bennet opened the candidature for the ST Andrews Burghs, he submitted those views about trawling in the Forth and down on the English coast; also with regard to the necessity of a beacon light on the Carr, and other matters of vital intelligence to sea faring men, which have more or less been referred to since in the policy. Like most of his townsmen he was a devoted member of the Church of Scotland, and was one of the committee now carrying out the scheme of Church extension in Cellardyke. He was likewise one of the faithful band who are doing so much good work in the Sabbath School and Bible Class… It is a melancholy coincidence that his brother in law, Mr John Montidore, perished near the same spot about 18 months ago..
NETS NETS NETS – NEW SYSTEM – CASH TRADE
William Duncan is still offering best fishing nets at 26s 6d and 28s 6d for cash only. Orders booked now for Lammas fishings at above prices.
4lb and 4 ½ lb Great lines 10d per lb. Mounted great lines 5s 11d per Tae, Cellardyke 1880.
Arbroath – On Saturday Morning, while a strong gale prevailed, a fishing boat was seen running down upon the harbour, and on arriving was found to be the Cellardyke boat, 1285 KY. She had left Crail on Wednesday night for the fishing ground, and had been at sea all that time, unable to make the land. She had about a dozen baskets of fish, which though caught on Thursday morning, found a ready market.
Stonehaven – A Cellardyke boat ran here on Thursday with 2 tons 5cwt of haddocks, which were sold at 16s per cwt realising almost £40. On Saturday four boats from Cellardyke and Pittenweem landed owning to the severe gale, carrying shots from 10cwt to nearly 2 tons, which they sold at 13s to 15s per cwt, realising from £10 to £30 each, one of them lost 14 lines in the storm, and still caught 23cwt of fish and had all her lines been recovered the shot would have been very heavy.