1880
A new friendly society has just been formed here under the name of the Cellardyke Fisherman’s Union and Benefit Society. According to the rules, which have a curious identity with those of the Odd-Fellows, none but fishermen may enter; but all such have an open door so long as they go in deep sea boats. The entry Money is only one shilling, and the payments two pence a week; but the promoters build on these a platform wide enough to provide for hurt and ailing members, and even to give permanent relief after ‘three score’ and to widows whenever rendered so by the dispensations of Providence . this is by no means a new experiment in the district; but it has been launched at a time when there is a loud knock at every door to provide, as heaven shall give the means for a possible day of trouble and distress; and it speaks well for the true Scottish heart of the community that already about one hundred have embarked in the Association. Economists will be no less gratified to hear that life assurance is taking such good root in Cellardyke, that within the last week or two some twenty are entered for sums ranging from £50 to £200. Simultaneous with all this, an active effort is going on for the relief of the widow and fatherless……. The total subscriptions at this date border on £100.
The magistrates of Kilrenny are still in doubt and difficulty about a pure water supply for Cellardyke. The other day saw them out on a tour of exploration in the uplands of the Parish when the visited the old mines at Pitcorthie and Carvenom, where like the ‘tappings’ of some mighty cistern, the springlet sings gaily all through the longest summer day. Cool and chrystaline also, they are in this respect, in grateful contrast to the thick and muddy streams flowing beside them in ditch and brook, though their birthplace in the iron and other mineral strata forbids their use or adaption for the town. The complaints, especially in the west end of Cellardyke are, of course, increased and increasing as the drought advances, and the inconvenience and discomfort of the neighbours fully warrants the outcry which is to be heard upon the subject.
For sale
Valentines photographic views of Kirkcaldy, Burntisland, Kinghorn, Dysart, Wemyss, Elie, St Monance, Pittenweem Anstruther and Cellardyke.
Arbroath-The harbour – we have got a fresh addition to our fleet of large decked boats, which has been built at Anstruther by Mr. John A Millar boatbuilder. She is carvel built decked, and has all the latest improvements. Some idea of her size may be formed when we state that in ballast her draught of water is 5 ½ feet. She is owned by Mr. Alexander Beatie, is named the ‘Maggie’, AH 20. On Wednesday a number of Cellardyke boats arrived here and landed a quantity of small herring, which they had taken for bait for their great lines but had been unable to make use of owing to the gale. The herring were taken by cadgers who were selling them at ‘six a penny’., ( John A Millar Worked at the East End of Cellardyke from 1865 before moving to the Esplanade West Anstruther, in front of the White house, Yes….50ft boats built on the hammerhead at West Anstruther..)
The ‘Maggie’ is over fifty feet in length and is rather more than forty tons in builders measurement; but although as round as an apple in the sheer, she is as sharp as a wedge, where she has to cut her way through the ‘billows’ and we are persuaded that with a kindly breeze, the ‘Maggie’ will have no leeward berth in the race from sea. We are of course, not less convinced on this point, when we learn how she is to be fitted out with spar and sail, which are simply to the boat what the wings are to the seagull. To avoid detail, it is enough to remark that her foresail contains some 250 yards, or about thirty or forty more than is usual with a craft of her size- in fact, in those railway days, speed is not mote indispensable to a racing yacht than to a first class fishing craft, hastening home with the harvest of the deep. The fishing trade, however, is prospering in no common degree on the Forfar coast, as the ‘Maggie’ is the twentieth in the North Sea fleet off Arbroath. This is the sixth launch in the course of a twelve month by Councillor Millar, and we notice it with special interest and pleasure as the development of so inconsiderable branch of local industry, seeing that the ‘Maggie’ and her outfit with lead to the expenditure of not less than £300 on Anstruther Shore.
1881
Narrow escape of the 42nd Highlanders
Cellardyke shore was the scene of no little excitement and alarm on Thursday morning by the appearance of a large steamer amongst the rocks to the east of the harbour. At Times the fog – the evident cause of the disaster – was so thick as to conceal all trace of the vessel, but ever and anon the great black hull came into view, while the steam whistle was sounded and the alarm bell rung in a way that sufficiently told of the uneasiness on board. The vessel proved to be the troopship Holland, from Portsmouth, with the 42nd Regiment on board. The big ship had been seen by some crab fishers, and by means of their boat, a branch pilot, Thomas Cunningham, hailed the steamer, which, favoured in the meantime the flood tide, was once more afloat and in deep water. The officers were evidently cautious, but an explanation having taken place, the pilot was invited aboard, and arrangements made with hi,m to guide the vessel to Leith, towards which she was now directed as swiftly as prudence in the continued density of the fog would permit. She was for about a quarter of an hour seemingly on the sand bank between the shore and the isolated rock known as the ‘basket’ and more than once the mist so rolled aside that the deck of the steamer could be seen crowded with children, but so thorough was the discipline, that there was not the faintest indication of confusion or precipitate hurray in the movements of those on board. The Holland arrived safely off Granton about half past twelve. The North British Railway good steamer Leviathan immediately proceeded alongside to disembark the baggage. The passenger steamer John Stirling proceeded alongside to disembark the troopers, but not having a gangway some delay was occasioned by her having to return for one. About two o clock the steamer again proceeded to the Holland and the troops embarked about five o clock. The bands of the 21st Hussars and the Edinburgh Artillery Militia were waiting in Granton, and accompanied the Highlanders up to Edinburgh.
At West Anstruther, Councillor Millar has launched two handsome clippers during the last nine or ten days. Both are distinguished by that graceful sheer and ‘eye sweet’ quality for which the Councillor’s boats are so justly admired, whether on the sands of Norfolk or the granite sea gates of the North.
The First Launch at West Anstruther took place on Friday, when the dashing craft, which is to the order of Mr. John Salter of Cellardyke was christened the ‘Pride of Fife’, her handsome sister found her destined element on Monday under the name ever sacred to grace and beauty, the ‘Lady of the Lake’. She is for Mr Alexander Davidson also of Cellardyke. Councillor Millar now has his hands free to proceed with a cruising yacht. Our Townsman Councillor Jarvis has just completed a first class boat on the lines for which he, as in the case of Mr Alexander Cunningham, obtained a silver medal at Norwich. She is in the meantime quite an attraction to the Forth, and opinions are as one amongst the old salts about her capabilities as a fast and powerful sea boat. She is to the order of Messrs. Thomas Anderson and Alex Murray we hear to be named the ‘Carmie’. The Councillor has two other first class boats on hand for the herring Drave – one and all for Cellardyke; but with this exception, as we have said, the trade is waiting for the ‘moving of the waters’ in that all important event of the fisher year. The Cellardyke fleet is to then number scarcely less than 180 boats, which will make the total outfit from the East of Fife not under 340 or so, being a decided advance on any other former effort of the coast.