1870
LEVEN. An Irish Pair.—Amongst the passengers our railway from Thornton on Thursday evening, were two rough looking Irishmen, thoroughly “wet with the dew of the Emerald Isle.’ As the “spirits’* within them, however, were likely to slumber, they were allowed to take possession of third class compartment, but at the next station—that of Cameron Bridge—they became the special care the active and intelligent guard, who in the usual prompt discharge his duty, turned out one the travellers, named Patrick McLauchlan, who had not or would not provide himself with a ticket. This was an insult, however, which the Hibernian spirit could not pardon, so in true Fenian style he proceeded wreak his vengeance oh the carriage, smashing glass and wood work like so many “eyes and noses” at Donnybrook. Being immediately expelled, however, from the station, he transferred his pugnacity and destructive propensities to the adjacent village of Windygates, but when after sundry acts of mischief and a case or two of assault, he was taken into custody and due time was sent to Cupar, when on the following day he was tried before Sheriff Beatson Bell, and sentenced to thirty days’ imprisonment. His companion, Patrick Harkin, though allowed to proceed with the train, very soon involved himself in trouble also, for on arriving at Anstruther, the railway officials not being satisfied that he had share in breaking the carriage, had him apprehended by Constable M’Kay, but the violent resistance he offered led to his being charged before the Magistrates of East Anstruther next day with a breach of the peace, for which he was sentenced to a fine of 7s 6d or eight days’ imprisonment. Those men, it appears were their way from Port Glasgow fill up berths as half-dealsmen at Cellardyke.
1871
Prevalence of Epidemic Distress in the Fishing Towns
We exceedingly regret to have to report that in the populous fishing towns of Cellardyke and St Monance the measles are very prevalent, and, at the same time, are spreading with almost singular rapidity in the thickly inhabited houses. In St Monance the epidemic appears to be of a more malignant type and one fatal case is reported; but seldom in both places have so many youth of the household been stricken down at the same time, thus leaving little rest and no end of anxiety and alarm for those who are called upon to watch by the bedside of distress……
Provost Martin, of Cellardyke, gave the employees in his oil-cloth manufactory their annual excursion on Saturday last. On former occasion the party visited the romantic village of Abernethy, but this year—though so much nearer their own neighbourhood—the place selected for the excursion was still more interesting, being the ancient and queenly city of St Andrews. The company, which mostly consisted of young women—all, however, without exception, being in neat holiday attire—took the road in a comfortably-seated cart, when, on arriving in the grand old city, they were entertained to a substantial dinner by their kind employer. After doing every justice to the good things provided, as people may be expected to do who have traversed through Kingsmuir and Dunino, the party left the hotel to visit the various places of interest —such as the Cathedral and Castle ruins, with the magnificent buildings which the wealth and taste of the present day is adorning the city. At four o’clock they all once more assembled to an excellent tea, at the conclusion of which the happy company again took their seats for the homeward journey, each and all delighted in the highest degree with the pleasures the day. The expense of the excursion was wholly defrayed by Provost Martin, who was also present, doing everything his power to promote the comfort and happiness of the party, who, on their part, appeared to fully appreciate the great attention and kindness shown to them.
1872
A melancholy accident occurred here on the evening Monday last, which resulted in the death by drowning of a fine boy, the son of Mr Alexander Martin, fisherman. That our readers may understand the nature of this sad affair, we may state that the shore at Cellardyke is ribbed as it were with long outlying skerries, covered in sea weed, and left bare by every receding tide. These rocks are the constant resort children, who naturally inherit an instinctive love for the sea; and like so many of his comrades, the unfortunate youth, Alex. Martin, was amusing himself at the brink of low water with his little fishing line, when, his foot slipping, he fell into a deep hole close by the edge of the Skerries- His terrified companions at once fled to raise the alarm, but the great distance of the scene from the head of the beach rendered their outcry of little avail, and all the more so as the crews were to a man at the herring fishing. Several women, however, who were standing on the shore heard through the gathering twilight, the voice of the drowning youth, in the agony of the death struggle, ”Oh, mother, mother, come to me.” The cry rose again and again above the lonely murmur of the shore, when, hearing of what had happened, Mr. David Black rushed to the spot, where by this time the poor victim had sunk to the bottom; but Mr. Black repeatedly attempted, though vainly, to reach him. He was joined on the skerrie by several of the neighbours and a young sailor belonging to a ship lying in Anstruther, but their united exertions were fruitless till nearly half an hour after the accident had happened, when, of course, life was quite extinct. The body, however, was immediately conveyed home, when Dr. Macarthur was promptly in attendance and every restorative applied, but, as we have said, without avail. The father was absent in Stonehaven and the afflicted mother had thus to bear the heavy bereavement without that sympathy which does so much to assuage and comfort our domestic griefs. The unfortunate boy was about ten years of age full of health and spirits, and possessed to a singular degree those fine qualities of the heart which by showing a forethought and affection greater than years, win so largely the esteem and attachment of all.
ST ANDREWS.-At Sea in a Fog.- On Monday forenoon, a fisherman named Sandy Smith, a man of sixty years, belonging to Cellardyke, left that harbour all alone in a small yawl, intending to ‘proceed to the Island of May, to haul his lobster creels, and also to try the hand-lines. A dense fog came on, and failing to find his course, the boat was drifted by the ebb tide out of the Forth and into St Andrews bay. The Weather still continuing hazy the boat, was knocked about for-two days, and it was only on Wednesday night that land was made. On the evening of that day the boat was observed from St Andrews harbour, with sails set, running in on the east sands, opposite St Nicholas. A boat proceeding out of the harbour went to the rescue, and the boat, with its solitary occupant, was brought in the harbour and safely landed. During the two days the old man had been at sea he had been almost without food and water and was consequently much exhausted.
1873
THE POST-OFFICE FIRE. On Tuesday evening, one of the most severe thunder storm ever experienced in this district prevailed for several hours. Commencing about half-past seven at night, it continued with little intermission until nearly six o’clock next morning. The storm attained its greatest height about midnight, when the flashes of lightning were alarmingly frequent and of so vivid nature as to render objects at great distance quite plain for a few seconds. The thunder peals were also unusually loud, while the rain came down in torrents, flooding many shops and houses. Early in the evening a stack of hay on the farm of Carvenom was set on fire and consumed. At Cellardyke, the fluid entered the post-office by the telegraph wire, and set fire to the letter-box. The fire was fortunately soon discovered by the post-master, who, with the assistance of his son succeeded in putting out the flames the box and a letter-bag were destroyed. At Pittenweem lightning entered a house by the chimney, and, hurling the grate to the other side of the room, made its escape by a bedroom, happily without injuring the occupants.
1876
An Unruly Norlan
Alexander Mackay, native of Sutherland but for some time employed in the fishing at Cellardyke, was charged before Kilrenny Magistrates on Friday with assaulting Mrs James Watson in her public house near the Tollbooth, and also with a breach of the peace at the same time and place. Sandy repelled the charge of assault, when evidence was led, in the course of which Mrs Watson, Mrs Murray, and Margaret Fowler detailed the circumstances of the case. From these statements it appeared that Mackay had refused leave the house, when Mrs Watson threatened expel him with the poker, of which, however, she had been summarily disarmed by the brawny clansman After hearing parties the Magistrate found the charge of assault not proved, but sustained that of breach the peace, and sentenced the panel to a fine of 10s 6d.
Last night a boy named Muir, ten years of age, son of James Muir Fisherman, was drowned at Cellardyke. He was engaged along with a companion in fishing from a large rock near the harbour, and while throwing out his line, overbalanced himself, and was drowned before assistance could be procured. The body was recovered about an hour afterwards.
1878
Anstruther
On Monday afternoon while some little urchins were amusing themselves with their tiny fishing lines at the east pier, one of their number, Henry Stevenson, belonging to Cellardyke, missed his hold, and fell into the water. No help was on the spot, but fortunately the accident was observed from the windows overlooking the shore, and the alarm thus raised, brought William Parker boat carpenter, to the rescue. An excited crowd had already gathered on the pier, but in their inability to swim, it was left to this gallant young man to plunge to the assistance of the drowning boy, whom he had the happiness to deliver at the last moment from the jaws death. It excites astonishment that on this long and exposed pier—the constant resort of young and old—neither life buoy nor life line was or is at hand so as be available for any extremity that might happen by night or by day.
At the Small Debt Court held at Anstruther—a case was heard which caused considerable amusement. It was at the instance of James Watson, fishcurer, Cellardyke, against William Pattie carter there. It was for the recovery £5 of alleged borrowed money, and £6 2s 9d for coals and fish roes, being £11 2a 8d in all. The defender denied having borrowed the money, and Mrs Pattie made the Courtroom ring by an emphatic declaration that ” the ithers were her business, and she would speak for them hersel’.” The pursuer then went on to explain the circumstances under which the debt was contracted, when he was interrupted Mrs Pattie—” It’s no true, it’s lie. The Sheriff reminded her of the respect due to a Court of Justice. The case then proceeded, when Mrs Pattie admitted having received the coals and also the fish roes, but with regard to the former she said she had a counter account for driving, which more than paid them, while in reference to the fish roes she had paid them as she did others regularly every week. An altercation here ensued between her and the pursuer, who disputed some of her statements. “I manage my business; he manages his, though at the same time there was perfect confidence betwixt them. He’s no Mormonite, and has nae mair wives but me, and mair nor that (turning Bench with look of exulting triumph)—the Lord ‘ill hear me weel as he’ll hear you.” (Roars of laughter.) In reply to the Sheriff she said that Mr Watson had taken away the account book, and had refused to give it up. The Sheriff asked Mr Watson what had become of the book. The pursuer said—”l do not have it with me, it is lying about.” The Sheriff then proposed to continue the case for proof, when the pursuer produced the book from his pocket. His Lordship sharply demanded an explanation of this conduct, which he characterised as ” extraordinary,” and as attempt to deceive the Court. Mr Watson pleaded the excitement of the situation, and the hearing of the case was resumed, when the Sheriff decided that as the pursuer had no evidence that Mrs Pattie had borrowed the £5, and that as she, besides, was not authorised to do without the consent of her husband, the claim fell to the ground. With regard to the coals and roes, found that these were so far met by the account for driving, only to leave balance of 5s 7 ½d for which he gave decree, but without expenses.
Peterhead
LauchIan Ramsay, labourer from Argyllshire, was convicted on evidence. yesterday, before Baillie Smith, of having on the 15th inst. stolen a black cloth jacket from the fishing boat Bloom, of Cellardyke, when lying in the harbour here, and of having pledged the jacket at a pawnshop in town for 3s the name of ” Cameron.” He was sentenced to pay a fine of 20s, otherwise suffer 14 days’ Imprisonment.