1870
Two very affecting instances of the uncertainty of life occurred in Cellardyke on Thursday morning. Christian Black, wife of Mr Anderson Lothian, was attending a religious meeting in the Town Hall, when, as Mr Martin, evangelist from Glasgow, was engaged in prayer, she fell down in a fit of palsy. She was carried to the house of Widow Watson, which under the hall, where she died in about ten hours afterwards. The other case was that of Helen Robertson, wife of Mr Andrew Ringan, shoemaker, who was found dead in bed by her son in the morning. Her partner, who is about eighty, was sleeping by her side, and his feelings on wakening, may be conceived but never described. Both of the deceased were about seventy years of age.
An Interesting and Venerable Supper Party. —It is doubtful whether in the length and breadth of the land, even at this festive season, a more interesting party has encircled the social board than at the annual supper given by Thomas Cormack Esq., of the Cellardyke Steam Mills, on the occasion of engaging the boats for the crab fishing.
As everybody acquainted with the coast is aware, this fishing is conducted by aged men no longer able for the toils and fatigue of the deep sea, and consequently the meeting of Friday evening was really and truly gathering of the fathers of Cellardyke. This will appear more strongly when we state that seventeen of the old fishermen entertained on the occasion had an average age of almost seventy years, their united age giving a grand total of 1185 years. Two of our patriarchs, both in their eighty-fifth year had, however, to have their share sent to their own homes, but the others were all able to take place round the well plenished supper table, duly spread in Mr Cormack’s large and comfortable office. Singular enough the oldest of the company, Mr Mitchell Doig, who is in his seventy-seventh year, is also the oldest of four brothers, all of whom were present. The very youngest of the party had faced no fewer than threescore winters, and as may well be inferred where the voyage has been so unusually long and protracted on life’s stormy main, very many and strange were the memories which could talked over by these “ancient mariners” when, as on the night in question, they came to compare ” log books” together. We do not know all the subjects that were discussed, but we feel assured that none could be more interesting than if the hoary old fishers told of the experiences of their youth in the eventful times of the great French war, those stirring days when a friend was sometimes more to be feared than enemy or storm, because more frequent than either was the gun-brig or the pressgang that lurked about—silently and stealthly the wild beast for its prey—to drag the young fisher from his home. Full often at these times has the gallant little boat been trimmed with nicest care to out speed the dreaded cruiser, while, like the old castles in the troubled days of history, every fisher house had its secret or concealed place of retreat ready against the coming of the yet more ruthless gang, that would rob the household its pride and stay. With tales like these to tell, or the queerer, though not less momentous incidents of peace to discuss, there was no fear that the conversation would grow dull, or flag in interest, and neither did it, for nothing could exceed the cordial and animated enjoyment which \ marked the meeting from beginning to end. Mr Cormack had a seat at the head of the table, and his kindness and urbanity contributed in no small degree to the happiness and pleasure of his venerable guests, whom, we trust, will be spared to join on more such blithesome occasions in wishing all health and prosperity to one so every way worthy of their gratitude and esteem.
1871
Serious Accident at Sea.— About daylight on Friday morning last, an accident of a very serious nature occurred at sea, to Mr Charles Anderson, the skipper and owner of one of the Cellardyke deep sea-going boats. The crew were busy in casting their fishing lines, when the foresail tore away from the yard, in consequence of which it was found necessary to lower the mast that the damage might be repaired. This was being done when, unfortunately, the halyards slipped, the heavy mast fell on Skipper Anderson, who was standing near the stern of the boat, crushing him down on the platform or “after sheets” with such terrible violence to break one of his legs below the knee; but more fearful still, the body being at the same time doubled together, it fractured the ribs from the breast bone, and otherwise inflicted injuries of the most serious internal nature. The crew made every possible effort to release him; but in the stormy state of the weather, with the disabled boat rolling in the sea way, an interval of intense anxiety to them, and of inexpressible agony to the poor sufferer, necessarily elapsed before the mast was secured, so to enable Skipper Anderson to be lifted out in safety. The fishing lines were thrown adrift, and sail made for home; but the storm in the meantime having become more furious and contrary, it was not until nearly twenty hours after he had been struck that the boat reached Anstruther harbour. This was about four o’clock on Saturday morning, when the unfortunate man was once conveyed home, and Dr Macarthur sent for; but though everything has been done that skill and attention could suggest, still, owing to the fearful nature, of his injuries, aggrieved much by the constant tossing of the boat in the tempest, the poor sufferer continues in the most exhausted and precarious condition.
A few days later
In an early hour on Saturday morning, Skipper Charles Anderson, of Cellardyke, who was so cruelly crushed by the fall of the boat’s masts during the sea storm of Friday week, died of his injuries after an interval of the most intense suffering and agony. He was about 47 years of age, and leaves seven children, five of the orphans being still unable provide for themselves. Seldom, indeed, has the pathos and mystery of life been so sadly illustrated in the case of this stricken household. About three ago, and within fortnight of each other, two fine daughters were swiftly cut down in the bloom of early womanhood; and few months ago, the mother also passed to the “narrow house,” in whose cold embrace five of her twelve had been already laid. Skipper Anderson was one of the most extensive and successful fishermen of his native town, and his melancholy and untimely fate has elicited all sides the deepest expression of sympathy and regret.
1872
FISHING BOAT DASHED ON ANSTRUTHER PIER—EXCITING SCENE. During the severe gale from the south-west on Thursday morning the safety of the few daring crews that had ventured to sea in the face of the gathering tempest was the subject of great anxiety on shore, and many must have passed sleepless night listening, with trembling hearts, to the roaring waves, but, happily, they all regained the shelter of the harbour without harm, with the exception of the herring fishing boat belonging Skipper _ William Easson, of Buckhaven. The tide was ebbing fast, but there was still water enough the harbour about eleven o’clock in the forenoon, when the boat was seen to tack for the shore. The gale was now at its height, and driven before the resistless hurricane, the tops of the dark mountain waves were everywhere torn into sheets of foam, giving to the shore all the appearance of a vast field drifted snow, except where the tangled skerries rose like black specks through the yeast like spray, while away the offing the sail was seen tossing and reeling like willow bush in the gale. The skilful horseman knows by a glance the well-handled steed; and in the same way, and long before a landsman could have foreseen the danger, the Cellardyke fishermen saw it was time to prepare for the worst, and so the cry “launch the lifeboat” sent in an instant a hundred willing hands to the work of dragging the boat to the harbour, where, being manned with the same matchless promptitude volunteer crew, with Skipper John Pratt coxswain, the noble little craft, with her gallant rowers, sped like a dove on the errand of mercy— breasting the waves as graceful as swan, while a thousand faces on the shore brightened with the thought that, happen what might, help and deliverance were near at hand. In the meantime, the stranger boat had reefed her sail and was ploughing towards the harbour, while the waves were ever and anon leaping so high above the gunwale as to hide the crew from the excited spectators who lined the piers. The boat was evidently under too much canvas, and many a warning signal was waved and many a friendly voice raised the cry, “Lower the sail; keep her more away” to the sea ; but engulfed, as it were, in a whirlpool, and with the halyard block unfortunately refusing to do its office, the poor crew were unable to control the onward speed of their boat dashing along like a runaway horse, till, as approached the pier, treacherous sea struck her on the starboard quarter, when, whirling from her course, she seemed to dart like an arrow upon the surf-beaten bulwark of the east pier. A wild cry rose from the shore as the boat struck the bulwark, and at another time few broken planks, and the harrowing sight of dead men might have been the mournful record of the disaster; but, providentially, active and willing hands were ready, and ropes having been thrown and fastened to the boat, she was dragged into the harbour, seemingly from the very jaws of destruction. Though thus anticipated the work of salvation by their gallant townsmen on the pier, we ought to state that every effort was being made by the brave fellows in the lifeboat. The stranded boat is the Harmony, of Buckhaven, and she appears to be greatly damaged, her stem being driven in with the force of the collision against the pier, and her framework is also much shattered. She had on board about four crans of herrings. The Cellardyke fishermen deserve the greatest praise for their humanity and bravery in the case.