1865
12 CARTE DE VISITE PORTRAITS FOR 2s 8d, OR 6 FOR 1s 8d.
SEND Carte de Visite and 32 Stamps, and 12 Perfect Copies will be returned within Fourteen days ADDRESS
J. PORTER, CELLARDYKE,
ANSTRUTHER. Lynch Law in the East of Fife. -In the early part of Monday afternoon, the west end of the neighbouring town of Cellardyke was the scene of a most extraordinary and singular occurrence, so far, at least, as the East Neuk is concerned. At the time in question, a notorious character, of the name of James Haggart, better known by the sobriquet of “Abernethy,’ was seen entering the town of Cellardyke, where public feeling was running very strongly against him in consequence of his being implicated in a case of a peculiarly bad and heartless nature. Whether the matter had been preconcerted or not, we are unable to state, but no sooner had he made his appearance than the women in the neighbourhood gathered together and began to give unmistakable expression to their anger and abhorrence by hooting and pelting him with stones. Quailing before the fury of his assailants, the craven attempted to beat a retreat, but he was no match for his nimble- tongued, nimble-limbed pursuers, who continued to shower upon him whatever of hard missile or foul epithet that came readiest in the way. In this manner he reached the top of the road at Caddies Burn, when he was either struck down by a stone, or, what was more probable, he pretended to lie under the influence of liquor, and so cast himself, in apparent helplessness, on the ground. This clumsy appeal, however, to move their compassion, was treated with utter disdain by his female adversaries – who had now increased to hundreds— for, amidst a perfect Babel of mingled screams of laughter and yells of execration, they crowded around the prostrate wretch. In a twinkling he was almost buried beneath a mass of potato stems and earth, which were brought by right willing hands from the adjoining field, and a cooling sedative was also now and then administered m the shape of sundry bucketful’s of water. The noise and confusion drew large numbers to the spot, but the graver portion of the community, when they saw that neither life nor limb were in any great danger, moved quietly on when they ascertained the cause, or remained the passive, if not amused, spectators of the extraordinary hubbub. The sympathies of some Highland halfdealsmen were, however, more active than those of the townsfolk, for after a vigorous attempt these “children of the mist” at length succeeded in rescuing the drenched and forlorn- looking outcast from the vengeance of the “Lynchers,” many of whom seemed half mad with frolic and excitement. The assistance of the Bobbies was ultimately obtained, and under the safe escort of those liveried footmen of the law he was majestically marched off to the lock-up, followed of course by an immense train of men, women, and children. While on their triumphal progress, the heroines who made themselves so conspicuous in this rough and ready administration of justice were vociferously cheered by the large groups of halfdealsmen and others lounging about the shore -a compliment which bashfulness did not prevent them from returning with gratitude and effect.
So far as we can learn, no bodily injury was sustained by the victim of popular rage, although it is to be hoped that the sharp reproof which he has received will have the effect of making him a wiser and better man for the future, and that it will also be a warning to others that the inhabitants of Cellardyke will not with impunity allow their town to be insulted and dishonoured by practices that make the cheek of humanity blush with shame and resentment.
1866
……… a large number of the fishermen of Pittenweem and St Monance participated in the disgrace which attaches to their conduct on Sunday, yet there were many in both towns who earnestly denounced it, and by so doing have joined their testimony with the enlightened and exemplary fishermen of Cellardyke in favour of the due observance of the Sunday. A cry is being raised in some quarters for the interference the authorities, but in our opinion the evil could be best met and remedied by the Christian Church applying those agencies for the moral and spiritual improvement of the fishing population, by which alone they can be guided and kept in the path of duty.
1867
Most of the Cellardyke boats have this week returned from the north, and taken successful part in the fishing at the “Haikes.” Large, however, as the shoal has been this place, it has been very limited as compared with former years, and the profits of the fishermen have been very much curtailed by the loss of nets caused the crowding which has taken place to obtain good berths on the limited area, where the herrings were only to found. From this cause the success has been no means general, for while some crews have drawn on one occasion as many as forty and fifty crans out of part of their nets, and have left the rest equally well fished until they should return from selling their first take, others have been mortified drawing in their nets nearly as bare when cast from the boat. The large quantities of herrings which have been discharged during the week at all the harbours of the east of Fife has imparted stirring animation to the shores, which pleasingly contrasts with the dull and deserted appearance they have exhibited in the former part of the season.
1869
On Thursday several fine takes were brought in Anstruther harbour by Buckhaven and Largo boats from the famous Pepper Sands, near Dunbar, where a large shoal of herring had set in on the previous day. The fishermen had only cast their nets that morning about seven o’clock, and in little more than two hours had drawn them well fished, when they stood over to Anstruther with a steady westerly breeze in the hope of better price than was likely be got on the south shore. Most unfortunately the Cellardyke and nearly all the other district boats are away in the north when the harvest has come to their very doors, but as the telegraph has been promptly put into operation it is expected that many will hasten to the Firth fishing without delay. With regard to our local fleet, little or nothing has been done this week. About ninety boats came up between Friday and Saturday evening, several of which had good takes, especially the latest arrivals; but being detained at sea by calms and adverse winds, it was almost daylight on Sunday morning before they could be discharged. One crew, who had a take of forty barrels, pickled their fish instead of accepting the current price of 10s a barrel, and their enterprise met with its well-deserved reward, they sold their herrings on Monday morning at 15s barrel.