1854
A Reading Room has been opened in the Town Hall of Cellardyke, Fifeshire. The subscription is four shillings per annum. Nearly one-half of the subscribers are fishermen.
HERITABLE SUBJECTS IN CELLARDYKE FOR SALE, BY PRIVATE BARGAIN. 1st, THAT HOUSE of two Storeys, and YARD at the Back thereof, with the Pertinents, lying the South side of the Street of Cellardyke, and presently possessed by William Brown, Shoemaker, and George Keay.
2d, THAT BUILDING, with the Pertinents, at the foot of said Yard, and the privilege of a Road to the same of the breadth of 3 1/2 feet from the street through the above mentioned Subjects. For further information apply to John Smith, Writer, Anstruther, who has the Title Deeds, and with whom separate Offers in writing are requested to be lodged on or before Friday, the 29th of December current. . Anstruther 20th Dec. 1854. .
LIVERPOOL “BLACK BALL” CLIPPER PACKETS.
The celebrated Clipper Lightning
2093 Tons; now her second voyage.
The Lightning is celebrated for having made the voyage to and from Australia in less time than has ever been accomplished by any ship or steamer afloat: Left Liverpool 14th -May, arrived , back, 23rd October.
Five Months and Eight-and-a-half Days.
She has also acquired world-wide fame for having made the passage from Melbourne to Liverpool, port to port, in 65 days, being ten days less time than that of any other ship in the world.
All Letters and Newspapers must pass through the post as none can be received at the Agents’ office.
No cargo will be received after the 1lst. All passengers luggage, except first cabin, must be on board on the 2nd and all cabin passengers on the 3rd.
Apply to the Owners, JAMES BAINES, A CO., 1 6, Cook Street, Liverpool;
Or to
Robert Stewart 162, High Street, Dundee,
J. JEFFERS WILSON, Advertiser Office Kirkcaldy.
JAMES HOWIE, St Andrews,
THOMAS BROWN, Cellardyke, Anstruther
1857
ST MONANCE.—A Benighted Wean.—There is a story of a greetin’ bairn that has been extant on this coast as current coin for perhaps two centuries, which we have always regarded as the mere progeny of timid imagination; and the hair of many heads has been stirred and bristled by the uncouth sounds that have saluted the ears of the benighted wanderers. But it happened just last week on a dark and moonless night, that some of the intrepid youths pertaining to Cellardyke, having their land tacks on board, were careering westward to our province on a, sweetheartjng expedition—for in this way we cross the breed, as agriculturists approve of, and thereby uprear a generation of hardy enterprising nautics utterly destitute of anything resembling fear. Well, whilst cruising about with yards close hauled, and the manse of Pittenweem, bearing W by S., distant about four furlongs, a wailing sound wafted on the gale, fell at intervals on their listening organs, “Hal’ your wind, Tom, what’s that ? Puir Mother Carry’s chickens. Heave a head.” Scarcely had they time to reconnoitre their position, when, lo! they discovered sprawling on the ground, not a child of fancy, but a veritable infant about six months’ old, both visible and tangible. Having hoisted the innocent, they proceeded on their course until they observed crazy hulk lying on her beam-ends overladen with barley, and not aware that she had dropped her offspring. With some difficulty, they raised her from the strand and set her on even keel, making last the helpless babe on board the careless mother, and taking her in tow, conducted her to Pittenweem and saw her moored in port. This is a fit subject for the teetotal pledge, were it really effectual.
1859
LOSS OF A BOAT AND SEVEN LIVES. The East of Fife Record (published at Anstruther) reports the loss of one the Cellardyke fishing boats on Thursday last, by which seven lives were lost, and five families with a wide circle of relatives, thrown into deep distress. The boats had been prevented by stormy weather from going to sea all the early part of the week. Wednesday night, however, the storm abated considerably, and on Thursday morning the whole put to sea; but before they had done with the fishing the wind again freshened, and continued to increase all the early part of the day, during which they had to make their way homeward over a cross sea, in which numerous hairbreadth escapes were made, from the waves breaking in upon their undecked vessels and nearly filling them. One the boats, less fortunate, having reached the mouth of the Firth, where they were considered in comparative safety, was suddenly engulphed in a huge wave, and overwhelmed in an instant. Another boat, about a stonecast distant, seeing the catastrophe, immediately bore up to give assistance, and succeeded in saving one of the crew, named Daniel Fleming, but the rest, seven in number, perished. Their names are:—William Birrel, skipper, married ; David Birrel, his son ; Thomas Birrel, his nephew; William Wood, married; James Davidson, married ; George Keay, married ; and James Reid, lately married. The destitution resulting from this sad event, although sore enough to the bereaved families, is perhaps not great sometimes arises from such disasters. As near as we can learn, twelve children, and five widows, are deprived support Within the last thirtv years eight boats, involving about fifty lives, belonging to Cellardyke, have been lost in prosecution the fishing.’
NB This boat was named the Heroine