1870
We have had almost a continuation of boisterous gales since the 6th instant. No boat ventured to sea last week after that date. The business of the week seemed consist in collecting and fixing additional moorings to that in common, use, in order to secure the boats in safety. The Weather moderated on Sunday and the boats all put to sea early on Monday morning but by daybreak the gale was on again. Fourteen of the boats returned without fishing; the remainder persevered, some shooting quarter or smaller proportion of their lines only, and others the whole, pushing their way home through the storm on Monday night. A considerable number lost lines was the result, but where they were all got in again, about a ton of fish, some more, some less were taken, and the price high (14s per cwt), in consequence of the stormy weather, yielded a good return. Tuesday was very calm, and the fishermen put to sea in the evening, but the gale set in again on Wednesday morning as heavy as before, A. few boats put back, but the greater number, tempted by the previous day’s success, persevered, and the last of the fleet only arrived on Thursday morning, many of them obliged to leave a portion of their fishing lines behind them.
1872
THE NEW HARBOUR. There has this week been exhibited in some of the shop windows of Cellardyke a plan of a new harbour drawn by Alex. Rodger, Esq., Glasgow, who has all along taken a deep interest in the welfare of the fishing community. Along with the lithographed plan is a printed letter addressed to the fishing community of Cellardyke, in which Captain Rodger says As the inhabitants of my native place have always had my best wishes, I was pleased when I heard that there was to be a new harbour at Anstruther, hoping that the harbour would be all that was necessary for the fishing community, as well as for the shipping. But you and I have been greatly disappointed in this matter; much money has been spent, but to little purpose, and the new harbour, although finished according to the plan, would never be a safe place to take in bad weather. It would be unsafe inside, and not at all suitable for a large fishing community in any weather, and now, as there is little prospect of your being in a better position as regards a harbour than you were twelve years ago, and as you are also more interested in having a safe and commodious harbour than any other party, I take the liberty of sending you a plan of a harbour, which I think would suit all purposes. It would be safe to enter, safe inside, with plenty of accommodation, and with a depth of water so that boats could go out and come in at almost any time, except at and near low water spring tides.’…..
DEATH OF MR JAMES FOWLER. It will be with no small interest that many of our readers at home and in foreign lands will observe, in our obituary of this date, the honoured name of James Fowler, Esq., merchant, Cellardyke. Mr Fowler was a native of Anstruther, and son of Captain David Fowler, who was a man of some standing in the Anstruther of 100 years ago. He gave his family the benefit of the education which the schools of those days afforded, but otherwise his son was a self-made man. In his earlier manhood be was partner in the firm of Swan & Fowler, Anstruther, and on the dissolution of the firm, commenced business as a grocer and general merchant in Cellardyke. In his new sphere, his natural shrewdness, energy, uprightness, and close application, built up and established a business which ultimately was second to none in the locality; while his independent, straight-forward, and Christian character commanded universal confidence and esteem. But Mr Fowler’s energies were not restricted to the promotion of his own interests; actuated by higher motives, he sought the benefit, socially and morally, of the community. If it cannot be said of him, as was said of the ancient Roman, that he found Rome brick, but left it marble, it is at least true that the Cellardyke in which he settled fifty years ago, in its appearance, its public opinion, its sanitary, social, and moral aspects, was vastly inferior to the Cellardyke of to-day. In those days it was odorous with the ‘midden,’ which each house-holder regarded one of his public privileges; numerous outside stairs projected into the streets, which were unpaved, unlighted, full of inequalities and dubs, whereby it was rendered disagreeable, if not dangerous, for a stranger to traverse them by night. Public-houses also abounded: when deprived of their husbands, widows were regarded as having a legitimate right to the ‘ licence,’ as a means of bringing up their families. In the present day all this is changed, a comparatively enlightened public opinion has been formed, and Cellardyke will bear a favourable comparison, as regards its town hall, dwelling-houses, police and sanitary arrangements, with any similar town in Scotland. Steam, the enterprise of its inhabitants, and the general progress of society, account for much; but Mr Fowler, by his indomitable energy and perseverance. pertinacity in his efforts, which recognised no defeat, gradually formed the enlightened public opinion of to-day, and thus inaugurated the new era; while his guiding mind and moulding band, during the fifty years of his residence, and twenty years acting Chief Manager of the burgh, have had not a little to do in bringing about and consolidating the present happy results. But like all men of strong will and independent lodgement, Mr Fowler’s course of action excited great opposition, and had he not been actuated by the highest principles, his attempts would have collapsed. He, and those with whom he acted, suffered many defeats: attempts were made to obtain, for the use of the boats, the space at the east end of the town where they are now drawn up ; but it was only after his appointment as Chief Manager that the privilege was at last secured. At one of the largest meetings ever held in Cellardyke, he was defeated in his attempt to get the gas introduced simultaneously with Anstruther, and the town consequently remained seven years in darkness. When war was declared against middens,’ and all ordinary means had failed to suppress them, in the absence of any Local Authority, he might have been seen, with a guard of police, standing over the men employed in removing the obnoxious deposits of the more contumacious. He did much to limit the number of public-houses, and in his own person proved the genuineness of his motives. Previous to his adoption of total abstinence principles, he had a large and lucrative business in supplying the fishing boats with spirits; but no sooner was he convinced of the demoralizing nature of the trade than he at once, and at a great sacrifice, abandoned it., and amidst much obliquy, used every effort to suppress the traffic. The older inhabitants of Cellardyke will well remember the successful efforts which were made for the improvement of their harbour, and Mr Fowler’s leading share in them; and we all remember how, by the powerful assistance of Mr Ellice, our esteemed member of Parliament, and at Mr Fowler’s instance, the attempt of the Magistrates at Dunbar to pass a bill through Parliament, conferring upon them entire jurisdiction over a radius of six miles seaward from Dunbar, was signally defeated. And when the history of the Union Harbour is written (if it ever will be) it will be seen that the influence Mr Fowler exerted was one of the most powerful elements in effecting that harmony of opinion amongst the burghs, which resulted in the passing of the Union Harbour Act. No one was more convinced than he of the absolute necessity for a deep-water harbour as the only means of securing the prosperity, comfort, and safety of the fishing population ; and all his influence and energies were directed to obtain that much-needed boon. His interest in the harbour remained unabated to the last, and the late visit of the Chancellor of the Exchequer was regarded by him as a hopeful sign of ultimate success………..
BURNTISLAND.
A number of the fishing-boats, chiefly of Cellardyke and Anstruther, found shelter here on Tuesday. Out of the 70 boats engaged at the haddock fishing on the “ground ” 50 miles east of the May when the gale came on only four could take their destinations, a circumstance almost unparalleled in the experience of the fishermen. The boats which put in here had takes of haddock and cod ranging from 12 to 40 cwt., which were sold to the curers at 12s per cwt. The local fishing boats were prevented by the storm from proceeding out. On the previous night (Monday) they had takes of herrings varying from 600 to 1500, which sold for 3s per 100.
1873
Fisherman Drowned at Sea.—On Wednesday morning while the crew of a Cellardyke fishing boat were preparing to cast their nets, about thirty miles from land, one of them, named John Wood, was engaged in passing out the end of the sail with a hook, when the boat gave a lurch, and he was precipitated into the sea. Every exertion was made to save him by his brother fishermen, but being unable to swim, Wood sank in three minutes after falling overboard. Wood had only been married fortnight.
LAMENTABLE OCCURRENCE AT SEA. – It is often a sad and weary truth that “misfortunes never come singly,” and this may be said to be peculiarly the case with the parish of Kilrenny, where the tragic death of the parafin worker has been followed by an equally lamentable disaster to a young Cellardyke fisherman, whose marriage, only ten days before was announced in the last issue of the News. The unfortunate mariner, John Wood, was one of the crew of his father’s boat, the ” Anne” of Cellardyke which sailed from Anstruther harbour for the ground about five o’clock on Wednesday morning. With merry hearts the crew tightened haulyard and sheet as their gallant boat sped out to sea, but strangely to his comrades it was not so with poor John Wood, who, instead of being the gayest of the gay seemed from the outstart of the voyage if he felt himself embraced by the shadow of coming evil. He talked earnestly of poor Baker’s fate as the boat clave through the starlit sea, but when the fishing ground had been reached he was as usual the first to be at his post, and was assisting his brother-in-law, who had begun to cast the fishing tackle, when the circumstance occurred which led to his death. The boat at the time was about seventeen miles east southeast direction from the Island of May, when, in the endeavour to bring her as close as possible to the wind, the boat-hook was applied to the foresail, in the same way a sailor would use the bowline for the sails of his ship. Three of the crew were so employed but being overmastered, John Wood, with the readiness to assist so characteristic of his warm heart sprang to their help, and the task had been all but completed, when the filling of the sail threw boat-hook and volunteer into the water; the boat rushed on and left the helpless fisherman, cumbered with heavy boots and sea clothing down on the lea. But eager hands were quick to throw oar and rope to his rescue, but was all in vain ; he knew his danger, and struggled as strong man struggles for life and all that makes life sweet and beautiful, and touching tell, near and dear ones looked on- father, a brother, a brother-in-law, and two uncles, were in the boat. His death cry rang far o’er the remorseless waves ; but after all that desperate men could think or do they could only stand and look on with an agony never to be named, on the last wild struggle when, lifting his hand above the water as if to bid a last farewell, the hero sank into watery grave. Yet mourn ye not they
Whose spirit’s light quenched ; for him the past
Is sealed he may not fall, he may not cast
His birthright’s hope away.
All is not here of our beloved and blessed,
Leave ye the sleeper with his God to rest.”
Sadly and tearfully the crew lingered at the fatal spot, but last the boat was tacked for Crail, from which a communication having been sent to the minister of the parish, the Rev. Dr Christie, it became his melancholy duty to break the calamity to the newly married and the other relatives of the unfortunate young man. Dr Christie had celebrated the marriage, and the commission which he had to discharge on Wednesday is doubtless the most trying and difficult of all others to the earnest and sympathising pastor ; and well it may be so, for surely there is no scene so full of pathos and sorrow as to bear the terrible news to those whose hands and hearts are busy with the anticipated joy of an early welcome home, while the cause of all these fond and anxious solicitudes is lying for ever cold and lifeless under the weary sea. John Wood was twenty-nine years of age, and manlier form and lighter step never crossed the gunwale or walked the deck, and his frank voice, and intrepid heart were no less known and beloved in the community, which is now mourning with his relatives over his sad and untimely fate.
“Oh, Thou who driest the mourner’s tear,
How dark this world would be
If, when deceived and wounded here,
We could not fly to Thee !
Oh, who would bear life’s stormy doom
Did not Thy wings of love,
Come brightly wafting through the gloom,
One peace-branch from above?”