1875
APPRENTICE WANTED to the DRAPERY it BUSINESS: Apply to PETER THOMSON, Cellardyke.
GEORGE MACKAY, CORK MANUFACTURER, beg to intimate that he has REMOVED from John Street, Cellardyke, to more Central Premises in Shore Street, Anstruther, and in thanking his numerous Customers for the support he has received. He assures them of his intention to continue sending out first-class Articles. CORK SHAVINGS for Lighting Fires, 6d par Bag.
This week, four Cellardyke boats left for the Irish coast to be engaged at the herring fishing at Howth. None of the Cellardyke fishermen have hitherto engaged in this fishing, but should these pioneers be successful, it is probable that a considerable number will make a trial on that coast next year.
CELLARDYKE. Police Commission.—At a meeting of this Board held on Monday, Donald Ross, labourer, was appointed scavenger and lamp-lighter, his wages being filed at 20s per week.
THE KILRENNY HEARSE SOCIETY.— meeting of this Society was held in the Town Hall of Cellardyke on Friday evening to consider a remit from the committee with regard to the proposal for new hearse. George Watson, inspector, was called to the chair, and with characteristic point and expression explained the circumstances of the meeting. The recommendation of the committee that a new and serviceable hearse ought substituted for the mean and dilapidated vehicle now in use, was then submitted. Mr Skinner, merchant, Skipper Thomas Birrell, and others supported the proposal, as being one urgently called for, not only as necessary improvement but also to relieve the community from the reproach of the remains of those they loved and mourned borne to their last resting place by a rusty and tawdry carriage, like the old hearse, which was simply a scandal to the country side, and far inferior in appearance to the parish hearse of the humblest rural district. Skipper Robert Murray objected to the proposal, and emphatically hinted that the new hearse was wanted, not for the honest fisher folk of Cellardyke, but to meet the wishes of certain “Athenians,” or lovers of change, for its own sake, in and outside the parish. The feeling of the meeting, however, was with the suggestions of the committee, which were consequently approved of, and instructions given to consult with one or more carriage builders in order to ascertain the cost of a new hearse. The Kilrenny Society had its origin the exciting days of the ” resurrection men,” when its leading object was secure the grave against robbery by means of the well-known “mortsafes” strong iron cages locked to sleepers which embraced the coffin ; but after this laborious contrivance with the sister societies in almost every parish, have become only memories of the bygone times. The Association here referred to is carefully cherished for the sake of the carriage so often in use bear the dead from the populous sea town of Cellardyke the ancient “God’s acre” of Kilrenny. The hearse is indeed an antiquarian relict, and is more than’an nucleus of the old family carriage of Methven, Earl of Kellie, who gave it as a gift to the parish during the ministry of the Rev. James Brown. The sable sides were made terrible with skulls and crossbones by the grim humourist, Painter Bain ; but however interesting the reminiscences, few, dare say, will regret the resolution which has discarded the unshapely and worn-out old vehicle, which a society like that of Kilrenny, with membership of some four hundred, can with little sacrifice adequately replace in accordance with the tastes of the times.
At a Justice of Peace Court held on Tuesday—James Bell, grocer, West Anstruther, pled guilty to having had a number of light weights in his possession, and was fined £2 ; and William Black Waterston, baker and confectioner, Cellardyke, was fined in a like sum for a similar offence.
1876
SHIPWRECKED FISHERMEN AND MARINERS’ ROYAL BENEVOLENT SOCIETY. The committee having heard through their honorary agents that the towns of Cellardyke and Str. Monance, in Fifeshire, had lost in one blow 37 of the flower of their sea-going men, leaving 19 women widows and 72 children orphan*, and that a local fund was being raised to help these destitute ones, resolved to head the list of contributions with £150.
Fifteen Cellardyke boats left this week for Howth to be engaged in the herring fishing there. From Pittenweem the number is 20, and from St Monance 7. Altogether between 60 and 80 crews from the Anstruther district, which includes the stations from St Andrews to Buckhaven inclusive, will prosecute the fishing on the Irish coast.
EAST OF FIFE MUTUAL INSURANCE BOAT CLUB. THE Directors are now prepared to receive PROPOSALS for Policies. Applications to be made to Mr George Sharp, merchant, Cellardyke, Secretary and Treasurer. Cellardyke, 28th April 1876.
1877
DERELICT TOWED INTO HARBOUR.
The abandoned galliot, which been so frequently reported of late in the North Sea, was fallen in with some six leagues the offing of St Abb’s, about noon Thursday, and towed into Anster harbour by the two Cellardyke boats, the North Star, Skipper John Gardiner, and the Economy, Skipper John Watson. The voyage was critical one, the wreck, though timber laden, was waterlogged that her decks were washed every wave. Her main mast was cut away to a stump, and her foremast, though still erect, was naked as a finger post; but the wind being fair, she was safely berthed within the piers about ten o’clock Friday morning, some twenty-one hours after being taken into tow. When first seen by the Fife boats, in the fishing trip of the previous week, she was about ninety miles to the seaward of the May, where she appears to have been thoroughly stripped of her gear and stores by the French luggers. So complete had been the plunder, or the ravage of the waves, that name board and everything had disappeared that could tell the port or designation of the vessel. The fate of her crew is no less a mystery, but she has been evidently weeks adrift in the course of Baltic traders and fishing craft, so that the poor mariners were in all probability saved from the wreck if, indeed, the disaster was not the consequence of collision with another ship, her broken stern has led some to believe. The hulk, however, is that of a galliot of about hundred plus tons burthen, packed like egg from stem to stern with Norwegian pine wood in staves for dry ware casks and barrels, which are being unloaded by the salvers in good condition, though the battered wreck is only much firewood. The salvage will little more than recompense the two crews for their exertions and sacrifice of time ; but apart from all questions of prize money, they have, it will be allowed on the coast, done good service in removing obstruction so fraught with danger and disaster, especially after nightfall, to those sailing the North Sea. The hull and cargo, of course, are in charge of the Deputy Receiver Wrecks, Anstruther.
At Cellardyke, Mr Brown is making good progress in the formation of Rodger Street. Shortly after Admiral Bethune agreed to feu the ground, two of the sites were taken up, and the buildings, which consist of a single and a double house of two storeys each, are now well advanced, and when completed will give accommodation for 12 families. Mr Thomas Fowler, merchant, is to be the proprietor of the single house, and the other is being built for Messrs Robert and George Ritchie. Messrs Mitchell Doeg (Pratt) and John Doeg (Smith) have also secured sites, and Mr Brown is to build thereon another double house. More of the feus will, it is expected, shortly be taken up. In George Street, Mr Wallace, builder, Anstruther, has erected a new house of two storeys and attics for Mr James Brunton. The masonry is completed, and the joiner work, which is being executed by Mr John Jameson, Pittenweem is well advanced. In George Street, the old tenement formerly belonging to Mr Peter Murray, Williamstown, and which was purchased by Mr Henry Stevenson, is to be taken down, and a new and commodious house of two storeys and sunk cellars built by Mr Brown. In connection with these operations, we hear that Mr Brown has obtained a lease of the old quarry below Kilrenny Manse, and from which the stones used in building the manse and Kilrenny Church were obtained. It has not been in operation for nearly 60 years, but as the depth is about 40 feet an almost unlimited supply can be obtained at comparatively small expense.
1878
The steam fishing boat Onward also arrived on Wednesday afternoon, and landed a fair cargo, the sum realised being close on £21. The crews of these report the weather at sea as having been stormy, and it is considered probable that many of those at sea would not have cast their nets on Tuesday night, which would account for their non-arrival. So far as we have heard, the number of Cellardyke boats to be engaged in the herring fishing at Howth this year is only three, two of which left last night
1879
It is pleasing to observe that a marked improvement has taken piece in the health of the Coast. Scarlatina and other epidemics scarce linger on the threshold, but a fatal case of a sebrile nature occurred in Cellardyke on the Sabbath, in the death of a child of seven years, the daughter of Mr David Boyter.
Shetland, Fishing. —All the south country boats have now left here except the two hailing from Cellardyke, which have been remarkably fortunate all through the season.