The Cellardyke Echo – this week – I have reported on the White Cross incident before but this gives more detail. Alex Motion, I believe will have been Bill Motion the Banker’s father. Alex was the last of Cellardyke’s fishermen who sailed on a pure sailing fishing boat. He also was aboard the Thistle in 1904 when James Deas lost his two sons at Anstruther harbour mouth. – Thomas Murray must have been a good fisherman when sober as his fines were paid by his skipper.
1900
MERCHANTS’ HOLIDAY AND EXCURSION TO ABERFELDY. —Of the 500 adult tickets issued for this excursion only a very few remain, and these can only be had from the members of committee, Messrs Gray and Barr, Anstruther, and Bailie Butters and Mr Fortune, Cellardyke. The committee are also trying to arrange that family parties of 9 or 10 may secure a compartment, and request those intending to avail themselves of this arrangement to send the name of one of the party to any of the committee not later than Monday first. We understand the Railway Company have consented to run the morning train via Loch Leven and Glenfarg, returning via Ladybank, thus giving the excursionists a change of route for a considerable part of the journey.
MELANCHOLY FATALITY OFF ANSTRUTHER HARBOUR. CELLARDYKE FISHERMAN DROWNED. GALLANT RESCUES, A drowning fatality of a melancholy character occurred off Anstruther harbour on Saturday afternoon. The circumstances are as follows: – A number of the liners and trawlers, along with several fishing boats, arrived off the harbour shortly after noon. The tide was back at the time, and no entrance could be effected until well on in the afternoon. The White Cross, Skipper Parker, was one of the liners, and during the time of waiting the Skipper resolved to utilise the time by barking his nets. The small boat was sent ashore with several of the crew to procure a box of cutch. This having been obtained, several young lads got on board and went out to the liner. On the cutch being put on board, Skipper Parker asked one of the crew, named James Smith, (well-known as ‘ Skipper’) to row out in the small boat to the liner Isle of May, which was lying riding at anchor a few hundred yards further out, and bring back some herring baskets. Smith complied with the request, but asked that the liner should tow the small boat out a little bit. Those on board the small boat were Smith and Parker, two of the crew of the White Cross, and the following young lads: —Thomas Pratt, 10 years of age, West Anstruther; James Jamieson, 13 years, West Anstruther; David McRuvie, 9 years, Cellardyke; and Alex. Motion, 13 years, Cellardyke. The engines were started slow ahead, but the vessel had not gone far when the tow rope, which was fastened at the quarter, and also at the stern-head, slipped off the latter place, causing the small boat to swerve round, and strike the quarter of the liner. Smith was steering with an oar, and unfortunately in the lurch the boat gave he lost hold of it. The water flowed into the boat until it was almost filled, and the occupants went to one aide, with the result the boat overturned, and they were all thrown into the water. The tow rope was also broken. Smith was never seen again, and it is supposed he must have struck the liner with his head and been stunned. Two men on board the liner, named John Anderson and David McRuvie, divested themselves of most of their clothing and jamp overboard. Anderson caught bold of two boys David McRuvie, son of D. McRuvie, Cellardyke, and Thomas Pratt. He held to them, until McRuvie swam up and got hold of his son. Alexander Motion swam up to the liner and was hauled on board, while the young lad James Jamieson was caught by Alexander Parker, one of the crew of the White Cross. They were all got on board and afterwards sent ashore. By this time a crowd had collected on the piers, and assistance was ready. Several of the lads wore more dead than alive when brought to the pier, and artificial respiration had to be resorted to to bring them round. Two of the lads were carried to neighbouring houses, where they were attended by Dr Wilson, and after recovering somewhat were taken home, and have all since got well. Steps were at once taken to drag for the body of Smith, and operations were carried on till darkening without, result. On Sunday no less than seven boats were engaged in dragging, and one continued at the work until near nine o’clock at night, but unfortunately without finding any trace of it, and Monday’s operations were equally without result. Smith was 24 years of age, and was the support of his widowed mother, who resides at James Street, Cellardyke. The occurrence evoked many expressions of sympathy with Mrs Smith regarding the loss of her son. He was of a very cheerful and happy disposition, and was a general favourite in the community. In several of the churches on Sunday sympathetic references were made in the prayers and sermons to the fatality.
Cellardyke fatal Accident
On Saturday last a sloop-rigged pleasure boat, bound from Dundee to Leith, bad just passed the harbour of this place, and was about 200 yards from shore, when a squall of wind upset her. A number of boats immediately hastened to their assistance, and succeeded in picking up 2 out of the 3 which composed her crew, one of whom died shortly after. The body of the third unfortunate man has not yet been found. The survivor’s name is Rollo, about 65 years of age. The body of the man who died was decently interred in Kilrenny Churchyard. We have not heard his name, but be was about 18 years of age. A very great number of the inhabitants of Cellardyke and Anster followed the remains of the unfortunate young man to the grave.
A few days later
A memorial service was held in Cellardyke Church on Sabbath afternoon, when special reference was made to the murder of the King of Italy and the death of the Duke of Saxe Coburg by the Rev. Mr Ray, who preached most appropriate sermon from the words—“ Be ye also ready.” At the close of the sermon, the rev. gentleman made appropriate reference the drowning accident that occurred Saturday. Appropriate hymns were sung, and a most impressive rendering of the Dead March given upon the organ by Miss Anderson.
1901
EAST OF FIFE POLICE COURTS. A Burgh Court was held in the Council Chambers, Anstruther-Easter, on Monday forenoon—all the Magistrates being present. Thomas Murray, junr. fisherman, Cellardyke, was charged with having on Saturday evening 27th July, in Shore Street, Anstruther, behaved in a riotous drunken, and disorderly manner, cursed and swore, shouted and bawled, whereby a breach of the peace was committed and the lieges disturbed. Accused pled guilty.The Fiscal – This young man, I am informed, is very quiet and respectable when sober, but when he gets drink he behaves like a madman. He cursed and swore and challenged the lieges to fight. The police apprehended him, not on this charge hut on one which he was to be tried for at Cellardyke, and he had been in the cells since yesterday morning. He appears to have suffered very much judging from his appearance. How he came by the marks I do not know. The facts of the case are as stated in the complaint, but accused has unfortunately had rather a bad record. There are six previous convictions against him. The last one is in 1899–the rest I will not press – but I ask your Honours to take into account the 1899 conviction in consideration when you impose the sentence. Accused in being asked if he had anything to say, said he was very sorry.
The Provost—This Court fines you 15s or 14 days imprisonment. It is ridiculous that a young man like you should have 6 convictions against you in 10 years I think you should make up your mind to give up the drink, and I hope you will never taste it again. The fine was paid by accused’s skipper.
At a Court held the same forenoon at Cellardyke, Provost Black and Bailie Butters being the Magistrates present, the same man was charged with having on Saturday, 3rd March 1900, cussed and swore, used threatening and abusive language, and challenging the lieges to fight, by which a breach of the peace was created and the lieges disturbed. Accused pled guilty. The Fiscal—This is a case which was before your Honours on Friday 9th March, 1900, nearly 18 months ago, but accused at the time ran away. He turned up on Saturday end he was apprehended on Sunday morning and had been in the cells since then. No man need think that by running away they could escape from the law, because a record is always kept of these things. The facts were just as they were set forth in the complaint. Accused would have been brought up before their Honours before this, but it was not thought worth the expense to bring him from Aberdeen so the officials just waited for him to turn up. There were several previous convictions but the only one their Honours would need to take into account was the one in 1899.
Accused said he ran away because he had no money at the time. Provost Black –We are very sorry to see you here in such a position and in such a condition. The Magistrates have agreed to make the fine as lenient as passible – 15s or 14 day’s imprisonment. Bailie Butters—The Magistrates also consider it advisable to state that if you over come here again the probability is that you will not get the option of a fine. We are determined to put down these Saturday night disturbances. We hope this will be a lesson to you for the future. The accused’s fine was again paid for him, and the Court dispersed.
The gallery of Cellardyke Church which, owing to its flatness has been difficult to let to members, is to be raised 18 inches at the back, with a gradual slope to the front. The work, which is to be commenced this week, is in the hands of Mr William. Brown, joiner, Anstruther. It has been a complaint on the part of the members, especially during the evening services, that the frequenting of this place by young persons, whose conduct, seeing they were beyond sight of the officiating clergyman, was somewhat annoying to the regular worshippers.
About 10 o’clock on Tuesday morning, while a little boy named Alexander Gardiner Martin 9 years of age, son of James Martin, fisherman, James Street, was looking out of a garret window watching the arrival of his father’s boat, he overbalanced himself, and fell a distance of 20 feet. Several people passing at the time went to his assistance, and carried him into his mother’s house. Dr Wilson was soon in attendance and found that his right lower jaw had been severely injured, and several of his teeth knocked out, but no bones broken. Considering the height he fell and the hard pavement on which he alighted, it is a marvel that the injuries were not more serious.