THE CELLARDYKE ECHO – 26/05/2022 – ISSUE 340

1910

It is now eight weeks since the district was plunged into grief over the disaster which befell the yawl “Morning Star,” which sunk off Cellardyke harbour on the evening of 30th March last, taking with her four of her crew of 6ve. It will be remembered that the skipper’s body and that of the younger Hughes were recovered with grappling irons the day following the accident, while the body of the elder Hughes was brought up by a diver a few days later. The widespread grief then expressed was re-echoed when it became known that, after a lapse of eight weeks, the remaining body that of William Muir (17), had been washed ashore at Methil. It appears that, on Monday morning, while three men were on their way in a small rowing boat from Methil dock to the hand-line fishing, and when about two hundred yards from the outer head of the fairway leading to the dock, they observed the body of a man floating at some distance from them. Rowing toward it they passed a rope round it, and brought the body to the wooden jetty at the dock. The police were informed, and Sergeant Clydesdale along with Constable Moyes, proceeded to the dock and examined the body, which from the nature of the clothing appeared to have been that of a fisherman. It was suggested that the body might be that of one of the victims of the disaster, and the relatives being communicated with, they proceed to the mortuary at Methilhill cemetery, where they had no difficulty in identifying the body as that of William Muir. The body was taken in charge by the relatives and brought back to Pittenweem. It is understood that the funeral is to take place tomorrow, Friday, to Kilrenny churchyard.

The disaster, it may be recalled, took place off Cellardyke, one quiet evening when the yawl suddenly foundered under the heavy draught of herring. One man succeeded in swimming ashore, his companions sank.

Local, drifter in collision off St Abbs Head

Thick fog prevailed at sea at an early hour on Tuesday morning, and the navigation of vessels was very much hampered on this account. The drifter Glencona of South Shields, which has been hired by a Cellardyke crew under skipper Alexander Wood for the ensuing herring fishing, was on her way from Shields to Anstruther to eat on board the gear, etc. The vessel had reached off St Abbs Head when a large trading steamer, which turned out to be the Dwina, of Leith, crashed into them, striking the Glencona with considerable force on the starboard bow, smashing the upper part of the stem and the planking. Fortunately the damage was above the water line, and the Glencona steamed for Anstruther, arriving in the early morning. The Dwina was apparently undamaged and proceeded on her voyage. The drifter has been surveyed, and will have to be repaired before she leaves for the fishing.

1911

DAVIDSON & CO. James Street. CELLARDYKE. We have received another Delivery of SEMITRIMMRD HATS, suitable for the Term. TRIMMED and UNTRIMMED HATS. A Nice Assortment of CORSETS. Try our 1s 11 1/2d For Strength and Durability nothing to beat them. SERVANTS’ CAPS and APRONS. BLOUSES and UNDERCLOTHING. DRESS GOODS and PRINTS. Gent’s CAPS, TIES, MUFFLERS, and BRACES. BOYS’ and YOUTHS’ SUITS. DAVIDSON & CO.

Failing To Obey and Attendance Order

At a Burgh Police Court on Saturday Provost Morris and Bailie McConnell presiding James Blunsden, cleekmaker, was charged with having failed to obey an attendance order granted 10th June 1910 for the attendance of his sister-in-law, Dora Wood, aged 13, at Cellardyke School. The respondent pleaded guilty. Mr D. Murray, solicitor, who appeared for the School Board, pointed out the irregular attendance of the girl both before and since the granting of the order. Respondent, in extenuation, said that the illness his wife and his inability to pay for outside help to do his housework, was the cause of the girl’s absence. Provost Morris, in pronouncing sentence, pointed out that what accused had said was no excuse, and the Bench were very lenient with him in letting him off with 7s 6d of fine, seven days, and 20s modified expenses. Accused asked for time to pay the fine, and was allowed one month.

1912

On Sunday forenoon, the local company of Territorials, under the command of Captain Murray, held their usual annual church parade to Cellardyke Parish church. There was a fair muster of men, who presented a very smart appearance in their scarlet tunics, tartan trews, and spats. Rev. Mr Ray officiated, and preached an appropriate sermon from the text Romans 12th chapter and 5th verse “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”

1913

It was reported that the recent examination conducted by Captain Harvey, of Board of Trade for fishermen attending the navigation classes Cellardyke and Monans, thirty had qualified, and of that number the following had passed: —Extra skippers, two; skippers, fourteen; second hands, eight.

A BRILLIANT BUSINESS CAREER.

We have received a copy of the Binghamton Press of May 2nd which contains a page account of the 32nd anniversary of the firm of Messrs Fowler, Dick, and Walker. It is illustrated by photographs of the large new premises erected, and of the head of the firm, Mr George Fowler, a native of Cellardyke. Mr Fowler Is a son of the late Mr George Fowler, fisherman, and a cousin of Mr R. A. Fowler, grocer, Cellardyke. He sorted his apprenticeship with the firm of Sharp and Murray, General Merchants, Cellardyke, atter which he emigrated to the United States, where he has been very successful. The following extract from the Binghamton Press will doubtless interest a considerable number of our readers in Cellardyke, many of whom will remember Mr Fowler, and who will welcome the details of his successful business:

“The opening of the new Boston Store last evening was a triumph. For four hours thousands of men women and children trooped through the three entrances thronged the wide aisles and feasted their eyes on the magnificent spectacle that had been prepared in honour of the event. The store is the fruition of a lifetime of vigorous effort. The assemblage of people was a tribute to one of the men who have made Binghamton—George Fowler. Every employee of the great establishment shared in the honors of the evening. from the newest “bundle boy” to the men who, under Mr Fowler, bear the brunt of the active management—Archibald Whitelaw and Archibald MacArthur.

From Wilkesbarre came William MacWiiliam in former years manager of the Binghamton store, and now of the firm in the coal city, and with him was his associate there, Mr Burnside. They too, shared in the congratulations that were showered on the men whose energy and and sagacity have made the Boston Store the magnificent success that it is today.

32 YEARS OF GROWTH.

 The firm of Fowler, Dick & Walker founded their Binghamton wore 32 years ago, locating next to the corner of Court and Chenango streets. Beginning with very small capital and with only six clerks, but with a vast amount of pluck, perseverance, energy, good judgment and executive capacity, the members of this firm, gradually, but surely, broadened their scheme of operation, until they bad built a substantial foundation for their present extensive business. The firm remained only a year at the Court Street stand, removing to Washington Street, where the establishment served a constant, growing patronage for 18 years, each year to some extent enlarging their lines of stock.

During the last 18 years the store at Court and Water streets has been the seat of an enormous volume of business. New departments have, from time to time, been added and old ones extended to fill the demands made by the city’s growth and the Boston Store’s constantly growing patronage.

Last June Mr Fowler decided to make the large addition just completed, to improve all departments and general system under which the business is conducted. New ideas have from time to time, during the process of the work, been considered and evolved all helping to give the store its present metropolitan character and magnitude. Always ready to listen to the suggestions of his employees and to act upon them whenever they seemed practical, Mr Fowler has been able to keep alive the interests of his responsible assistants, and with their help to work out many improvements in the various departments in an incredibly short time.

Probably one of the most Important elements in the success of Fowler, Dick & Walker has been their readiness to engage their employees to profit by the firm’s prosperity. It is a common occurrence for a worthy employee to rise from the rank’ of clerkship to a responsible and remunerative position The helpers are always considered when improvements are made to the firm’s buildings or brought about in the arrangements of departments, or in the methods of operation. In consequence of this practice there is a spirit of mutual interest which benefits employers and employees, while it helps the growth of business.

1914

CELLARDYKE. TIMELY ASSISTANCE —While playing about the Shore at the east end of the Town on Friday, a young lad Mason, son of Mr Mason, Kilrenny Mill, fell into the sea, and was swept seawards for some distance when his plight was observed by Mr Thomas Watson, a cooper in the employment of Messrs Melville & Son. Mr Watson immediately jumped into the water and got a grip of the lad. The rescuer experienced considerable difficulty in landing. but with further assistance both were pulled ashore in a rather exhausted condition. But for Mr Watson’s plucky rescue, there is no doubt Mason would have been drowned.

Few people seem to be aware of the fact that Mr David Allan, shipbuilder, Granton, took in the building and working of what I consider were really the first. successful steam drifters that operated on the Scottish coast. In the year 1878 that gentleman built and equipped two very tidy steamers, purposely for the prosecution of the herring fishing. During the fishing season of that year both of those crafts fished at Aberdeen, and were engaged to work at that port for the whole season. They were named the Forward and the Onward. The former fished for the firm of Messrs James Methuen and Co. of Leith, and the latter for Messrs Sharp and Murray, Cellardyke. For a number of years the Onward continued to fish at Aberdeen for the Cellardyke firm. Those crafts appeared at Aberdeen four years before steam trawling was commenced at that port, and there is little doubt but what they were the first steam fishing craft that operated there.