1880
Arbroath – The Gale – During the forenoon a fleet of Cellardyke boats, seven in number, came in for shelter, and remained. They left home on Monday night, at which time there was nothing to hinder them. They had sailed for the fishing at eight o’clock and when they were outside the Isle of May a strong westerly gale began to blew, compelling them to run for Arbroath, which they reached in safety.
1881
BRICK AND TILE WORKS.— understand that the Clephington Brick and Tile Works, which have been for a length of time in the hands of Mr Skinner, Cellardyke, are now in lease by Mr Wilson from the neighbourhood Falkirk. The rent is continued, we hear, at £35 per annum, with a royalty at a given sum, only to be anticipated, however, from more drainage improvements that have taken place in recent years.
SUDDEN DEATH.
An affecting instance of the uncertainty of life occurred in Cellardyke on Sabbath morning in the death of Mr John Marr. He had partaken supper with his accustomed zest and cheerfulness, and at a late hour retired to rest without seemingly a single ailment; but an unseen enemy was at the door, for wakening up an hour after midnight he complained of pain his breast, and almost on the instant expired. Mr Marr was about seventy-eight years of age. For a lifetime he was the landlord the change-house at the shore, which about sixty years ago had no little notoriety attached to it by an exploit of that prince thieves, David Haggart, who had broken from his pursuers at Newhaven pier by a desperate leap into a boat under weigh for Cellardyke. He retired from business some years ago, but to the last day of his life his agile step and cheerful face were as familiar ever in the old haunts- in truth, he was one of those bright and happy spirits who weave themselves by finer threads than silk or gold into the best affections all that come in contact with them. Mr Marr is survived by the worthy partner, who so long shared with him the joys and sorrows life. His eldest son is our respected townsman, Mr John Marr, draper, and his younger son, Mr Alexander, a leading merchant in Cellardyke.
1882
OPENING ANNOUNCEMENT. J OGILVIE, TAILOR and CLOTHIER, 31 James Street, Cellardyke, begs to return thanks to the Inhabitants of Cellardyke, Anstruther, and surrounding District for the support they have given him since he commenced Business. He now begs to inform them that he has Opened that Shop lately occupied by Mr Duncan, Oilskin manufacturer. Parties bringing their own cloth can have it made up at the lowest possible prices. Workmanship and Fit Guaranteed.
DISPUTE REGARDING OILSKINS.
In the Debts Recovery Court, Banffshire, William Duncan, manufacturer, Cellardyke, raised an action against George Flett, merchant, Findochty, for the sum of £88 11s 7d, with interest since 6th July, 1882, being the balance of an Account for goods supplied in October, 1881, and on the first mentioned date. The items in 1881 amounting to £4 2s 2d, were paid for, and the other goods were stated by defender to have been of inferior quality and part of them returned: The pursuer withdrew his to claim for the above item of £4 2s 2d, and restricted the conclusions of his summons to £54 9s 5d, with interest since the date of citation, and expenses. After the defender had retained certain of the goods sued for, as restricted, and sold part of them, he returned to the pursuer what remained unsold. The pursuer of admitted that intimation of the goods having been sent him had been received: but he refused to take delivery. Sheriff Scott Moncrieff, after hearing evidence at some length, yesterday issued the follow judgment :-“Having heard parties’ procurators and made avizandum with the evidence adduced: Finds that the items in the account now-sued for supplied in 1881, and amounting to £4 2s 2d, ‘have been d, paid, and therefore sustains the first plea stated for the defender: Finds that the goods forming the remaining items were ordered and obtained by the defender from the pursuers; that the defender broke bulk, sold part of them, and sent back the remainder, which the pursuer has refused to receive: Finds in law that the defender is liable for the price of said goods, amounting to £34 9s 5d. Therefore, decerns against the defender for the sum of £34 9s 5d, with interest thereon at the rate of 5 per centum per annum from this date: – Finds: the defender liable in, expenses of process, subject to modification: Modifies the same to the sum of £6 12s, and decerns, at the pursuer’s instance, against the defender for said expenses.
1884
At the Burgh Court of Kilrenny on Saturday—Provost Skinner and Bailie Smith on the bench—an itinerant corkcutter named David Bain was charged under the Lindsay Act with being drunk and disorderly, especially in using obscene and abusive language to Mrs Sarah Woodward or Watterson of the Cellardyke Café on the previous night. Pleading guilty with a rueful look, he was fined in 7s 6d or 7 days in jail.
DISAPPOINTMENT AT YARMOUTH—GALES ON THE SCOTTISH COAST.
“Sair wark; I wish oor folk only safe hame,” was the exclamation all round as neighbour met neighbour with anxious and clouded brow on the door step to discuss the message the other day from Yarmouth to the effect that one of the Cellardyke crews had sold their herrings at the manure price of “three bawbees” the hundred. So far the season has been by no means encouraging to the Scottish boats; but happily this proved to be an extreme case, for only a few doors away a letter by the same post went on to tell “the weather was so calm on Tuesday that we could not land till next day, when our take fetched £4 the last, but others of us who had cast a second time only realised 1s a swill.” But not a few beside the young lover are wishing to-day for the green shores of Fife, for now that November is here very few except perhaps this and that crew who fished by way at Scarborough can yet count £100, while many, or rather most, do not figure so well in the salesmen’s ledger as to square the landlady’s bill, and with it the current expenses of the station. Thus, instead of looking hopefully forward to the third or fourth week of the month, more than one skipper has resolved, he writes, to leave on an early day. Thus message after message is giving the hint, so well understood those who to bait the line whether it may be for “Kellie by ower the kirk,” or the “Long Forties” in the North sea.” Take every chance to go to the park to gather grass, for if the wind is fair we intend to take the first moonlight for home. Of course, a turn In the market, or rather of the shoals, for Yarmouth and her sister are famous, would be like a burst of sunshine on sea and shore, but as it is the experience is in marked contrast to that of two years ago when the Fife crews, in some cases, at least, fished £550 to £750. Nor, we regret to say, is the prospect with hook and line Improved at the doors. We are not making daily bread, the old fathers would tell of a weary season, and this is so much the case to-day that the run to the North Sea does not always recoup the outlay for bait. Now and again it is true the rise to twenty, or it may be thirty baskets; but sales continue stagnant, if we may use the word, at a shilling a stone. Here is an anecdote in point, the big boats came scudding in the if week to Anstruther pier. ” I’ll gie ye 9s the cwt.,” said one of the buyers. “No, no. there’s male going at St Monance,” was the reply, as first one crew and then another hied for the westward, but the result, as the whisper goes, was not to find, but to lose a shilling by the journey. In short, according to the outcry on all sides, the industries of the sea on the Fife coast as elsewhere has not been so dull for a long series of years.