1875
TEMPLAR EXCURSION “The Band of Hope,” in connection with the Good Templar Lodges in Anstruther Cellardyke, had a holiday to the romantic uplands of Airdrie Saturday last. The interesting party was accompanied by not few the veterans, as we may call older friends of the temperance army, and in half -a dozen well packed carts stole merrily up the sunny hillside, filling the sweet green fields at every turn with the touching melody of voice and heart. But let us glance betimes at the memorable associations of the chosen part of the excursion. Airdrie, that is the king’s height, was the royal chase in the days of St David; but the turreted old ,ansion house which gives its salient feature to the landscape as we see it to-day, is a relic of its ancient masters, the Lumsdaines, who built in 1586 just before they shared, like other lairds of the East Neuk, the wild scheme to settle a Fife colony In the Hebrides, which stript them of house and land, till the old Covenanter, Sir James, of Innergellie, and his brother, the heroic governor of Dundee, once more restored the fortunes of the family. But Airdrie was never a tithe so grand before or since as in the days of General Philip Anstruther, who made the old house the glory of Fife with its lofty wings and matchless decorations, but more than all the princely dining hall, on which Italian masters wrought for years. The memory of the gallant soldier had been blackened by the popular voice, as how else could it fare with the wise and patristic magistrate, who was the terror far and near of smugglers and smuggling, and whose loyalty to the best interests of his country was less conspicuous in his intrepid and valuable services to the Government in the Jacobite conspiracies his day. Pavilions and statues have disappeared long ago; but the stately trees which everywhere enliven and diversify the glorious prospect are all memorials of General Anstruther, and now in all the pride of a hundred and fifty summers, these venerable boughs gave a pleasant resting place to our youthful excursionists, who likewise found a kindly welcome from the respected tenant farmer, Mr Gentle. A short breathing time was only needed, however, to see the interesting party busy as the bee as merry as the cricket on the errand of pleasure—which, if all sought, none missed the overflowing gladness and glee of the sports of the green, which, at a happy interval were notably relieved by the children being allowed by turns to climb to the top the old tower, where the magnificent panorama of sea and shore was of course, enthusiastically enjoyed by old and young. Nor were the creature comforts forgotten, a run the hillside giving, as may supposed, a double relish to the well-served tea and the other bounties of the occasion, and so time flew past on golden wings till, at the appointed signal, the company, with a ringing three times three for Mr Gentle, bade farewell to the beautiful scene, and were duly once more with their friends on the coast, though assuredly each and all will not soon forget the happy summer day at the old house of Airdrie.
1876
SALE OF BOAT-BUILDER’S EFFECTS AT CELLARDYKE.
To be SOLD by Public Auction on SATURDAY the 17th instant,
THE WHOLE of the REMAINING STOCK. of MATERIAL and PLANT belonging to the Trust Estate of Mr John A. Millar, Boatbuilder, Cellardyke, consisting of Spars for Masts and Oars and other useful wood: – The Plant consists of Steam Engine (Four Horse Power), with Upright Boiler easily removed; 2 Circular Sew Benches; 1 Vertical Saw for Cutting Circles, with Shafting and Belts and other fittings, all in good working order; the Sheds in which these are situated; Turning Lathe, 5in. Heads, Small Pump. Cramps, Vice, and tongs, one Large and one Small Shed capable of holding the Largest Sized Boat; upwards of 16 cwt of Nails, suitable for Boat-building; Wheel Barrow ; Grinding Stone; and Sundries.
The Sale to commence at Mr Miller’s yard in Cellardyke at One o’clock Afternoon.
James Bowman. Auctioneer, Anstruther 6th June 1876
ESTIMATES IN CELLARDYKE —The erection at once to be proceeded with a handsome range of business premises for Marr, general merchant. The designs were prepared our local architect, Thomas Brown, who is also the contractor for the mason work £398, the joiner’s estimate being in the hands Bailie John Lumsden, total cost being about £800. Mr Brown also prepared working plan cost of a slip at Cellardyke harbour, to facilitate the beaching of the large boats. At present this is a most laborious operation, owing to the steepness of the incline, in which also the carriage wheels under the load of the big boats sink at every turn to the axles. The undertaking has been resolved upon by the Town Council, and the expense will be met by the rents paid as boat stances on the beach, which like other vacant ground in the burgh, is in virtue of the charter granted of old by the lairds of Kilrenny—the unquestionable property of the inhabitants as part of the common good of the town.
1877
The remains of the late Alexander Rodger, who died at his residence in Newton Place, Glasgow, on the 6th inst., were conveyed to their last resting place in the Necropolis on Saturday afternoon, in presence of an assemblage of his friends. Captain Rodger was native of Fifeshire, having been born at Cellardyke, the parish of Kilrenny, the year 1802 He was educated at the parish school, and passed the first nineteen years of his life in his native village. Like most of the young men of the place he was born a fisherman; but at the age of nineteen shipped on board a coasting vessel – His promotion to the position of second mate took place within year, and two years thereafter he obtained command of a brig in the Mediterranean trade. In this ship, the Hind, of Port Glasgow, he sailed from the Clyde to Australia, being the first ship of any considerable tonnage from Glasgow to the Antipodes. His next command was the Helen, named after his daughter. With this vessel he, as mister and part owner, made many successful voyages to and from China, mak.ng some of the fastest passages on record, even up to the present time. Failing health, however, compelled him to seek rest on shore for a time, but he could not remain long idle. The gold fields in Australia caused great excitement about this time, and Captain Rodger organised a company of young men from his native village, which he conducted with singular success. He himself, however, soon returned home, and soon afterwards set about a scheme he had long contemplated of building a line of clipper ships for the China trade. The ship was the Helen Rodger, the next the Kate Carnie, and the Min, Lah-100, Kaisow, and Taeping soon followed. These ships were the pioneers of a new era in the tea trade, and made passages to and from the East with the celerity and punctuality of steam ships. Captain Rodger never forgot his native place, Cellardyke, where he will long be remembered as one who took great interest in the welfare of the old town and its inhabitants. Some few years ago, with a view to improving the approaches to its harbour, he raised a sum of money for that purpose and superintending the operations himself, effected a great improvement. He also presented the town with a field for a bleaching green free from all encumbrance, and, in acknowledgment, a new street which opened up was named after him. In Glasgow, where he resided for many years he was much esteemed by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. He was ever ready to lend a helping hand to young seamen from Fife who were striving to push their way in the world. So much was this the case that he was familiarly known as the Consul in Glasgow for the ‘Kingdom of Fife.'” Captain Rodger was many years an elder in the Church of Scotland. About three weeks ago his constitution gave way under an attack of congestion of the liver, and his end was peaceable and hopeful. Captain Rodger, who was in his 76th year, has left four daughters to mourn the great loss they have sustained.
New BOATS FOR THE HERRING at the end of last week Mr J. A. Millar launched a fine new fishing boat, which has been named Cedric the Saxon, for Skipper John Pratt. Mr Jarvis has two boats nearly ready for launching, which will make eight he has built this year. A new boat was also bought from Pittenweem for a Cellardyke owner this week, and other three are being built at Montrose.
1879
NARROW ESCAPE AT SEA.—One of those startling accidents which illustrate the peculiar danger of the seaman of the seaman’s lot occurred the other day in the North Sea. The Cellardyke fishing craft, the “Refuge” was running before the breeze, when one of the crew, Mr Alex. Rodger, son-in-law of Provost Watson, while on duty at the tack, was thrown overboard by the jibbing of the sail. Providentially, Mr Rodger retained his presence of mind, and at once struck out for a piece of lumber wood which one of his boat mates threw as the lively craft darted on her course. It was a painful and exciting interval, as the boat had to be worked to windward, the poor mariner all the while clutching for life to the piece of driftwood; but eventually, though not till the lapse of about thirty minutes, the “Refuge,’ as she indeed proved, ranged alongside, when he was caught and saved by a friendly hand. Notwithstanding his long immersion, a little rest—thanks to the comfort and convenience of the cabin with which the deep-sea boats are now provided—he was soon restored to the active duties of the fishing cruise.