1875
Fraserburgh – John Ramsay, hired fisherman, from Cellardyke, was charged with the theft of six tumblers from the Commercial Inn on Saturday night. He was fined 30s or 5 days in jail. Fine paid. John Montadore, fisherman, from Cellardyke, appeared a charge of breach of the peace, committed Saturday night. Fined 7s 5d or 3 days jail. Fine Paid.
CELLARDYKE. CURIOUS ACCIDENT. —On Monday morning a woman named Euphemia Watson, wife of Mr Robert Motion, fisherman, residing at 39 George Street, met with as accident in a somewhat curious manner. She had occasion to hang out some articles to dry on a beam fastened on the top of two poles, and for that purpose got on a wall about four feet high, with her arms resting on the beam. While in this position, one of the poles broke, and she fell to the ground, when the beam swung round and the pole struck her on the right leg, breaking the limb just above the ankle The assistance of Dr Macarthur was speedily obtained, and she is now doing as well as can be expected.
WANTED. TWO Active Stout YOUNG WOMEN to Oil. Wages good. Apply to J. MARTIN, Cellardyke.
1876
PETERHEAD, Thursday Night.— A Cellardyke boat ran to the rocks near the entrance of the South Harbour, where she became total wreck. Her crew were saved through the intrepidity of John Davidson, cooper here. …..three miles to the south a heavy wave broke over the boat Diadem, of St Monance, and washed Philip Scott overboard. the time the boat was struck the unfortunate man was sitting near the steersman.
A further report of the Cellardyke boat
Early on Thursday morning considerable interest was entertained by friends of those fishermen who were still at sea, and many hundreds of men and women kept a constant look-out for the sons and husbands who had not yet returned, but nothing of a serious character occurred until the forenoon, when the first of the unfortunate disasters began. A boat was seen a good distance from the land, and as she appeared to be unequal to the storm, those on shore made preparations to assist the crew. But their efforts were all in vain. The craft. it was observed, came from Cellardyke, A. Watson, skipper, and was now attempting to get into the south harbour. But something with the sail went wrong, and she ran direct on to the rocks and was smashed to pieces. Four of the crew and a boy managed to jump on the rocks and were rescued, but an old man, who got entangled among the nets, very nearly lost his life while the sea was washing over him. A young man named John Davidson, a cooper, went to his assistance at the risk of his own life, and succeeded in getting him to dry land safely. By this time the shore was crowded by spectators and the excitement was intense.
Charles Bain (or Smith), one of the crew of a Cellardyke boat, registered at Kirkcaldy No. 2 (the boat was the Catherine Fowler), was swept overboard while sitting on a spar on the side of the boat about 20 miles out. He was 54 years of age, leaves a widow and large grown-up family, and resided in Leven, Fifeshire.
1877
Aberdeen – the storm – About mid-day when the gale was its height, a fishing boat under sail was descried in the offing. The utmost excitement at once prevailed amongst the fishing community, as the bar was considered impassable, and the north pier was speedily crowded by a large number of spectators. Mr William Clark, captain pilot, and Mr J. Davidson, his assistant, made the usual necessary arrangements for rendering assistance should it required, but the boat stood to the southward. When off the harbour entrance, however, she reached in for the port. The “fresh” from the Dee was running very heavily on the bar, and a broken sea was thus caused in which it was feared the boat could not live, but as she got within the breakwater a lull took place, and, although under close reefed mainsail, the boat, which was handled in fine style by her crew, made her way slowly up the harbour past the lower jetty, where she was safely moored. The craft, “Energy” which marked KY. 1342, belongs Cellardyke, and is commanded by Daniel Henderson. It appears that the crew hung their nets till two o’clock yesterday morning, when they broke adrift, losing ten nets and getting others much damaged. They passed three boats, who had preferred riding at their nets to running for any harbour.
Singular accident to a fishing boat. -Yesterday in the afternoon the fishing boat Violet, of Cellardyke, marked 1346 KY. and commanded by David Keay left her berth at the Upper Jetty, Pointlaw, in tow of the tug Knight Templar, for the purpose of prosecuting the herring fishing. While proceeding down the old channel, the Violet struck against some piles which line the outside of a large bank situated above the ferryboat station. There she became so firmly wedged amongst the stakes that all the efforts of the tug to get her off were ineffectual. The accident happened shortly after full tide, and as the water in the channel receded, the boat settled down upon the stakes four of which penetrated her timbers, and at low water the craft literally hung on the piles. Last night efforts were being made to get the boat out of this position. The craft is a valuable one, and the damage done is very considerable.
David Murray, fishcurer, Cellardyke examined by Mr Walpele -This is our third year at Aberdeen. I think the trade ought to be left free as it is. I would have no regulations at all. I do not think there is any decrease in the herrings. The size of the nets can be regulated by the fishcurers when they engage the fishermen. To legislate for the Scotch fishing and leave the English fishing as it is would be a great hardship. They are paid by results in England. Meshes here are gradually getting larger. I heard Scott’s evidence. I don’t agree with him. While there is an increase in in the number of nets there are only half the number of shots per week that there used to be. With the beam trawl I have seen hauled up hundred weights of herring spawn. In 1804 and 1805, I have heard my grandfather in say that there were no herrings in the Firth of Forth. They left the Forth for twenty-five years. The mode of fishing in those years was simply trawling. In 1845 to 1852 there was a great many herrings. The nets were then sunk, not drifted over the spawning beds. The herrings did not decrease in consequence. I think the trade should be left entirely free. I turn a deaf ear to those statements about garvie fishing. I don’t foresee the probability of any lack of herrings. I think the golfers in Aberdeen have been the means of preventing the fishermen drying their nets on the Links. I think this is a great hindrance to the industry because it was the Links that brought the boats a to Aberdeen.
LOST AT SEA. —THOMAS WATSON, of the Boat “Scotia,” Ky. 1383, Cellardyke, has Lost all his Drift of Nets. Any Person finding them will be Rewarded.
1878
Narrow Escape from Drowning. — On Tuesday forenoon, a young boy named Thomas Stewart, son of a Cellardyke fisherman, while playing at the point of the new pier, went too near the edge, and fell into the Harbour. There was no one near at hand but his companion, also a boy, who, however, observing Stewart being drifted by the tide towards one of the iron ladders, at once climbed down, and succeeded in catching hold of his jacket, but was unable to pull him out of the water. The alarm having been given, Stewart was speedily rescued in an insensible condition, but recovered after restoratives had been applied.
An alarming accident happened last week at Fraserburgh, a young Cellardyke fisherman, Alex. Pratt, while trying to avoid collision in the fresh breeze with a “scaffie” boat was severely crushed between two gunwales. His mother was telegraphed for home, but with attention and care his friends every hope of his ultimate recovery.
Fraserburgh – On Saturday a lad named John Jack, son of a fisherman from Cellardyke, and residing in Duke Lane, while employed gathering nets in a field the farm of Derbyhall, suddenly put hand to his head and complained violent pain in his breast and want of breath. He fell down, and without uttering word expired in about fifteen minutes. Dr Napier was sent for, and stated that death had been caused heart disease.
Aberdeen -Theft of Herrings.—Alexander Russel (19), residing in Shuttle Lane ; Alexander Smith (15), and George McKenzie (14), residing in Castle Street; and Peter McKenzie (13), residing in East North Street, were accused of having stolen a basket containing a quantity of herrings on the 21st inst., from the Agnes and Ann, a Cellardyke fishing boat, lying at Point Law. The case was at the Court at a previous diet, when all the prisoners pleaded not guilty. Yesterday, three of them adhered to their former pleas, but Russel pleaded guilty. James Barclay, the master of the Agnes and Ann, stated that he and the crew left their boat at ten o’clock on the night of the 20th. In consequence of their desire to cross the river by the ferryboat its last trip they had leave a quantity of herrings in the boat. When they returned next morning at five o’clock, a basket which was in the boat was gone, and with it a considerable number of fish. The boat was close to the shore, and access could easily be obtained to it. A scavenger deponed that he saw Russel and Peter McKenzie on the boat, and the two others on the quay, about twenty minutes before five o’clock on the morning of the 21st. The latter had a string of fish, while the others brought a basket from the boat, which Russel ordered two of his comrades to carry. A cooper gave evidence to the effect that he had called the attention of the scavenger to the boys. A young man named William Cheyne, residing in Gardiner’s Lane, stated that he saw the four prisoners about seven o’clock on Wednesday morning passing along the quay at the foot of Marischal Street. They went up the quay, past the Opera House, and into Carmelite Street, where they met several fish dealers, to whom he purposed to sell the fish for 4s. This offer was refused and the lads proceeded to Peacock’s Close, where they met Russel’s sister fishwoman—who purchased the herrings for 3s. Eighteen pence of this Russel, who acted salesmen, gave to his companions, and the remainder went into his own pocket. Constable Wyness was called to speak about the antecedents of the youths, and from his evidence it appeared that none of them possessed a very enviable history. The constable also deponed that Peter McKenzie was the son of labourer who had six of family, and lived with a woman who had like number of children. This combined family, which consisted of seventeen persons, occupied one room. The parents of the boys were also heard on behalf of the accused. One of them, the mother of Smith, promised to take care of her son if he would be “let off” for that time, but the Baillie told her that he had not much faith in her herself. To this the lady answered that that was between “myself and some other time : it does not belong to the boy.” (Laughter.) The Baillie, in passing sentence, said he had no hesitation in sending Russel to prison for thirty days. Russell—No fine? The Procurator-Fiscal —No fine, sir ! You may thank your stars that it is not great deal more.
Tuesday—(Before Baillies Smith and Sangster). Alexander Smith, George McKenzie, and Peter McKenzie. three young lads who were convicted on the previous day of stealing a quarter of a cran of herrings and a basket from the Cellardyke fishing boat, Agnes and Ann, on the 24th inst., along with another lad who was sentenced to 30 days’ imprisonment, were brought up for sentence, and Baillie Smith said he was of opinion that the only thing to do them good was to send them to the Reformatory for five years, previous to which they must each suffer ten days’ imprisonment.
1879
A telegram from Melbourne reports the ship Ivanhoe. from Melbourne to San Francisco, has gone ashore on an open sandy beach, 5 miles to the eastward of Bridiport, on the north-east coast of Tasmania, and in the captain’s opinion cannot be got off. Surveyors have gone to the ship. The Ivanhoe is an iron ship of 1438 gross tonnage, built in 1868 at Port-Glasgow, belongs to Messrs Williamson & Milligan, Liverpool, and is classed double Al at Lloyd’s. The mate, John Pratt, and the carpenter, David Scott, belong to Cellardyke.
For Sale. PONY (Grey) for Sale – 14.1 hands ; 9 years old ; quiet every way, and a good worker. William Leslie, Merchant, CELLARDYKE.