1900
THE WAID PUPILS AT ST ANDREWS UNIVERSITY. —The prize lists of St Andrews University shows that the following Waid pupils have taken honours as follows: —In humanity classes, Lucy B. Pratt, Cellardyke, has passed in the second rank, and also in the same rank in the mathematical class. Margaret M. Nicol, Largo, and Harriet A. Masterton, Methil, have passed in the first rank of honours in the ordinary classes of mathematics.
The Harbour Commissioners held a special meeting on Monday night to consider the applications for the harbourmastership in place of Skipper Martin Gardiner, resigned. The salary offered was £52 per annum. Provost Morton presided, and the following members were present. Messrs Darsie, Cunningham, A. Watson, Black, Porter, Rodger, and Oliphant. The Clerk mentioned that 34 applications had been received, but two had withdrawn, leaving 32 to be dealt with. The Provost thought the best plan would be to hear the applications read, and then consider their marks in Committee, perhaps reducing them to a short leet, and asking those on it to come and see them. They would never think of appointing a stranger without seeing him. Of course, it was perfectly competent for them to appoint a local man if they liked. The other members concurred in the Provost’s suggestion, and the Clerk then read over the names of the applicants. They were from all quarters, and the most were retired sea captains in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee. Aberdeen, Buckie, and retired coastguards in Dunbar and Rosshire. The local and district men were Skipper John Watson, (Bisset), Crail; John Carstairs, Cellardyke; David Davidson, Dove Street, Cellardyke; James Wilson, fruiterer, Anstruther; Captain John Hill, Castle Street, Crail; and Captain Hansen of the Speculator. The Board then met in private. A short leet of five, all strangers, was drawn, and a suggestion made that a local man should be put on the leet was agreed to. Skipper John Watson’s name was added. A vote was taken whether the appointment should be made now or delayed until all those on the lest had been seen, when it was agreed to proceed, and the result was that Skipper Watson, Crail, was unanimously elected harbourmaster. Skipper Watson is at present engaged at the herring fishing. He was the captain of the Crail steam liner East Neuk, and he is generally looked upon sea very capable man for the position.
1901
NEW JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES.
The Kilrenny Steam Fishing Company, ltd., Crail Road, Anstruther, with a capital of £2OOO in shares of £4 each. Signatories: Wm. Oliphant, bank agent, 26 Rodger Street; Wm. S. Bonthron, fish-curer, 7 Melville Terrace; Wm. Jarvis, retired boatbuilder, 1 Union Place; James Milne, farmer, Anstruther Farm; and Thomas Dunsire, fish merchant —all Anstruther; John Guillan, baker, 1 Shore Street; and James Fortune, draper, George Street—both of Cellardyke.
1902
CELLARDYKE. NEW BUILDING. –Mr George Melville, Anstruther, intends to beg n the erection of a dwelling house at the east end of Cellardyke in the field facing the sea, between Sharp’s House and the fishcuring premises of the late Mr Cormack, The house is to be on the south side of the street, and will command a splendid view.
PURCHASE OF PROPERTY. —That block of buildings in West Forth Street, formerly occupied as the boot factory, has been purchased by Bailie Williamson, from Mr James Leslie, the present proprietor. The price has not transpired. Bailie Williamson intends to convert the block into dwelling houses, and has had already several applications for occupancy of the houses as soon as they are ready.
THE ADDITONS TO THE SCHOOL – The following are the successful contractors for the addition to be made to Cellardyke school:—Mason, John Clark; joiner, James Miller; plumbers, Gray and Pringle ; and plasterer and slater, Robert Williamson. The contracts amount to fully £480.
At an early hour on Wednesday morning, a Cellardyke and a Pittenweem boat came into collision in the vicinity of the May Island. The nets had just been hauled. and the boats were sailing away when the Pittenweem boat struck the Cellardyke boat. Several planks were sprung, and a number of the crew jamp into the Pittenweem boat, but it was soon ascertained that the damage done was not so serious as was at first anticipated, and that there was no danger of the boat sinking. Both boats reached Anstruther all right, the Pittenweem boat standing alongside the whole way and giving a tow. The boat was laid up to be repaired.
SAD DEATH OF FIFE FOOTBALLER. It has just transpired that a tragic incident resulted from the meeting of Crail Union and Cellardyke Bluejackets in contesting the semi-final of the Martin White Cup competition at Anstruther on Saturday. When the match was in progress one of the members of Crail Union, Anstruther Corstorphine, complained of illness, and had to be assisted off the field. His illness was not thought at first to be serious, but Corstorphine rapidly became worse, and within a few hours had passed away. The immediate cause of death is said to have been a ruptured heart. The touching episode ‘has naturally caused profound gloom in, East Fife football circles, where ““ Anster” Corstorphine was so well known. He was a member of the old brigade, and was a mainstay in the Crail team when the Union was, ten or twelve years ago, one of the best clubs in the county. On this occasion Corstorphine had come forward to assist the younger players in reorganising a club. Of a cheery disposition, “’Anster’ was one of the most popular players in the East of Fife, and, robustly built, was of the greatest service in the exciting games peculiar to the East Coast of the Kingdom. What adds pathos to the tragic event is the fact that Corstorphine contemplated going to South Africa, and had secured the necessary papers, Much sympathy is being expressed for his widowed mother.
1903
PUBLIC MEETING. THE ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION. LIEUTENANT BASIL HALL, District Inspector of Lifeboats, will hold an enquiry in the TOWN HALL of CELLANDYKE on SATURDAY first, 21st March 1903, at Half past One o’clock p.m., with regard to the complaints made against the suitability of the Lifeboat ” Royal Stuart,” stationed at Anstruther, and more particularly as to the Boat’s behaviour when called on service to the Fishing Boat ” Providence,” of Cellardyke, on the morning of Friday, 27th ulto. It is expected that the Lifeboat Committee, Coxswains, Crew, Fishermen, and all others interested will attend in order that the Inspector may have the benefit of local knowledge, and the fullest particulars to enable him to report to the Parent Institution. Chair will be taken at 1.30 p.m. prompt. MACKINTOSH, WATSON, & MURRAY, Honorary Secretaries. National Bank Buildings, Anstruther, 18th March 1903.
WANTED, APPRENTICE for the Grocery Trade. Apply R. A. Fowler., Forth Street, Cellardyke.
LIFEBOAT INEFFICIENCY AT ANSTRUTHER. INQUIRY BY THE INSTITUTION. STRONG SPEAKING BY LOCAL FISHERMEN. Consequent on the allegations by local fishermen that the present boat, the Royal Stuart, is unsuited to the coast, an inquiry was held by Lieutenant Basil Hall, of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution on Saturday in Cellardyke Town Hall. Provost Morton presided, and was supported by Provost Black; Messrs G. Darsie; J. Keir; Captain Webster; Rev. J. Ray; Lieutenant Roger, Elie, Messrs A. C. Mackintosh and H. Watson, secretaries; &c.
Lieutenant Hall explained he had been ordered to hold this inquiry in consequence of the representations made at a recent public meeting, where the lifeboat, slip, and house were all condemned by the fishermen.
Skipper James Pratt, one of the best type of Scottish fishermen, was the first to speak. He said the boat had been thoroughly tested on the 27th February, both under canvas and under oars, and was thoroughly satisfied she was useless for this part the coast. She might do for other stations. Ferryden and Buckhaven fishermen told him their lifeboats would have cut right across the light, but he could not get this boa,t away from the lee wall. They had no confidence in her.
Another representative voice was that of Skipper James Jack, also old coxswain, who endorsed the previous speaker’s remarks from his own observation. He had complained to the secretary about the boat, slip, and house two years ago. He had tried over and over again to put the boat to windward, but could never manage it. She always came up to the place from where she started. That was the reason he resigned as coxswain two years ago. His name was given in the register when the boat came, as one who declared her unmanageable, or heavy on oars. Answering the Chairman, he said no crew could get out the boat in hurry from the present house
Mr Watson said could not recall Mr Jack ever speaking other than in a general way about the house or boat. The committee never heard a complaint about the boat until at the public meeting. When the committee two years ago heard the complaints about the slip they fitted up the rail. A veteran coxswain. Skipper Martin Gardiner, referred the qualities of the previous boat. He had always got the present boat to stay, but never had any object in trying to see if she could beat. He never thought her so good a boat as the old one. He had never seen a man hang back, and there were as brave men yet as of old in Cellardyke. The fishermen were never pleased with the slip or house. The best thing was to launch the boat over the pier. When lives were in danger, quickness was the thing. A service boat would be better than the present boat. He added that the district was self-supporting. Some people refused to subscribe because of the boat, and money would come in better if people had confidence in it.
Skipper Robert Meldrum said from the first time he put his foot in her he never liked this boat. They needed lighter one with a centre-board.
One of Cellardyke’s dreadnoughts, Skipper W. Sutherland, told his experiences as one who had been of the crew, and the three separate trials get the boat out. It was the same when the Tinto (a Dundee trader) was lost in September. They might just as well have a raft.
Answering Lieutenant Hall, Skipper Meldrum said, the boat was sent from headquarters first class, he never liked to speak out.
Lieutenant Hall replied that what he came for was to hear if there was anything wrong. He did not want them to wait until there were lives waiting to be saved before complaining.
Skipper Gardiner criticised the superior arrangements in Ireland, and naively added “The Irish were the boys for “getting a’thing.”
Lieutenant Hall said would lay the statement before the Institution. He could not promise a new boat, but if one was given, the fishermen would have the selecting the style of boat themselves. The boats cost about £800.
Messrs P. Muir, John Jack, W. Smith, and Rev. Mr Ray took part in a further discussion, in the course of which Mr Jack said no boat could have gone out of the harbour during the September gale. Another grievance was the fixed crews. The community wanted to see it settled that the first men forward should man the boat. It was stated the committee was considering this. Votes of thanks to Lieutenant Hall and the Provost concluded the inquiry.
1904
THE STRANDING OF A BUOY. —On Monday afternoon, there was washed up on the shore at the east end of Cellardyke, a large buoy, about 15 feet long, with the letters S.N. printed on it. It is supposed to have been broken from its moorings on the sandbanks of the Scandinavian coast, and floated across the North Sea during the recent severe weather. The buoy gave evidence of the great dashing it had received. It was claimed by the coastguards.
SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO A YOUNG LAD. —On Saturday afternoon, a rather serious accident happened to a young lad, named John McLaren, an apprentice butcher with Mr Kirkcaldy, Tolboth Wynd. He was engaged mincing beef with the mincing machine, and when pushing the beef into the machine with his hands, the forefingers of his right hand got among the knives and they were cut off. It took some little time to get the machine dismantled in order to extricate the lad who was conveyed home to Rustic Place, Anstruther, where the two local doctors attended and dressed the wounds. He was removed to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary by the seven o’clock train.
SALE OF A FISHING BOAT.—The large new deep sea fishing boat completed by Mr Fulton (Pittenweem), some time ago, has found a purchaser in Skipper William Murray, Cellardyke. The craft is about 70 in length, and is constructed of the first-class material, while her design has few equals in the district. She is to be fitted out with all the latest improvements, and be ready for the ensuing summer herring fishing. With the view of working up material on hand Mr Fulton is laying down another keel for a similar craft.
Do you enjoy and follow the Cellardyke Echo and the work of the Cellardyke Trust?
There are costs behind everything we do, such as, Web hosting fees for this website which provides the weekly Cellardyke Echo and all the other info and research. Public Liability Insurance for our events such as the Sea Queen and the Phone Boxes. These are general operating costs which we cannot avoid.
If you are able to support the work of the Cellardyke Trust – Donations of any size would be gratefully received .
Our Account is called “The Cellardyke Trust (SCIO)”, Sort Code 83-15-08 – Acc No 00128815
Many Thanks