1895
CELLARDYKE. BOAT INSURANCE. —The North British Fishing Boat Insurance Company, Peterhead, have just paid, through their agent Mr W. S. Bonthron, the full amount insured on the boat, the Lady of the Lake, Cellardyke, lost in the storm of May last. The sum paid over is £135. Only one premium had been paid by the owner previous to the loss, the sum amounting to 16s 9d.
Fraserburgh – A general start was made on Monday, but the light winds prevented them reaching the favourite grounds. The inshore shoals are very spotty, and although several secured tidy shots, the bulk had nothing to bring them in. Amongst the prize-winners was Skipper James Pratt, the 191 being the only KY boat which struck the shoal. Some 58 crans at 18s was credited him.
1896
THE LOSS OF A CELLARDYKE FISHERMAN AT HARTLEPOOL. —On Monday morning the sad news was received by Mr W. S. Bonthron, that James Watson, one of the crew of the Anster Fair, had been drowned at Hartlepool on Saturday night. As far as can be ascertained, Watson was last seen at ten o’clock on Saturday night sitting near the stern of the Fair. The rest of the crew had retired for the night, and it was not until Sunday morning that they missed Watson, when they noticed that his bed had not been slept on. An alarm was at once raised, and the assistance of the police called in. After a search for some time the body of Watson was seen floating erect about a foot below the surface not far from where the liner was moored. On being got into the liner it was found that life had been gone for a good few hours. It is supposed that deceased had accidentally fallen overboard just before he intended to have retired, and that his body had been raised to near the surface by the action of a paddle steamer which had sailed shortly before the body was found. An inquest was held on Monday, when a verdict of accidental death by drowning was returned by the Coroner’s jury. The body was brought to Anstruther by the liner on Tuesday morning. Leaving Hartlepool at half-past five o’clock on Monday night, Anstruther was reached shortly after six o’clock. The liner had her flags suspended half-mast high, and the coffin was covered with the Union Jack.The remains were taken to the deceased’s residence in Dove Street, and interred in Kilrenny Churchyard on Wednesday afternoon. Watson, who was 46 years of age and has left a widow and nine children, was one of the best known and most successful fishermen in Cellardyke. He was very quiet in disposition, but very active and persevering in his habits.
CELLARDYKE. NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND FOR SEA FISHERMEN.–The Committee of the fund which was raised last year for the benefit of the widows and orphans who were bereft of their bread-winners by the loss of the ” Lady of the Like,” Appointed a small sub-Committee to make inquiry as to the possibility of starting for Cellardyke and the neighbouring fishing towns a branch of the above Fund. Originally the National Provident Fund was a purely charitable fund; its object being to assist the families of British fishermen who lost their lives at sea. It was founded in 1884, and consisted chiefly of money which was left over from the Fisheries’ Exhibition. Several families in this district received benefit from it. In course of time, however, the applicants for relief became so numerous that it was resolved to change the diameter of the Fund, and in 1891 it was converted into a Provident Fund. Branches of this Fund have been established in many of the fishing towns of England, but as yet, so far as we are aware, there are none in Scotland, and it was thought by some friends of the fishermen on this coast that an attempt should be made to form a branch here. With this object in view the committee referred to entered into communication with the secretary of the, parent fund, and for some months have been doing their utmost to arrange matters so that they might be able on the return of the fishermen to bring the benefit of the Institution before them with come hope of inducing them to agree to the formation of a local branch. But while in the course of their inquiries the Committee were sanguine that this would be accomplished, a letter has recently been received from the Secretary fixing the annual payment at a figure which, in the present depressed state of the industry, is beyond the reach of the great majority of the fishermen. Most reluctantly therefore, and with the deepest regret., the Committee have been compelled to abandon the hope of establishing in the meantime a branch of the National Provident Fund in this district.
1897
Of the large fleet of boats fishing from the port or Aberdeen at this season the usual considerable proportion hail from the ” Kingdom Fife.” They are mostly sailing vessels, manned by a lot of industrious, hard-working fishermen, who make the very best of their opportunities, and philosophically take what luck falls to them without too much grumbling or too great elation. One typical old skipper told a representative of the Courier on Saturday that his luck had been only indifferent this season, but there was no moping about it, and he hastened to tell the good fortune of his next-door neighbour—Martin Gardiner, of Cellardyke, skipper of the Vanguard —who came in with a record catch two days previously. The Vanguard was many miles out sea, fishing in the midst of many other boats, when she struck shoal of herrings that yielded 104 crans before she headed for Aberdeen. Martin Gardiner’s good luck did not end with the mere possession of the catch, for afterwards he pocketed the fair return of 18s 6d per cran. Unlike many others engaged in the same industry, the Fife fishermen are strict, observers of the Sabbath. It is a fixed principle with every one them that must be in port on the Saturday, and he does not shift again from the quayside until Monday. There are just two trawlers from the Kingdom ” —the Faith and the Fifeness and their movements are likewise strictly confined to week days. For trawlers this is quite exceptional, for the vast majority them come and go at all times. The Faith has been fishing regularly from the port of Aberdeen for a long time, and she was never once known to go to sea on Sunday.
1898
Kilrenny Town Council
A letter was read from Me McLaren, Innergellie, asking if the fish-guano factory at Cellardyke had carried out the recommendations of Dr Nasmyth in order to prevent the objectionable fumes arising from it. The Provost said he had replied to the letter to the effect that Mr Cormack had carried out the recommendations to the letter, but that the new apparatus had not been tested yet.
Sudden Death of a Fisherman. About 4 o’clock on Saturday morning, George Moncrieff, fisherman, Cellardyke, died very suddenly on Anstruther Pier. He had been off at the herring fishing all night, and on the boat entering harbour he complained of being sick. On reaching the West Pier he stepped ashore on to the steps on in the pier, and on getting to the top he fell and immediately expired. Medical aid was at once got, but nothing could be done. Heart disease was the cause of death. Skipper Moncrieff was nearly 70 years of age, and is survived by a widow and grown-up family. He was held in great respect by the fishing community.
1899
SCAFFOLDING ACDIDENT. —On Thursday night last week, while Mr Peter Elder and four painters were engaged painting the roof of the Parish Church, the scaffolding on which they were standing suddenly gave way. Two of the men were thrown into the gallery, and other two into the Church, All the men escaped without injury except Patrick Mclllgrew, who was severely bruised on the left side, and a bit of the skin of his right leg torn off. He is now all right again.
Theft of Money.—On Thursday night last a theft was discovered to have taken place in the house of John Clark, junr. in Ellice Street. The circumstances are as follows: –The front window was discovered to have been broken, and it was thought the thief or thieves must have entered by it, but this supposition was shown to be groundless from the fact that the snib was all right, and a number of flower pots lying on the sole of the window had not been disturbed. They would have had to be removed before anyone could have gained entrance by the window. Nothing was touched in the room, but the party, who evidently knew the house, had gone to a box in which money was kept and taken £1 out one box, and 2s from another, but leaving 3s in it. A quantity of jewellery was also left behind. The boxes were again re-locked, and put in the places from which they had been taken. The police were informed as soon as it was discovered, and the theory is that it has not been committed by a stranger.
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