1880
CELLARDYKE. A Busy Day with the Candidates.—On Saturday afternoon the fishermen of Cellardyke, electors in the coast burghs of the St Andrews Parliamentary district, were addressed by three of the Liberal candidates at present before the constituency soliciting their suffrages. Mr Stephen Williamson delivered an excellent address to a crowded meeting. He was most cordially received. Mr Douglas Ainslie, likewise, in the Town Hall, spoke to the electors, and received a vote of thanks for address. Mr Lindsay Bennet followed the other two candidates with a speech, in which he enunciated his opinions on political questions. The customary vote of thanks was accorded.
The handsome villa, just completed by Mr John Ritchie, fishcurer, in St Ayles Crescent, was purchased the other day for Mr Mitchell, the firm of Messrs Watson and Mitchell, merchants, Cellardyke, at the surprising figure—if we look at the nature and extent the accommodation—of some four hundred guineas.
1881
NARROW ESCAPE OF A FIFESHIRE FISHING BOAT. During the dense fog of Wednesday morning, the Cellardyke fishing boat Useful, Thomas Boyter, master, was run into by the steam trawler, Frederick -James. The boat was riding, by her drift, with a regulation light burning, but the steamer was scarcely her own length distant before the-cry of the fishermen on the lookout attracted the notice of those on board. The helm was shifted, but the sponsoon struck the bows of the boat-so violently as to smash in the stem. Eventually the drift was hauled in, when the disabled craft was towed by the Frederick -James to Anstruther Harbour, where she lies in such a-damaged condition as to be unfitted for several days for the fishing. The incident has excited no little-commotion, and the-strong remonstrance against steam trawling in the Firth is being signed both by fishermen and fish buyers. In this case, however, the steam, tug was not sweeping, but making a passage to market.
Sale of Property. — The little self-contained tenement and yard near the Urquhart Wynd, Cellardyke, so long possessed by the late Mr James Smith (Hamilton), were exposed for sale in the Town Hall there on Saturday. The upset price was £100, but a smart competition having taken place, it was knocked down at £164.
BOAT FOR SALE THE FISHING BOAT “MARGARET” of Cellardyke, as she ran the Herring Fishing last Season, with all her Materials in good condition, belonging to Robert Watson (Fowler), Cellardyke. Apply to John McLeod Fishcurer, Pittenweem.
1882
DANGERS OF THE FISHING FLEET. After a treacherous lull, the westerly gale broke with redoubled violence on Friday evening. The herring fleet were busy at the fishing ground when the storm rose, with scarce a sign of warning. Fortunately, however, they were near the shore, and “snugging” the big sail they began tack for the harbour, although in some cases this was done while the flood was still low on the bar. One of these was the Dayspring, of Cellardyke, Martin Gardiner master. At last the favourable moment came to make the run, and so the boat was brought to the wind, but doing so the squall struck the sail with so much violence that the skipper’s son, Alexander, who was at the sheet, was spun, as it were, over the gunwale. It was intensely dark, and he seems to have sunk on the instant, as the boat flew past on the wings of the gale. A cry was heard the distance, and an oar was flung in the direction, but although this was followed by the most desperate efforts of the crew the search was unavailing, and the poor young fellow found a watery grave. Alexander Gardiner (26)was one of the most promising and respected of his class, brave and steadfast, and his untimely fate has made a deep and painful impression the coast. He leaves widow and one child, with many attached friends, to mourn his loss. It cannot be otherwise recorded than to his honour and an example to others that his life was insured for £100. This sad event occurred before midnight. When the boat with the melancholy tidings arrived in the harbour it intensified, of course, the alarm felt for the rest of the fleet, especially as every hour seemed to add to the fury the gate. The struggle was indeed arduous one, as the sea also rose with great violence in the conflict of tide and wind. Boat after boat had her sail split or her spars carried away.
SALE OF PROPERTY – We understand that Mr Alex. Wallace, builder, Anstruther, has this week sold the two large dwelling houses he has just erected in West Forth Street, one to Skipper John Gardiner, and the other to Skipper Alex. Fowler. They are both of three storeys and attics, and are in every way well adapted for the better class of fishermen’s houses. Mr Wallace has three houses to build on the ground below the above properties.
1883
INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES EXHIBITION, EDINBURGH, 1882, Gold Medal for Deep-Sea Herring Nets. Silver Medal and Money Prize for Deep-Sea Fishing Lines. Diploma for Excellence Fishermen’s Suits, Oilskins.
The above having been awarded to SHARP A MURRAY, CELLARDYKE, they are now making Stock to suit the Trade, with the very best material. Nets suitable for the Shetland Isles, mounted, barked, and ready for sea as well as Great Lines, mounted and barked Cane Sculls Maunds, ready to bait. Barked Cotton in skeins for mending in all the sizes: in fact, every requisite required for the Fishing Industry, supplied at lowest possible prices. Cellardyke, 29th Jan., 1883 ( Advert in the Shetland Times)
TO LET in CELLARDYKE HOUSE and SHOP. Been Used as a China Shop, and not another in the Burgh. About 3000 inhabitants. Apply JAMES SKINNER, Merchant, Cellardyke.
1884
FIRST CLEARING SALE DAVID R CUNNINGHAM, GENERAL DRAPER, CELLARDYKE, Has now commenced FIRST CLEARING SALE Which will continue Three Weeks. During that period he will offer his Whole Stock of DRAPERY G00DS At Greatly Reduced Prices. See Handbills. An Early Call is solicited. DAVID R CUNNINGHAM GENERAL DRAPER, 54 JAMES STREET, CELLARDYKE.
At a Burgh Court held on Saturday forenoon last—all the three Magistrates being on the bench—Alex. Keith, fish cadger or carter, Cellardyke, was charged with assaulting Margaret Bisset in the public house in Shore Street occupied by Mrs Bisset, her mother, in so far as, on the 16th ult., he struck her so violently with his fists on the face as to blacken her eye. Panel pled not guilty, but on the evidence of the complainer and other two witnesses, the charge was found proven. Taking into account the aggravated circumstances attending the case, the Magistrates fined the panel 40s, with the alternative of thirty days’ imprisonment. The fine was paid.
The Enterprise of our Fishermen. — No more eloquent illustration can be adduced of the onward spirit of the fishers of Fife than the notable activity in the boat-building yards of the Coast. Our townsman, Councillor Jarvis, has, in particular, just added another dashing sea clipper to the Cellardyke fleet in the “Mayflower,” built to the order of that worthy veteran, and well-known office-bearer in the Parish Church, Mr Alexander Watson. Like her consorts of late, she is fully fifty-six feet in length; but we specially notice her fine, well-developed lines, bespeaking, as every old sailor knows, a safe and trusty sea craft in the rising gale. There is no better example, indeed, of what a first-class fishing craft ought to be, in view of the ever-recurring hazards of the stormy sea; but notably in those days, when, as in the case of the “Mayflower,” sail after sail will be hoisted for Kinsale, and a little later for the Shetland Isles. Our townsman is also giving the finishing touch to a large and powerful boat to the order of Skipper Flett, of Lossiemouth. This fine craft is after the “Zulu” build, as it is whimsically called —her keel, as in the case of the well-known Irish wherries, being no less than fourteen feet shorter than her measurement —sixty-two over all. Every locality has thus, we see, its own nautical ideas; but the greybeards will be far wrong their reckoning, as Jack says, if the “Dewdrop”, as the whisper is, does not prove herself the admiral ship of the Moray sea. The handsome boat which has been for some time in construction West Anstruther quay for Skipper Thomas Taylor is to be launched.
At the Burgh Court held on Saturday last—James Anderson, a young fisherman, belonging to Pittenweem, was charged with committing a breach of the peace by cursing, swearing, and conducting himself in a riotous and disorderly manner in East Forth Street, Cellardyke, on the afternoon of Wednesday the 13th inst. and also with taking from his pocket a clasp knife and flourishing it before Alexander Thomson, a Cellardyke fisherman. He pled guilty, but said he knew nothing about it. The Fiscal said this was a serious case of breach of the peace, more so because the panel had taken a knife out of his pocket. He was very glad he did not use it. The Provost in passing sentence of a fine of 12s 6d, said the Magistrates had taken a very light view of the case. It was a serious crime to take out a knife to any one, and he hoped this would be a warning to him.
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