1880
THREE FISHERMEN DROWNED AT SEA. On Wednesday morning, ai the Cellardyke boat Southern Cross, Alexander Fowler, master, was returning home from the great lines she was struck with a tremendous sea while crossing the Murray Bank, some ten leagues or so from the Isle of May. Two of the crew, Andrew Fleming, who was the helm, and Andrew Brown, who was standing on the hatchway, were washed overboard and drowned, while another of the crew, Thomas was severely crushed between the spars, which had been cast loose. Skipper Fowler, with great presence of mind, cast loose the sheet on the boat, or one and all would doubtless have been engulfed in destruction. Fleming leaves a widow and five children, and Brown widow and two children, all of whom are more or less helpless and dependent. Another melancholy disaster occurred on board of the Cellardyke boat Onyx, Robert Meldrum, master, which also encountered the storm in the North Sea. The Onyx, like the Southern Cross, was homeward bound, and while close reefed in mid ocean she was struck by a wave. At this instant one of the crew, Andrew Muir, was swept into the sea, and though for a time he sustained an unequal struggle with the storm, he perished before the boat could beat up to his rescue. Another the crew, David Wood, was severely cut on the forehead.
Election Day the Coast,—Tuesday most of the burghs had scarcely the interest and excitement of a municipal contest, hut in Cellardyke the waggery of the young fisher folk led to some amusing scenes, in unison with the spirit of other days. There, to add to the sensation, pellets of flour, treacle, tar, not to speak of rotten eggs and other unsavoury missiles, were flying about in front of the booth like the hail storm in December, and from which both candidates, who were on the ground, did not wholly escape. There, in the other burghs, the Church question has been an active element in the contest, but with finger so firmly on the lip, as we may say, of the ballot box, it were idle to speculate about the votes and the voting, though Mr Bennet’s friends maintain that all their calculations had been realised upon the coast. The result was announced within four hours of the close of the poll, when the wild spirit, unchained by party, led to some disgraceful scenes of rowdyism Anstruther, where drink, or politics, went so far as to attack those who were conjectured to be the supporters of Mr Bennet. Next day Mr Williamson arrived on the coast, and met with an enthusiastic reception in Pittenweem. He received similar greeting at Anstruther, where he gave a short address in the same tone as his remarks on the previous night at St Andrews. He then visited Crail, on his return from which the horses were unyoked from his carriage at the head of the Bog Causeway so as to enable his enthusiastic supporters to draw him in state to his mother’s door. Strings of colours were also drawn here and there across the High Street. The legend, “See the Conquering Hero Comes was also conspicuous on the same thoroughfare. Mr Williamson left by the 4 p.m, train to record his vote as a Cheshire elector.
1881
Deaths – At sea, the 16th January, in his 56th year, and his passage home from Calcutta to Liverpool, Captain James Webster, of the ship Mary Stenhouse ; native of Cellardyke, Fifeshire
DEATH OF CAPTAIN JAMES WEBSTER OF LIVERPOOL Intelligence was received this week of the death of Captain Webster, a native of Cellardyke, but who has for some time resided in Liverpool. He may be called a self-made man. First employed as a ship-builder, the deceased afterwards went to sea. By steady adherence to duty he soon won the respect of his superiors, and step by step was promoted until he reached the highest poet in the mercantile marine. Captain Webster, one of whose daughters is married to Mr Alex. Hay, was highly trusted anti esteemed by his employers and also by all with whom he came in contact during his career. He was between 50 and 60 years of age, and before leaving Calcutta no one dreamed that his usefulness would he so soon brought to an end.
1882
SERIOUS ACCIDENT. —On Saturday evening, about midnight, a rather serious accident occurred to a young man named James Wilson, a fishermen belonging to Cellardyke. It appears that Wilson, who had been in Pittenweem, had been calling at the house of a fisherman named Flett, residing at the top of the Water Wynd, and while in the act of leaving the house, which is on the second flat, he had by some means or other missed his footing, and fell from the top to the foot of the stair, alighting on the floor in the lobby on his head, receiving such severe injuries that the blood flowed freely from a wound on his head. Falling into an unconscious state, he remained so until Wednesday evening, when he somewhat recovered, but only for a short time. Dr Court was only called on Monday to attend to the injured man, and yesterday he was examined by Drs McCallum and Court, both of whom, we understand, pronounced him to be in a critical condition.
THE NEW TOWN HALL—LAYING THE MEMORIAL STONE. —On Wednesday forenoon the ceremony of laying the memorial stone of this new structure was performed in presence of the Magistrates, headed by Provost Watson. It was at one time intended to have this done with true masonic honours, and that Mr Williamson, M.P., who has done much in the way of getting a new town hall for the burgh, should have presided at the ceremony. This resolve, however, was departed from, mainly in consideration of Mr Williamson’s time being so much taken up at present with his Parliamentary duties, and the inconvenience it might occasion him in leaving London for such a purpose while Parliament in sitting. As the walls have now reached to nearly their intended height, the ceremony could not be delayed longer, and it was therefore duly performed by the Magistrates, with very little display or excitement, on Wednesday. The stone designed to memorialise the building is placed in one of the tiers near the top of the wall at the south-west corner. In the cavity made in the stone a jar of sufficient size was placed, and the several articles deposited therein comprised-1, Copy of minute of the Town Council in reference to the offer of Mr Williamson, M.P., and the late David Fowler, Esq. of London, to build a new town hall on certain terms ; 2, Copy of minute of Town Council in reference to the death of the late David Fowler, Esq ; 3, A list of the present members of the Town Council; 4, The names of the architect and contractors of the building ; 5, Copy of book, ” Memorials of Cellardyke” ; 6, A copy of East of Fife Record containing a history and description of the building ; 7, A photograph of the old Town Hall; and 8, Copies of the Scotsman, Review, East of Fife Record, and Fife News.
1883
Handsome Donations.— Sir Walter W. Hughes has forwarded from London, to his friend, Mr Bowman, Town-Clerk, gift of £100 the Fishermen’s Society ; also, to Nicholson, Session clerk, donation of £10 for the churchyard improvement of his native town of Pittenweem. Sir Walter has also sent £100 through Bailie Sharp to the Fisherman’s Union of Cellardyke, where he wrought both as apprentice and man in the cooperage of the Bailie’s father, or rather, let us say, where he had his early home till he entered on that adventurous and romantic career, attended in the end with such brilliant success.
1884
CELLARDYKE. MEETINGS ON THE WATER SUPPLY.—What may be well viewed in the light of an indignation meeting was held at the Hall on Monday night. It was over the proposed union with the Elie water scheme. The fishermen mustered in such force that nearly 300 weather-beaten faces crowded the benches. The chair was taken by Bailie Smith, who seemed to give voice to the thoughts of one and all in denouncing the scheme as involving a cruel and unnecessary tax on already over-burdened householders. He referred to the over-flowing wells on every side to bear out the argument; but, admitting, he said, that there shall ever come a day when the Board of Supervision, or any other, can have a pretence to interfere, an adequate supply could always be found without going out of their own parish. (Great applause.) Mr Gilchrist, shoemaker, had every confidence in the present supply; but he thought it might be expedient to have the wells analysed, and so settle the question once for all. Mr Philip Anderson, Mr James Smith (Elder), and others held that that had been done already; and that the test, like their own everyday experience, proved that the supply was, in all respects, satisfactory. That the speakers were in sympathy with the meeting was seen in the fact that only two held up their bands for a new analysis, while the verdict in favour of the existing supply was given with ringing enthusiasm. The meeting closed with a cordial vote of thanks to Bailie Smith for his public-spirited conduct.
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