1885
ESTABLISHMENT. THOMAS SWTNTON, BAKER, CELLARDYKE, respectfully informs the Public of that place and District, that he has now Opened that Shop, 25 Shore Street, Cellardyke, so long tenanted by Mr Alex. Donaldson, where he intends to carry on the Business of a BAKER in all its various branches. T. S. trusts that, by bestowing careful attention on his business, and selling Goods of the finest quality, he may receive a share of public support.
1886
HERRINGS FOR SALE. FINE RED HERRINGS. at 2s per Box. Gutted Do., 4s per Kit. First class quality at R. Melville’s, 37 John Street, Cellardyke.
ACCIDENT TO A YOUNG LAD.—On Friday forenoon last week, while Thomas Melville, son of Councillor Melville, Cellardyke, was engaged driving herring from the station to Cellardyke, he met with an accident. He had stopped opposite the Buckle House corner in West Anstruther, and was about to jump off the cart, his right foot being on the wheel, when the horse started again. His foot, at the moment the cart moved, slipped between the wheel and the side, the consequence being that he was borne to the ground while a severe twist was given to his foot. On being conveyed home he was attended by Dr Thomson, who found that the small bone of the leg had been broken.
RETURN OF THE BOATS FROM THE SOUTH. Fully 40 of the Cellardyke boats which have been engaged at the fishing in England have arrived at Anstruther this week. The first to put in an appearance was the ” Summer Breeze,” at two o clock on Sunday afternoon. By the next tide a good number followed, and every day since there have been a few arrivals. About 30 boats are still to come. The fishing in the south as been anything but a success, and in the case of a good number of the crews it will take them all their time to cover expenses. Only one Cellardyke boat is mentioned as having £200 for her catch, and a few with about £150. But the majority unfortunately have only about £80, while more than one crew have come back with not more than a last of herrings to their credit. The average fishing for the district, taking in Pittenweem and St Monance with Cellardyke, is set down at £85. Some of the crews have suffered heavily in the destruction of their gear. There was a good fishing at Lowestoft on Tuesday, the herrings selling from £11 to £16 a last. One Cellardyke boat is said to have landed 11 lasts at £7 the last. The great line fishing is now likely to be prosecuted until the commencement of the winter herring fishing in January.
SIGHT SINGING. —I t will be seen that Mr Brechin the well-known teacher of sight singing will open a class for instruction in the Public School, Cellardyke, on the evening of Tuesday first. It is to be hoped the lessons will be largely taken advantage of.
At the Burgh Court of Cellardyke on Tuesday before Provost Martin and Bailie Sharp, William Addison, butcher, was charged with assault in so far that he struck John Herd Jun., on the face to the effusion of blood in or near Robert Wood’s shop on Martinmas night. He admitted the charge, but pleaded very great provocation. The fiscal, Mr Peebles, however, declined the plea. On its being withdrawn by the panel, he was convicted and fined in 12s 6d. Two fisher boys, about eleven years of age, James Pattersen Wallace and William Smith, pleaded guilty to stealing a turnip from Mr Key’s holding of South Kirkgate Park. After a pointed reprimand they were each fined in half a crown. Elizabeth Cunningham, aged 14, Margaret Tarvit 13, with the brothers George and Robert Wood, about the same age, were accused of taking potatoes from one of the fields tenanted by Mr George Clarke. Rennyhill. The field, it seems, was harrowed but not gathered when Mr Clarke rode upon the scene. The brothers emptied their bag; but the girls escaped with their booty till it was seized by Police Constable White. They were each fined, after a pointed warning, in ,1s 6d
1887
SUDDEN DEATH ON BOARD THE NORTH CARR LIGHTSHIP…A painful sensation was experienced on the Fife coast on Sabbath, by the announcement that Alexander Watson, the mate of the North Carr Lightship, and so well known as the Isle of May boatman, had suddenly expired that morning on board the vessel. He had performed the last sad offices at the head of hie father’s grave in Kilrenny churchyard on Friday fortnight, and resumed his duties on board the lightship as soon as the storm abated in the course of the following week. He was at this time the picture of health and strength—indeed on the last evening of his life be hailed the St Andrews schooner “Enterprise” with a voice as ringing as a trumpet. About 3 a.m. he was seized with a strange dizziness, “I’m like to faint” he told his watch, and staggered below to sink into a state of unconsciousness as one already in the embrace of death. The skiff was at once put off for the doctor, but the errand was in vain, the last sign of life having flitted several minutes before five. It only remained for the sorrowing friends to land the corpse at Fife Ness, and on the procession arriving in the forenoon at Crail no little sympathy was evinced as it passed to the house of mourning at the shore, where the distress of the widow and the eight fatherless children may be easier imagined than described. Alexander Watson was 48 years of age. In his younger days he shared the fortunes of his father as a fisherman at Dunbar, Aberlady, and Sunderland, till be settled with the family at Cellardyke about eighteen years ago. He was the skipper of his own splendid new boat the Favourite, which was burnt to the water’s edge at Yarmouth, a week or two before that too memorable gale on Black Friday, the 17th November 1875. He was so disheartened by this misfortune that he left net and line to accept the situation of Isle of May boatman at Crail, when he has since been so esteemed for his faithfulness and energy as well as for his true sailor like courtesy to the many tourists visiting the island. From his youth up, he was the first to spring to theory of danger, and so was known far and near as the hero of many a gallant exploit. This was notably the case at the wreck of the Welsh schooner Savant below the cliffs at Crail, in the gale of the 7th February 1883. Again and again in those moments of fearful suspense he, with the life line round hie waist, clambered hand over hand through the boiling surf to reach two of the crew who were so benumbed, if not paralysed with terror, as to be unable to make an effort for their own deliverance on the deck of the vessel fast going to pieces, and so were only saved by clinging to the neck of the hero, while every echo rang with the cheers of the excited spectator.. He was one of the three publicly presented with a medal in the Town Hall on Saturday the 14th April following, in recognition of their gallantry, but there is only too much reason to believe that it was the extraordinary exertion that sowed the seed of the malady which so fatally terminated on Sunday. He was preferred as first mate on board the Lightship for his recognised devotion to duty; and as a mark of the esteem and regard in which he was so universally held by the neighbours, he was elected in the municipal contest of last year to a seat at the Council.
In those days when masterful begging seems to be on the increase, the display of spirit exhibited by a good wife of Cellardyke deserves to be commended. The incident was connected not with begging but rather with attempted theft. While working at the back door the matron in question heard someone moving about in the house, and thinking it would be some friend she went upstairs. When she reached the room what was her astonishment to find a couple of tramps busily engaged ransacking her drawers! Opening fire at once she demanded what they were doing there. “Only seeking for a copper, mistress ” they replied. Shutting the door the guidwife ordered them to turn out their pockets and disburse what they had pilfered. This they meekly did, and assistance arriving, the crestfallen “looters ” were helped downstairs with somewhat less ceremony than force.
On Wednesday morning a telegram was received from Yarmouth by the Rev Mr Ray, asking him to convey the said intelligence to the family of Mr James Brunton, James Street, Cellardyke, that he had been drowned the previous night at Gorleston. It appears that deceased was last seen alive on Tuesday night at eleven, and it is supposed that while going on board his boat he fell into the water. He was picked up at ten o’clock on Wednesday morning. He had not been long in the water, probably not more than three or four hours. A purse, containing 4s 6d, was found on him. An inquiry was held on his body at Gorleston on Wednesday afternoon, and a verdict returned of found drowned. Two of his friends left Anstruther on Wednesday by rail in order to bring home the remains in the boat should the weather prove favourable. Brunton who was one of the best fishermen in Cellardyke, was about 50 years of age, and has left a widow and six of a family, for whom much sympathy has been expressed.
Sudden Death. —An of the of life occurred in Cellardyke yesterday the death Christian Cunningham, the wife of John Dickson, mariner. She appears to have been busy in some little household duty after breakfast, but, be this as it may, her mother was only absent for a few minutes to return to find her lifeless on the floor. Mrs Dickson, who is survived her husband and only child, was about thirty years of age, was greatly beloved in her own circle. In the opinion of the doctor, the cause of death was disease of the heart.
1888
Return from Norfolk coast
…It is now five-and-twenty years since the pioneer boat sailed for Yarmouth. From time to time this success has been encouraging that Cellardyke skippers have fished to £750, but this is by far the poorest season the record consequence the fitful and tempestuous weather. The few you may count your fingers have couple of £100. Many, or rather most, have to £90, but we know of those who have had their own share of the toils and perils one of the most trying seasons in the annals of Norfolk for £6 or £7, that in view of the disappointments of the past there is only too much cause for the uneasiness to-day in many a fisher home. There was a renewal of the westerly gale on Thursday. The storm rack flitted across the sky in such way as to inspire the veteran with end misgiving, and all the more so the restless condition of the weather glass. According to telegrams, the fleet, with few exceptions, was under weigh, that if not battling with the tempest the boats were lying windbound in this or that anchorage between Winterton and St. Abbs. Several sailed from the Tees early the morning, but were glad to fly for shelter into the Tyne, &c. This will appear from the fact that on Thursday afternoon only five boats had arrived at Monance, and about the same number at Anstruther, though it will be. recollected that about 140 boats were fishing this Autumn on the coast of Norfolk. ( nb the quickest passage recorded home to this point was 32 hours, the vessels were towed over the sand bar to start their journey home)
During the gale of Tuesday night, the Banff fishing boat ” Gratitude,” 8F.928, Skipper Bruce, when on her homeward passage from the south, was caught in the gale, and it was decided to run back to Anstruther for shelter. Just at the height of it the boat made an attempt to enter the harbour, but as it was seen she would not sail in she was stayed, and on making the second attempt to enter she struck the outside pier with considerable force, doing damage to her stem and starting the bow planking. Afterwards the boat was got into the harbour, where she drifted down on the East pier, and was in great danger of being further damaged by the heavy wind and sea, which were at that time coming over the east wall in great volumes. As soon as the danger of the boat was known the fishermen of Cellardyke turned out in numbers and rendered valuable assistance under the direction of Capt. Lyall, the harbourmaster, who was at his post during the whole time. With great difficulty the boat was got into the inner harbour, when the crew expressed their thanks for the assistance rendered in getting them out of their dangerous position.
1889
…As an illustration of the low price of herrings in the south, we may state that one Cellardyke boat, the Lady of the Lake, has fished 31 lasts or over four hundred crans for less than £150. The other day nine waggons with about 380 crans were railed to Anstruther. They are destined for ” reds” or ham-cured herrings. With regard to the quality, it is enough to say that one merchant observed, “I never had finer in my kiln.” Consignments are also to hand from Lochfyne, but so small as to be little if any bargain at 3s a box. A private letter says that the Fife boats put to sea on Tuesday to return with 2 to 5 lasts, but the price was very low in consequence of the want of salt, over which there was a general outcry against the Union. The boat Aurora, of Cellardyke, was about to sail for the north in consequence of loss of nets.
James Thomson, fishcadger, and James Robertson, fisher, Anstruther, were accused before the magistrates of Cellardyke on Friday with a contravention of the Lindsey Act, in so far as they piled a heap of seaware in James Street, and so obstructed the thoroughfare on the last day of October. They pleaded guilty, and as a warning to others, were fined 5s each, or 7 days in jail.
A meeting of Kilrenny Councillors was held on Tuesday evening. It was agreed to order 30 tons of metal from Newburgh for Cellardyke streets and 40 tons for Kilrenny roads, and inquire as to the cost per yard for causewaying the East end of Cellardyke. The streets at this part were much destroyed by the traction engines pulling the boats, and it was agreed to consult the Act and see if the proprietor could not charged.
At a Burgh Court at Anstruther yesterday—before Provost Darsie, Ballies Lumsden and Morton, two young fishermen from Cellardyke, named Robert Muir and Leslie Henderson, were charged with having on the 21st instant, in Shore Street, Anstruther, created a breach of the pesos by swearing and fighting with each other. A previous conviction was recorded against Muir on 21st January this year. Both pled guilty. The Fiscal said it was one of these drunken brawls they were so often annoyed with. The Provost admonished Muir, and said he had better take care he was not brought up a third time or else it would be very serious for him. He was sorry to see two young men come before them on this charge. Muir was fined 15s and Henderson 10s, or seven days’ imprisonment.
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