1900
THE NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS. ANSTRUTHER AND CELLARDYKE Hogmanay falling on a Sunday, the New Year was ushered in in Anstruther and Cellardyke with comparative quietness, The streets on Sunday seemed to be quieter than usual, and the same remark might be made of Saturday night, when it was noticed that fewer people were moving about than on an ordinary Saturday. A good number left the town on Saturday, and the arrivals were more numerous than former years. The special trains run from Edinburgh and Glasgow did much to prevent a congestion of the traffic, but notwithstanding this the trains were somewhat late in arriving. On Sunday night, comparatively few people met at the Cross and in Rodger Street to usher in the New Year, an as soon as it was known that 1900 had dawned. coloured lights were shown and the usual wishes expressed. Snatches of songs with flute in accompaniment were sung, and then the first footers began their rounds. The weather throughout Monday was of the finest description, being dry and bracing. The roads in some parts were soft and slippery, but the causewayed streets aid pavements were very pleasant for pedestrians. The day being Handsel Monday, the farm servants helped to swell the crowds on the streets, the day being observed as a holiday by all except a number of -shopkeepers. Very little business was done, and the drapers and others were obliged to close in the afternoon. The outdoor attractions were a football match and a raffle at the Bridge, both of which were well patronised. Th e trains during the day were not much behind time considering the large number , travelling. Extra carriages had to be put on. There was a good deal of grumbling that there was no reduction of fares on Monday, the same as was granted on Saturday, but the reason given was that the Monday holiday was not being generally observed, and no advantage could be given on that account. In the evening in Anstruther Town Hall there was a dance, while in Cellardyke Town Hall, the Gospel Temperance Union held their annual social meeting. The town was fairly quiet in the evening, and the number of persons under the influence of drink was estimated to be under the average. The only annoyance was the firing of squibs on the streets, and this amusement of the youngsters was very largely indulged in all day. No accidents occurred, at least none were reported. The shopkeepers held their holidays on Tuesday and Wednesday, but the weather on Tuesday was wretched in the extreme, a pitiless rain falling all day, while the wind had veered to the east. So stormy was the outlook that neither the boats or the liners ventured out of the harbour. The conditions held good on Wednesday, when from the forenoon until late in the afternoon it rained very heavily at intervals. The sky became so dark between 12 and 1 o’clock that over the whole town artificial lights had to be resorted to. A good few shops were opened, but on account of the weather, and there being no fishing, very little business was done.
PRESENTATION AT CELLARDYRE TO MR JOHN MILLAR, POSTMAN. On Wednesday evening, Mr John Miller, postman, was presented in Cellardyke Town Ball with a gold watch and albert on the occasion of his leaving the district for Arbroath. The meeting was largely attended, and Provost Thomson presided. Treasurer Fortune, Councillors Melville and Black were on the platform. The Provost wished all present a very happy New Year. (Applause.) The purpose for which they were met was well known to them, and from the audience, which was very large considering the inclemency of the weather, it was evident that there was a distinctly hearty feeling over this presentation. (Applause.) Very often over affairs of this kind there is a decided lukewarmness caused by the feeling that there was no occasion for the presentation at all. But in all truth he could say that over this presentation to Mr John Millar, who has been for 11 years our postman, there is not the slightest trace of such a feeling. (Applause.) When it was first proposed to acknowledge Mr Millar’s faithful services to the community it was very heartily taken up, and the large number of subscriptions show how unanimous the feeling was in favour of it. ………….. Was it a wonder that a presentation should be proposed on his retirement, and was it a wonder that this proposal should have been heartily taken up and carried through? It was because he knew how hearty and spontaneous have been the feelings of all in connection with this presentation, and how willingly they have given to it, that he had very great pleasure in handling over, in the name of the subscribers, this watch and chain to Mr Miller. (Applause.) He hoped it would always remind him of his unselfish and faithful service, and that it would also be a token to him that he carried into his new life with its different duties the respect and good wishes of the people of Cellardyke and district. The inscription on the watch is as follows:
“Presented to Mr John Miller by his friends in Cellardyke and district as an expression of their respect and esteem. January 3rd 1900 ” The watch was bought from the stuck of Mr Donaldson, Shore Street, Anstruther. …….
Councillor Melville expressed the pleasure he had in being present. They would never get a better postman. (Applause.) He earnestly hoped that Mr Miller would succeed as well in his new undertaking as he had done as their postman. (Applause.) He hoped that at the end of 11 years he would be again presented with something tangible for producing some new boats. He noticed some present who were to get boats from Mr Miller, and he hoped the boats would be a great success. (Applause)
Treasurer Fortune said he entertained great respect for their postman because they all knew that everything was safe with him, and that all his duties would be faithfully discharged. (Applause.) He wished Mr Miller every success in his new undertaking into which he carried all their good wishes for his success. (Applause.)
Councillor Black said he had come to the meeting to show his esteem, and respect for Mr Miller. (Applause). Everyone could corroborate what had been so well said by Provost Thomson and others as to the obliging and painstaking way Mr Miller bad discharged his duties. He hoped the name firm of John Miller and Son will go over broad Scotland and England to with the fine boats they would build. Mr Miller had a name second to none in Scotland for building splendid fishing boats. (Applause.)
Mr Thomas Cunningham, Anstruther, heartily approved of the remarks made the very satisfactory manner in which Mr Miller had done his work. At the time this was the first occasion he had say he was pleased to receive a taxpaper from a postman. (Laughter.) That was the only thing he had against Mr Miller. (Laughter.) He hoped Mr Miller would be successful in building new boats. His father had built some splendid crafts, and two heads would be better than one, (Applause)
Bailies Williamson Butters also made a few remarks, the latter proclaimed a vote of thanks to the Provost for presiding. The meeting terminated with the singing of Auld Lang Syne.
STATE OF CELLARDYKE HARBOUR. CONFERENCE WITH MR ANSTRUTHER, M.P. In Town Hall, Cellardyke, on Friday evening. Mr Anstruther. M.P., held a conference with fishermen and others, and propounded scheme to restore Cellardyke Harbour, washed down by a storm in October. 1898. Mr Anstruther said a rough estimate had made to the cost of rebuilding the south pier, involving the sum of £1200, and he proposed that, in order to raise that amount, fourteen skippers of boats should insure their lines to the extent of £100. The annual sum to met would £87 or thereabouts. An income of £50 would be derived from laid-up boats during the winter, leaving £37 to be raised otherwise. Perhaps some of the other skippers might agree to become responsible for that amount. A discussion ensued over the scheme, and, while the majority of the fishermen present agreed as to the feasibility of utilising Cellardyke Harbour when restored as storage during the winter for laid-up boats, the financial proposal was left over for further consideration. Mr Anstruther, the motion of Mr H. Watson, was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for the great interest he took in fishing questions and the industry.
DEATH OF A PROMINENT FIFE MAN. The death occurred last night, at Cellardyke, of ex-Bailie Robert Brown, at the advanced age of 84. He was a prominent and fisherman, but retired upwards of 20 years ago, when he was elected a2 member of Kilrenny Town C He was appointed a magistrate, an office he retained for several years. He was also a staunch Free Churchman, and acted as an elder in Anstruther Free Church since the Disruption.
Battle of Magersfontein, Boer war
General Wauchope’s death Lost the Battle
JJ Moir writing from Camp Enslin on 14th Dec to his parents in Cellardyke says;- It was an awful sight. The bullets were like a shower of hail and the shells were bursting all around us. God knows how I got clear, for I was in the thick of it. I felt the heat of a shell on my face. I never was so near being killed in all my life. There were bullets hitting all around me and whistling over my head. I have been in a few battles, but nothing like this, but thank God I got out of it all right. We would have beat them had our General not got killed. He was shot in three places. The troops seemed to get disheartened after that, and we got the word to retire. This is a very bad place to get water. I walked four miles that night after the battle to the river for a drink.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Magersfontein
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