1833
SINGULAR ADVENTURES, The Justices of Peace in Kirkaldy were on Friday forenoon engaged in an examination of ten or twelve strangers, under the following circumstances;— A boat was seen on Thursday afternoon, full of people, to pull in, and land upon the beach, between West Wemyss and Dysart, who, after landing, drew her up on the sands, and carried the oars into a plantation adjoining. They were observed to go towards Dysart, and some persons who had seen them from Wemyss pier, went, got the oars, and carried the boat into the harbour. They had been seen in Dysart and Kirkcaldy on Thursday night, inquiring for lodgings; and on Friday forenoon were brought before the Justices to render ap account in regard to the boat. The story told by their leader, Thomas Whitton, is, that they were a party of strolling players—had been acting for some weeks in Dundee with little success —were in want of cash, and wishing to get back to Edinburgh, fell upon the plan of hiring a boat to take a pleasure sail in the river, but in place of returning, rowed down, crossed St. Andrew’s bay, and at two in the morning got into Cellardyke, half dead with cold and want,—left that place on Thursday morning, and got up far as Wemyss, when, cold and stiff, with a strong southerly wind, they were obliged to run the boat on shore. The boat, they say, belongs to one Abbot, in Dundee. Whitton goes under the name of Dunsmore on the stage—had a wife with him, and said he was a baker, and resided in Thistle Street, Edinburgh. The Justices ordered them some food, and sent them across the ferry.
1837
The Anstruther herring fishing closed on the 17th last month. The haddock fishing at Cellardyke never was abundant as at present; they are smoked there in large quantities by the fish carers, for the Edinburgh and Glasgow markets. No agreements are yet made with the Firth boats for the ensuing herring fishing they are too much inclined to stand out.
1838
John Sutherland, skipper of the boat “Johns” of Cellardyke, pleaded Not Guilty to a charge of culpable homicide, in having, on the 1st of July 1837, proceeded from Cellardyke to the Isle of May, and received into his boat 58 persons, making, with the crew of seven persons, 65 in all, being many more than the boat could carry with safety, and such a number as would prevent the crew from properly managing the said boat, especially if they encountered unfavourable weather, and that, when they came to a part of the island on the west side, called the Stand, where there is a safe landing place, he did not land any of the passengers there, but proceeded round to the east side of the island, to land them in a creek called the Kirkenhaven, where a heavy swell was well known to the prisoner frequently to set in to said creek; that the boat was propelled only with four oars, though these were not sufficient to propel the said boat, laden as it then was, through the eddies and broken water; and that the boat was caught in the said eddies, became unmanageable, and Margaret Taylor, and other twelve persons were drowned.
Three declarations of the prisoner were read, agreeing in the main with those facts, but declaring that he apprehended no danger, and had often been at the Isle of May with a more numerous crew. He was to have no remuneration from the passengers.
Robert Davidson, one of the crew, said, they left Cellardyke about a quarter past nine in the morning. There were about 65 passengers on board. They came to the west end of the island, but did not land any of the passengers there. Some other boats did so. They went round the south end, and saw another boat a-head of them. They took down their sail, and put out four oars. They were then about 30 yards from the mouth of the haven, but does not know how far they were from the head of the haven, where the landing place is. They did not put out more than four oars, for they thought that was sufficient. They might have put out six oars, by putting the passengers forward; but passengers are never sent forward. Has seen a smaller boat at the Isle of May with 70 passengers. Does not think 65 passengers were too many in good weather. The distance between Cellardyke and the island is about five miles and a half. It did not enter witness’s mind, on going to the boat, that there were too many passengers–that it was endangering either his own life or the lives of others. On entering the creek or haven, a sea struck the boat, and drove her among the rocks. This would have happened if there had been nobody on board but the crew. Does not think the swell is worse at the inlet than on other parts of the island. Considers that, in a heavy sea, the landing place called the Tarpot is safer than this creek; but on that day, from the state of the sea, it never came into witness’s head that there was any danger. Witness helped to take some persons out who were drowned.
Cross-examined – Witness was at the helm and used all care on the occasion. Has been sixteen years a fisherman. Has known the prisoner for a long time, and never saw any thing against him. The crew were all sober at the time. If the owner of the boat were to tell witness when steering, that he was endangering his boat, witness would tell him to take the helm himself– (A laugh.) There is a quay at the Kirkenhaven; it is the only proper landing place on the island. If they had as many oars again, it would not have made a grain of difference. The prisoner’s wife, and three or four children, were on board. His wife had a child in her arms, and one or two other women had children in their arms. Sutherland was very active. Cried out, never to mind the boat-to let the boat go; and the boat did go. He lost all that belonged to him. The accident was quite sudden and unexpected. Saw nothing done and nothing omitted that human care could suggest to prevent the accident.
Re-examined –Sutherland was the owner of the boat, and could have put witness from the helm-could have put him out of the boat if he chose. There were four fishermen on board, besides seven of the crew. Such accidents have happened before at Kirkenhaven. Does not know that it is considered a dangerous place to approach when the swell is from the eastward. Heard no one remark there was danger in going in.
By a Juryman-There was a little swell on the water as they were crossing to the island. Was out once before in the same boat, and there were about sixty persons on hoard. Witness had a good-sister on board who was drowned.
Alexander Wood-Was at the Isle of May in his own boat, the Briton, on the day of the accident. Approached the island on the west side, and it Is common to go round the south side to show strangers the water-fowl. Came back to the west side, and landed the passengers. Did not go into the Kirkenhaven, because there was a surge there, and did not consider it safe to go in. Saw Sutherland’s boat following his, but they went into the haven. Witness intended to go into the haven; but when he saw the surge, he changed his mind. The surge was not always on; there were what they call smooths or intervals. Witness does not know whether it was safe for Sutherland to go in or not. The surge was on when witness was there, it had just broke; and he did not stop to see if he could get in afterwards. There were six oars on board of each boat.
Cross-examined- Witness’s boat is three feet shorter than Sutherland’s. Thinks he had forty-eight persons on board. There were seven of the crew besides. Witness did not think he had taken too many on board. If witness had not seen the swell at the time, he would have gone in at once. The Johns was a full half mile behind him. Has known Sutherland since he was a boy. He is a steady good seamen. Witness put on four oars to draw his boat to the Stand. They brought the boat close to the side of the rock. There was no wind of consequence, what there was came from the west; and as the general practice is to land on the lee side of the island. When lie saw the Johns taking the passengers on board, the it did not occur to him that Sutherland was taking too many on board. This pleasure excursion has been a practice from time immemorial.
By a Juryman -The swell rises quite suddenly, and of you cannot tell before hand whether it is coming or not.
Mr Shaw Stewart said it was not his intention to press in the ease further. The Jury saw that there had been a lamentable loss of life, and the Crown Counsel thought circumstances might came out to show that some carelessness had taken place; but from the evidence that had come out, it was clear there was no responsibility to attach to the prisoner. He hoped, however, it would be a warning for those persons-..respectable and industrious are as he believed them all to be-to use more caution in takimg passengers on board.
Mr Patrick Robertson, for the prisoner, concurred in the remarks of his Learned Friend; The prisoner Sutherland had only to deplore the accident, by which, he had been himself a severe sufferer, having lost his all.
Lord Meadowbank having addressed the Jury to the same effect, and stated that the Crown Counsel had acted with proper care and discretion, in bringing this case before the Court, the Jury, under his Lordship’s directions, unanimously returned a verdict of Not Guilty.
Lord Meadowbank, presiding Judge, then dismissed the prisoner, remarking that he retired from the bar with a character as good as it was before; and from the evidence it appeared that no better character could be maintained in his profession. He was sure it was unnecessary to impress upon him the necessity of caution in all the future proceedings of this nature.
Counsel for the Crown-Messrs Shaw Stewart and al C. Innes; D. Cleghorn, agent.
For Panel-…Messrs P. Robertson and J. Forman; Thomas Langdale, agent.
1840
SURVEY OF CRAIGNOON.—Mr Mitchell, engineer to the Board of Fisheries, arrived here with an on Monday last, and was engaged two days in making surveys of the site of the proposed new harbour. The fishermen are much gratified at the prompt attention thus bestowed on the subject by Sir T. D. Lauder. Secretary, of the Board. We wish the long contemplated Improvement may now be undertaken, and carried on by all legitimate means.
1842
The members of the ” Anstruther and Cellardyke Total Abstinence Society” have been accustomed for this some time past to hold “social meetings” in the Town Hall of this burgh, when several members delivered lectures and read essays upon different subjects, and others enlivened the company with songs, and thus the evenings were spent in a social and comfortable manner, every one conducting himself with proper decorum. These meetings gave the members an opportunity of exercising their abilities, and at the same time tended to instruct and inform the illiterate. We learn with regret, therefore, that the Magistrates have resolved not to give the Society the use of the Hall in future. It is hoped there can be little difference of opinion that the Magistrates have done very far wrong discouraging the holding these meetings, because it a well known fact that this society has reclaimed many men formerly the pests of society, and have thus lightened the labours of the Magistrates in their judicial capacity. It is to be trusted that the Bailies will recall their decree.
Cellardyke – Seven Lives Lost.
A most distressing occurrence took place here on Tuesday last the 29th. While one of the fishing boats was returning from the deep-sea fishing, and when about five miles to the eastward of the Isle of May, the wind blowing actual hurricane from the west, she was upset when in the act of staying. The crew consisted of eight men, out of which number only one was saved. He, appears, had got hold of some of the buoys, which kept him afloat until another boat came and picked him up. We understand that the greater part of the unfortunate men have left widows with large families to deplore their loss.
This was the boat Lord Melbourne, of Cellardyke, Henry Reid, skipper – LOST – Henry Reid, George Smith, James Smith, John Sutherland and James Watson
1847
Hospitality. – Highland hospitality Highland has long been proverbial in various climes of the inhabited world. It has been the subject of conversation in domestic circles, the theme of the poet’s song, and the toast of the festive board. But we have presently to record a noble instance of that amiable feeling recently exemplified in all its glowing colours in a certain district of the Lowlands. On Thursday last a most serene and placid morning proved the treacherous herald of a boisterous and most tempestuous day; in so much that several of the fishing boats belonging St Monance, being utterly unable to bear up against the furious elements were compelled to run for refuge in the port of Cellardyke. The fishing community there displayed a spirit of accommodating humanity that is eminently worthy of imitation. They un moored and changed the position of their boats in order to provide safe accommodation for those of the tempest beaten strangers, took charge of the mooring of their boats, and appeared to vie with each other in bestowing hospitable entertainment on their drenched and shivering brethren. This exalted principle of feeling even proceeded farther. The strangers having transferred themselves by land to their own homes and the weather becoming more moderate after night fall the Cellardyke people magnanimously manned the St Monance boats, and brought them in safety to their own haven, lest the common occupants should be deprived of the next days fishing in consequence of the inconvenient distance.
Propitious Stars! Hasten ythe happy era
“ When man to man the world o’er, Shall brithers be, an’ a’ that “
1848
CELLARDYKE. THE FISHING.—The haddock trade here has done nothing for sometime. Most of our people have been trying the herrings. Two of our crews tried the great lines far east In the German Ocean, and, it is said, were singularly fortunate in halibut and skate. One crew is said to have received at Newhaven £15 sterling for their cargo, and another one £19 sterling. If this he true, it is a good speculation—more than all the other crews have grossed put together.
1849
HIGHLAND; DESTITUTION.-On Thursday afternoon. several fishing boats arrived at Granton Pier from the Fife fishing villages, on their way to the West Highlands, for the purpose of instructing the natives in deep-sea fishing. Thers were three large boats with their crews, amounting to twenty-four men from Cellardyke, and two large and two small boats with sixteen men from St Monance. They were engaged by Captain Ross, of the Edinburgh committee, and are to proceed to Skye and Wester Ross. The men are fine hardy looking fellows, and their boats in first-rate order, and well supplied with fishing materials of all kinds. In each boat there was a smart active-looking woman, for cooking, and baiting the lines, who are to initiate the Highland women into the art. Early on Friday morning they all assembled at Granton Pier, and, after being inspected by Mr Skene, the secretary, who addressed a few words of encouragement to the men, they departed in high spirits for their new field of enterprise.
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