1875
THE LAST OF A ROMANTIC CAREER IN CELLARDYKE.
As the worshippers were returning from church on Sabbath week “an ancient mariner” breathed his last, whose strange history commands more than passing obituary. The subject of our notice, perhaps the oldest fisherman on the Fife shore, is worthy David Wilson, who has been gathered to his fathers at the patriarchal age of fourscore and three. He was born in the ever memorable year 1792 at Brownhills, the glorious sea shore of St Andrews. His father, a specimen of the Scottish cottar, was foreman, on the farm ; but the ” hairst rig” or the green knows in the landscape, had no charms for the dark-haired herd-boy compared with the flashing main, with the ships coming and going like “things of life and light” and so one evening, when only twelve years of age, he left his father’s roof-tree to begin life as a sailor. His first floating home was the little bluff Kirkcaldy smack, the ” Maggie Lauder,” which in those days was thought big enough to charter London; but though no drudge or dog is kicked about like the cabin boy of coaster, David stuck with hero’s heart to his first love till by lucky chance improved his situation on board an over sea trading brig belonging to Dunbar, While voyaging in this craft he was one stormy day thrown from the top-gallant yard into the sea, where be manfully buffeted for a weary hour and a quarter with the hungry billows before he could be rescued, more dead than alive; but notwithstanding all such stern experience and his mother’s tears, the young rover remained true to old Neptune, and on the first opportunity extended his voyages by joining the gallant old “Advice ” of Dundee in a whaling cruise to Greenland. These were the stirring days of the French war and the press-gang, when the British sailors had often much reason to fear a friend as foe, and so it happened one September day with the crew of the old whaler, who, instead of the wistfully hills of Scotland, saw the dreaded war brig ” Pickle” cruising like a wolf their track. Wilson and his comrades did not need to be told her errand, and, as the only hope of escape, the old ship was instantly trimmed under all sail right before the freshening breeze. As quickly up flew top-gallant and studding sail on the brig, which followed in the chase like a hound the heels of a wild boar, rising gale swelled the broad mainsail of the old hulk till tack and sheet” snapped again, and her huge bones were fairly foam and spray, and yet after all her fleet pursuer proudly ranged alongside. “Round to,” thundered the captain through his speaking trumpet from the quarterdeck ; but David, who was at the helm, only grasped the wheel with a firmer hold, and, with “no surrender” stamped on every feature of his manly face, kept the ship steady to her course, while the seamen, handspike in hand, by way of ruse, drove the honest-hearted St Monance master and the other officers into cabin, to save them from the serious consequence of disobeying orders from king’s ship. Being thus defied, the brig was next steered across the bows of the whaler, to bar her further flight, but on swept the whaler like a maddened bull, straight to assault, and the cruiser’s helm was just put down in time avert collision. “Round to, or I’ll shoot you,” again thundered from the quarterdeck; but even the ship boy, tired with the wild enthusiasm of the moment, waved defiance from the yard-arm. The insulted Captain was furious with rage, and shotted guns were opened upon the fugitive ship. “Whizz, whizz,” flew the deadly shower, but the courageous steersman never flinched from his post. Though one bullet and then another struck the spoke from his hand, he quickly seized another, and kept the gallant old craft bounding before blast till sail and rigging was riddled by cannon shot, and the disabled hulk lay the mercy of the cruisers, who completed the capture point of the cutlass. The intrepid steersman was, of course, was regarded as the head mutineer, and such was treated or rather ill-used by the commander, who appears to have been quite unworthy of the uniform of Nelson or Coddrington. He was ordered under irons till he and his comrades could be tried for mutiny on the high seas, for so the ruse on Captain Adamson of the “Advice” was held to be, so with this terrible purpose the brig was now steered for the Thames. David also incurred the unbridled vindictiveness of the Captain in all its by refusing answer certain questions which would have established the serious crime with which he was charged, and the poor sailor lay day and night with six-feet iron bar across his legs and his hands riveted the ring bolts, but in this woeful plight one day he found a true and unexpected friend. This was one the brig’s crew who sheltered his disgraced head as a London lawyer in the King’s service, and who had just been punished for some misconduct by the Captain, towards whom, consequence, he cherished the bitterest hate. the counsel of this new friend, the simple young mariner pled so well before the court in London, that was held to be innocent of mutiny, but at the same time he was forced to enter the King’s service on board the “Pickle,” though had the satisfaction see his enemy, the Captain cashiered for cruelty and conduct unworthy of a British officer. On board the war-brig David was so distinguished as a brave and expert sailor that he was in a fair way of obtaining promotion through the high opinion of his officers, when he and his boat’s company resolved to desert the ship, which he accordingly did one night at Jersey, where he also joined a packet holding a letter of marque and trading to the Mediterranean. While crossing the Bay of Biscay this vessel was captured by two French privateers, who soon after put into port with their English prisoners. The unfortunate sailors were driven like herd of cattle into an ancient church, where, on a scanty truss of straw, they lay down for the night; but some revengeful hand fired the litter, when the old sanctuary speedily wrapped in flames. Old David lived to tell the scene which followed, when, William Tennant says,
“Pinnacle cam’ doon and tow’r,
And Virgin Maries in a shower
Fell flat and smashed their faces.”
From this burning pile the prisoners were marched by their angry guards to an inland citadel, where they experienced all the horrors of French captivity, till one day the thunder of the British cannon in Wellington’s glorious march to Paris opened the doors of their dungeons to the weary captives. At the peace he returned home his mother, who had taken up home in Pittenweem, where the truehearted Scottish widow, like many a brave sister in adversity, earned honest crust spinning yarn for herring nets. Every Scottish whaler knew the story of his dauntless stand at the helm of the “Advice” but he was gratified hear that his Dundee friends had sent sis jacket, having one pocket a bullet extracted from the wheel, and another a yet weightier gift to his poor parents in Fife; but for a time his unceremonious leave-taking of the King’s service made the East Neuk little else than a hiding place. Eventually, however, his Cellardyke bride induced him to settle there, and take to life as a fisherman, as which he has had his own share of the varied fortunes of that arduous calling; but if his tide has had its own and manifold ebbings and flowings, he ever bravely sustained his part, and now at the end of the last farewell leaves behind him a name which will be long and kindly remembered on the old Fife shore
Vessel Dismasted near the May Island.
On Tuesday afternoon, two fishing boats arrived at Anstruther harbour, having in tow the smack Emu, of and from Falmouth to Arbroath, in ballast, which had lost her foremast early the same morning. The master reports that while about twelve miles to the eastward of the May Island, with a fresh breeze blowing, the vessel struck heavy sea, which caused the forestay to snap, and the mast thereafter broke over a little above the deck. About three hours after the occurrence two fishing boats, belonging to Cellardyke and St Monance respectively, made their appearance, and, as above stated, towed the Emu into the harbour. No agreement was made with the fishermen, and the amount salvage will probably be settled arbitration.
1876
SALE OF FISHING NETS, &c. To be Sold by Public roup at the Harbour. Cellardyke, on SATURDAY, 22d April, at Four o’clock Afternoon.
A Quantity of FISHING NETS &c consisting of 18 Black and 6 White Nets. 3 Small Lines. Pallets, Ropes, Corks, etc., which belonged to the late Robert Stewart. Mr BONTHRON, Auctioneer.
DWELLING HOUSE IN CELLARDYKE TO BE SOLD BY PRIVATE BARGAIN.
ALL and WHOLE. that DWELLING HOUSE of Two Flats, situated opposite the harbour of Cellardyke, and Small Piece of GROUND at the back thereof, and recently occupied by the late Mrs Helen Brown and others. Offers will be received by PHILIP OLIPHANT, Solicitor, Anstruther, till 1st May 1876.
BOATBUILDING YARD AT CELLARDYKE TO BE LET
To be LET, on Lease for Four Years and a half, from Whitsunday first,
THE BOAT-BUILDING PRENIISES, situated near the Harbour of Cellardyke, presently occupied by Mr John A. Millar. The Building, shed, and Fittings, Saw Mill with Engine, and Plant, may be taken at a Valuation
Further information may be obtained from Mr John Philip, Polton East mains Lasswade, or at his office Junction Street Leith, or David Cook Solicitor Anstruther, with either of whom Offers may be lodged on or before the 1st May next, Anstruther 4th April 1876
1877
THE NAMES OF THE NEW STREETS
At a meeting of the Police Commissioners on Tuesday it was agreed that the name of the new street, the first houses of which are in course of erection at the back of Forth Street, should be named Rodger Street, in honour of Captain Rodger, Glasgow. The roadway running east and west at the same place was named School Road.
HONOUR TO A TOWNSMAN. —On Tuesday evening last, the employees of Messrs Cairns, Ainslie. Co., Leith Walk, Edinburgh, assembled in the house of Mr John McKinnell, Lorne Street Tavern, to do honour to Mr Robert Skinner, son of Mr James Skinner, merchant, Cellardyke, on the occasion of his leaving the employment of the above firm, and commencing business for himself.
1878
The Kilrenny Magistrates had three new applications before them, two for small beer licenses, the one by Margaret Doig, spinster, residing in Dove Street, and the other by Mrs Christian Jack, widow in Shore Street, Cellardyke—the third being for a transfer of the public house the Harbourhead, so long and successfully kept by Mr John Marr, to his new tenant, Mr Richard Webster. Provost Watson and Bailie Brown presided. Margaret Doig’s application, being of the nature of transfer from her father, was granted; but Mrs Jack’s was refused, the Provost remarking that such beer shops were only in too many cases harbour for young men, where they learned those drinking habits which only too often adhered to them for life. Mr Webster supported his application by the most flattering testimonials as to character; but Provost Watson said that he remained unaltered in his resolution of last year, and that as then he thought that the eight licensed houses retained in the burgh was quite sufficient, if not more than sufficient, for the population, which, assumed at 2500, was licensed house to every 300 inhabitants. For these reasons, he repeated, he could not be consenting party to the transfer, and Bailie Brown having concurred, the application was rejected.
Skipper Alex. Keay was the first of the Cellardyke fleet to arrive, and his cargo, consisting of about 28 stone of halibut, 41 ling, 156 cod, 18 big skate, and a few small skate and codlings, realised £41, which was the highest sum obtained this week.
1879
One Cellardyke crew has proceeded to Kinsale, and a number of others are to embark in the herring fishing at Lewis. Mr John Harrow, the representative of Messrs Holmes & Son, Berwick, this week engaged five Cellardyke boats to fish at Stornoway from the 19th of next month until the end of June. The terms, we hear, are £10 of bounty and £1 of arles, with 17s per cran for 50 crans landed in May, and 21s per cran for 100 crans in June, it being in the power of the merchants to take delivery of a larger quantity in each month at these rates if they choose.