1870
Anstruther – Two sharks were brought ashore here by a Cellardyke boat late on Saturday night last. One of these was a very small one, not measuring more than 40 inches in length. The other, however, was a large monster of about 14 or 16 feet in length from snout to point of tail, while its girth was fully three yards. It had four rows of sharp pointed teeth in the upper jaw. It was captured by the boat belonging to William Watson (Smith). Its body had got somewhat entangled among their great-lines far out at sea. On the boat making up to the spot a work of some difficulty began as to its capture. Some coils of tackling were got round its body, when it was hoisted on board and brought ashore in a live state. It was sold by auction on Monday morning, and bought by Provost Todd for 35s. More than two barrels of liver were taken out of this monster. The remains were then handed over to a cadger, who, after filling up the vacuum caused by the extraction of the liver with straw, and sewing up the seam, took it away to exhibit in some of the inland towns. Another shark was landed yesterday morning, but of less size than the above, the length being only about six feet, and the girth three feet.
A few days later in another paper
Last week we reported the capture of a shark 14 feet long by Cellardyke crew, and of its subsequent sale for public exhibition. The adventure has turned out quite success; for, having been taken to Cupar, it was visited in the course of Wednesday and Tuesday by about 1200 persons, young and old. On the following morning it was trucked to Edinburgh, where it attracted the attention of the first savans of the city. Through the kindness of one of these the exhibitors were furnished with a certificate giving the technical name of the fish, which is known to naturalists the Greenland shark, or sagmuus borealis, and stating further that it was one of the largest ever landed on these shores. After being exhibited in the High Street on Friday and Saturday, where it was visited by upwards of 2000 persons, it was purchased on the latter evening at the price of 30s, at the instance of Professor Archer, for the Industrial Museum.
1871
Apprehension of a Lunatic.—On Thursday last, James Small, a well-known individual of weak intellect, belonging to Cellardyke, was taken into custody for his violent and threatening conduct towards Mrs Margaret Myles, and the other tenants in the house in which also resided by himself. He was about sixty years of age, and through life had been treated with great forbearance in consequence of his unhappy mental condition, and latterly the authorities the parish of Kilrenny were disposed to be more indulgent, from the already high rate of the Parochial assessment ; but “Bidley,” as Small was familiarly designated, having recently become very fatuous and dangerous, it was felt be public duty place him in secure confinement; and the necessary medical certificate having been obtained, he was removed charge of one of the attendants to the County Lunatic Asylum at Springfield on Saturday.
1872
The Oldest Couple the East Neuk.—The parish Kilrenny, so far we are aware, can boast the oldest couple in the district—the venerable pair being Mr William Baldie, in his eighty-third year, and his yet more aged spouse, now in her ninety-first year, and who have lived in wedlock for the long period of sixty-two years. Time’s ploughshare has cut many furrow deep on our patriarch’s hoary cheek, and the snows of these long winters lie thickly on his manly brow, but nevertheless his broad shoulders bear up bravely under the burthen of years, and every sunny day sees him busy in the large market garden feued in 1766 by Saunders Gardiner from the heiress, Ann Bethune, of Balfour and Kilrenny, but of which old William has been for many years the tacksman. Mrs Baldie, however, though still retaining the use her faculties to a wonderful degree, has latterly been unable to leave her bed. It is at once interesting and curious to look back upon the remarkable changes that have occurred in the long lifetime of this worthy couple. As the girl Helen Small, and in her native place of St Monance, Mrs Baldie could well remember the time when the big granary-like house between the Coal Wynd and the sea was the consecrated Burgher Kirk,’ whither every Sunday crowds of pious worshippers repaired, though the children the town thought or cared for no one else but the little uncouth-looking boy crutches, that came all the way from Anst’er with his ” doose” father and brothers, that all knew so well as “cruiket legs,” though in afterlife as the learned professor and eminent poet William Tennant. The fields on the East of St Monance now only echo the ploughman’s song, but her young eyes saw them clad with the gigantic trivances for working and shipping the Pittenweem coal-field. “You have opened the largest works in Scotland” said a visitor one day to Sir John Anstruther “Maybe but it’s a black bargain for three of the bonniest lairdships on the Forth” barked the grin and sullen Sir John. But how could the magnificent end otherwise than in ruin? “Our ‘ overseers will do nothing but drink or sleep,” complained the able English mining Engineer at the head of the works. “Do the best you can; they are councillors, if I discharge them I lose their votes;” and so to keep up the old Tory influence of the Anstruther Family, one of the finest coal mines in the county had to be abandoned – crushed to death by the political jobbery and corruption of the times. The recollections of the aged husband are equally romantic. He was the son an Anst’er shoemaker, who perished in a peculiarly affecting manner at Cellardyke harbour. It was during a herring fishing, and on attempting to reach the shore the boat struck the rocks and all on board with the exception of one were drowned almost at their own doors; but the Anst’er shoemaker’s fate was the saddest of the crew. Some gallant bystanders rushed through the breakers and dragged him near the beach that his feet struck the ground, “Leave now and save the rest,” he cried, but he had scarcely been left alone when a huge billow burst upon him, sudden and remorseless a hungry beast springing its prey, and was crushed to death or drowned on the very brink the sea. The fatherless lad had early shift for himself, and so one day while a mere child, he travelled the hill to herd cows at Kingsmuir—not the pleasant green upland of the present day, but a wild muir covered with whins and black heather. So miserable, in fact, was the estate about seventy years ago, that William’s master, honest Geordie Baynes had about hundred acres which scarcely yielded subsistence for two cows, and for whic he only paid a rental of 5s and one fat hen a year; but Fife agriculture boasts in prouder triumph than the improvement of Kingsmuir, which is now yielding its gallant proprietor an annual rent roll of fully £1000. But notwithstanding the manifold blasts that assailed him the boy grew up into the strong and self-reliant man and he at last settled down in charge of the small farm on the Priory lands of Pittenweem, which rejoiced in the name of Waterless from the wells springs having been cast off by the drainage of the coal mines. Here he remained for the long period of his thirty years during which his face became as familiar as his little cottage by the roadside, so famous in its day for “jolly collier sprees,” having, in fact, been built for a public-house when the mines were opened in 1768. The old house, however, has been swept away, but the venerable couple still survive cheerful and contented after their long and chequered pilgrimage, for gladness and sadness must strangely mingle where births and deaths have often fallen like light and shadow under the rooftree; but all, we are sure, that hope that they continue to be spared, “so that hand in hand ” they may solace and comfort one another as they travel down the hill of life.
1873
On Thursday evening the boat of Skipper George Fowler of Cellardyke arrived from the deep sea with a take of about fourteen cran of herrings, which was bought by Mr Hall for 53s a cran, but a considerable quantity were immediately after resold for bait at the rate of £4 a cran, which may be called ” turning the penny.”
1874
The Steamer “Forth”
NO offers for this steamer which was some time ago advertised for sale, have yet been received, and it is likely that a special meeting of the shareholders will be held soon to consider what is to be done. It was considered that if the Forth could have been sold, a handy screw steamer might have been got sufficient for the goods traffic, and thus the passage would have continued for the benefit of traders ; but some other suggestion will have to be made if an offer is not soon received for the Forth. Some repairs which were found necessary last week prevented the sailing of the steamer after Monday, and by the end of the week some of the provision merchants had run short of stock, so much so that it is said there was scarcely, a pound of butter to be obtained in Cellardyke on Saturday evening. The largest cargo of spirits for a considerable time was landed on Monday, so that the efforts of the Good Templars do not appear to have much effect on the consumption of the ‘barley bree.’
UNRULY FISHERMEN
A Burgh Court was held here on Friday last—Bailies Darsie and Bonthron on the bench. Alexander Robertson, fisherman, Cellardyke, and Lockhart Horsburgh and Alexander Gay, fishermen, Pittenweem, were charged with having committed a breach of the peace in Shore Street in the afternoon of Wednesday the 26th ultimo. The two latter pleaded guilty, but Robertson tendered a plea of not guilty. Horsburgh and Gay were fined 5s each, and the case against Robertson went to proof. Lockhart Horsburgh deponing that on the day in question Robertson followed him and Gay. There was a squabble opposite Mrs Forrester’s, another opposite Mrs Addy’s, and another further east. Robertson followed them all the way from Mrs Addy’s, and they could not get clear of him. He wanted to strike them. In cross-examination, witness said he was singing a song in the public house, and Robertson wanted to strike him because he thought he was making a fool of him. He took him by the cuff of the neck, and pulled the buttons of his jacket. He thought Robertson struck him in Mrs Forrester’s but he did not remember much about it. Robertson said the witness used some kind of language—he thought it was Italian. Witness further said Robertson followed them seeking a glass of whisky, and they took pity upon him and gave him one. Alexander Gay corroborated the previous witness, and said Robertson struck Horsburgh on the street. Robertson begged for a glass of whisky, and they took him into Mrs Forrester’s, and gave him one. Witness denied that Horsburgh struck the panel. David Pringle said he saw the panel and the two previous witnesses fighting on the street. They came out of the public-house and went up to Robertson, who took off his jacket. David Brown said he did not see any fighting, but words were passing between Robertson and the two others. Robertson was found guilty, and sentenced to pay a fine of 10s