1904
A young fisherman named John McRuvie, Cellardyke, pled guilty at a Burgh Court, yesterday, with creating a disturbance in High Street, and Shore Street, and with using abusive and threatening language. The Fiscal said accused was drunk, or rasher was shamming drunk. Ha was fined 7s 6d or five days’ imprisonment.
The usual weekly meeting of the Guiding Star Lodge was held in the Town Hall on Friday night after the usual business. A most enjoyable Burns programme was gone through. Some of the best of the poets work were rendered by members. This new start promises to do good work in the near future.
CELLARDYKE COY. BOYS’ BRIGADE.—This Company is now in full swing, and meets every Wednesday evening at half past seven o’clock. They also meet on Sunday morning at 10 o’clock when a short bright address is given by either the captain or officers, or it may be a friend who is interested in the work. Last Sunday witnessed a splendid muster of the boys, 54 out of a total of over 60 being present. Miss Helen Watson ably presided at the harmonium, a duty which seems to give her much pleasure, as she has done this ever since the Brigade was formed. The officers cordially welcome all interested in the boys and their work to witness their weekly drill.
HONOUR TO AN OLD SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER. Last Sunday evening, a very interesting presentation took place in Forth Street Hall Sunday School, Cellardyke, when Mr J. Cunningham (Rodger), was presented with a silver medal given by the editor of the Sunday Companion in recognition of his work as a Sunday School teacher. Mr John Birrell, the superintendent of the school, presented it. In the course of his remarks Mr Birrell gave a most interesting resume of Mr Cunningham’s life, how beginning life he turned his attention to his father’s calling, but like many others early in the 19th century he was tempted to try his fortune at the gold diggings in Australia. Not being amongst the successful ones he returned home again, and resumed the fishing. Here he was more successful, and while being spared to see his fourscore years, his life has not been without its narrow escapes, as he still suffers from lameness owing to an accident received by his boat being run down at sea. Mr Cunningham, besides teaching all these years also conducted an old men’s meeting to supply a want felt by many who were unable to go to Church. He had also acted as an elder in the Chalmers Memorial Church for over 20 years Mr Birrell closed his remarks by expressing the hope that Mr Cunningham might be spared for years to come, and that the medal might be but an earnest and foreshadowing of that crown which the Lord, the righteous judge, promised to bestow on all like his friend who loved and waited for his appearing. Mr Cunningham, who was visibly affected, thanked Mr Birrell, and through him the editor of the Sunday Companion who had presented such a handsome medal to him. Mr Cunningham closed his remarks by a few words of kindly advice to the children. On one side of the medal were the words. “Honour to every man that worketh good, presented for honourable service,” and on the reverse side the Sunday Companion roll of honour.
1905
At a Burgh Court on Saturday, before Provost Black and Bailie Buttars, four young lads named Robert Reekie, Andrew Henderson, junr., David Tawse, and Thomas Murray, were charged with having on Wednesday, 11th instant. wilfully and wantonly disturbed and annoyed an ice-cream vendor in John street, by knocking at the door of his shop They all pled not guilty, and were told that they could give evidence for themselves seeing they had no witnesses forward. Two Italians gave evidence for the prosecution, one of them requiring an interpreter. They asserted that three of the boys were making a noise in the shop and were put out, and afterwards kicked at the shop door. In cross examination, the witnesses could not say which of the boys knocked at the shop door. The four accused gave evidence for the defence, stating that it was another boy who h.ad kicked at the door, and that they did not do so. The Fiscal said he could not, in the face of the evidence, ask for a conviction, as the Italians had not been able to prove who kicked the doer. They were making a great deal of noise, and were aiders and abetters in the disturbance. Foreigners must be protected as well as their own citizens, and they had evidently been annoyed on this and other occasions. He hoped the Magistrate would warn the boys not to create disturbances, and that the Italians should conduct their business more in accordance with the custom of those among whom they lived. Provost Black said the bench found them not guilty, but the evidence showed there had been some disturbance and annoyance and he warned the boys that they must refrain or else if they were brought up again and convicted they would be punished. Complaints had been made not only by the Italians but by others of this sort of annoyance, and it must be stopped. He would advise the Italians also to keep shorter hours in the conduct of their business, and especially to close the shop on Sundays. When they were living under the British flag they should show some respect to the feelings of those among whom they lived.
1906
LIFEBOAT CALLED OUT EXCITING SCENES AT THE HARBOUR About seven o’clock on Wednesday evening, a telegram was received from the Coastguard at St Morning, stating that a ketch was lying within 100 yards of the rocks there, and was being driven ashore. On receipt of this message, the Hon. Secretary of the Lifeboat Institution telephoned at once to Mr Melville, Cellardyke, who in turn communicated with the coxswain of the Lifeboat. William Sutherland. The latter immediately raced along to the lifeboat house, and quickly summoned the crew. Sutherland, besides being an excellent seaman, must be something of a runner also, as by the time the secretary got down to the boathouse Sutherland was already there, super intending operations. The boat was immediately got out, and launched, there being an abundance of willing helpers all the boats being in the harbour. By an unlucky chance it happened to be dead low water, and the carriage had to be pulled almost to the very mouth of the harbour. The crowd at the ropes dashed willingly into the heavy seas which came sweeping into the cut mouth, some of them being almost up to the necks in water, and when it could not be hauled any further out by these means the carriage was pulled back and the lifeboat slipped into the water. In going off the carriage, however, some of the rods of the steering gear struck and got bent, and some little delay was occasioned by this unfortunate occurrence. Up to the waist in water, willing helpers eagerly worked to remedy this and in a very short time the helm was properly shipped. The lifeboat was still striking on the ground, and could not be got off, hut by the aid of a rope to the east pier, pulled by lusty arms, she was got afloat. The wind was blowing a perfect hurricane right in the mouth of the harbour, and this added to the difficulty of getting the boat to sea. Gradually however, she fought her way round the pier head, and to the back of the harbour, where, after striking once or twice on the rocks, she managed to make headway. Her successful attempt was greeted with hearty cheers by the large crowds who lined the east and west piers. Rapidly the vessel sailed up to St Monans, behaving splendidly, but on arriving there no signs of the distressed vessel could be discovered and a search was made along the shore. By torch a signal was made from St Monance to proceed eastwards, and the boats head was turned in that direction. Nothing, however, could be discovered of the whereabouts of the ketch, and after an hour’s search, the lifeboat was put about, and went out into the Firth, where, although they cruised about till nearly eleven o’clock, no trace of the vessel could be found, and the lifeboat then returned to Anstruther. Only two of the crew had oilskins on, and the rest were sitting soaked the whole time the vessel was out. Too much praise cannot be given to the fishermen for the eager way in which everyone assisted in getting the boat launched, local and strangers vying with one another in their efforts to help, dashing into the surf without any thought as to their own comfort. Those at the extreme end of the rope, must at times have been up to the neck, as the waves came sweeping in. The lifeboat too, has justified the faith placed in her as a trustworthy sea boat, as during the whole time out she behaved in a splendid manner, answering to the slightest touch of the helm, and amply proving her beating qualities.