1890
Exciting Scene – severe gale – Damage to Boats
A terrific gale from the south west raged in the East of Fife on Tuesday. In the morning although the wind was blowing hard, most of the boats went to sea, but at that time there was no appearance of the gale or rather hurricane which was experienced in the afternoon and evening. About four o clock in the afternoon the wind increased to such an extent as to cause considerable anxiety for the safety of the boats. At that hour a vessel was seen in the offing flying a flag of distress. A heavy sea was running, and the tide being back no assistance could be rendered her. The Schooner turned out to be the Eclipse of Yarmouth bound for Anstruther with a cargo of Herrings for Messrs Sharp and Murray. At three O clock the cargo shifted and the vessel began to roll very heavily. The captain thought his vessel in such jeopardy that he resolved to make for the harbour. She got in with some difficulty but grounded about 30 yards inside the pier mouth. Shortly after the boats began to sail in and the Eclipse, lying in the fairway, made navigation a matter of extreme difficulty, and danger. A large number of people wended their way down the piers to render any assistance possible, when one boat Rob the Ranter, Skipper James Jack, ran into the schooner, it being impossible to avoid doing so owing to the position in which she was lying and the strong sea running and heavy gale blowing. The result was the stern rail of the Eclipse was stove in. Immediately after the Helen Brown of Cockenzie, collided with the boat and vessel and the taft rail of the vessel was carried away, while the last mentioned boat’s boards were sprung and so seriously damaged that she began to make a lot of water. Much confusion and excitement prevailed, and the rocket for the lifeboat to be manned. It was considered, however imprudent to do this in the circumstances, and attention was directed to the other boats coming in. The Crowds on the pier were large and every assistance was given, but the help was very much hampered by the insufficient lights on the piers. The Maggie Scott of Cellardyke, having lost her sails was being towed into the harbour by the St Monans boat ” Bon Accord,” Skipper John Easson, and no sooner were they inside when the ” Queen of the Isles,” ran into the St Monans boat so heavily was she struck that four of the crew jamp into the Queen of the Isles, thinking their own boat would go down. The three men left, however, managed to bring her into safety. The tide was rapidly coming in all the time, and there being now plenty of water further damage was averted by the boats getting into the inner harbour. The vessel drifted up into the outer basin, and was afterwards brought round. The damage she sustained is estimated at between £2O and £30; to the Bon Accord £6; the Maggie Scott £15 ; the Helen Brown, £2O, and the Queen of the Isles £2. Several others were also slightly damaged. The gale continued to rage until after eight o’clock, and between seven and eight o’clock was accompanied by a perfect deluge of rain. The crowd gradually dispersed, but not for many a long day has so much excitement prevailed on Anstruther piers. It may be mentioned that among those who rendered great assistance was Pilot Tarvit and the coastguardsmen, who stayed up till a late hour in case of accident. The weather being fine on Wednesday morning nearly the whole of the fleet left for the fishing.