1905
GEORGE KIRKCALDY Begs to inform the Inhabitants of Cellardyke that he has OPENED the BUTCHER’S SHOP in TOLBOOTH ROAD, CELLARDYKE. He also begs to inform his Anstruther Customers that he still means to continue the BUTCHER’S SHOP at 3 SHORE STREET, ANSTRUTHER, and while thanking them for their Support, hopes by still keeping the best of Butchers’ Meat, Mutton, etc., to merit a continuance of the Public Patronage bestowed upon him in the past.
1906
Fatal Accident Inquiries at Cupar To-day Sheriff Armour and a jury were engaged bearing evidence in Cupar Sheriff Court under the recent Fatal Accident Inquiry Act, regarding three cases of death accident in coal mines and one case of drowning the high seas. The first inquiry had reference to the death of David Moncrieffe, fisherman, Fowler Street, Cellardyke, and the evidence showed that he was engaged on board the fishing boat Nil Desperandum fishing at North Shields on the 16th May last, when a high wave struck the boat, and carried Moncrieffe off the deck. He was visible for a quarter of an hour afterwards, but owing the heavy seas he could not be reached. The line was thrown for him, but he did not take it, and it was thought that he was stunned- He was good swimmer.
CELLARDYKE. STEALING THE EARS OF CORN— A WARNING. —Provost Black and Bailie Butters presided at a Burgh Court on Monday, when two young girls and two young boys, were charged with having on Sunday, 26th August, in a field near the old Infant School damaged a quantity of wheat by tramping among same and pulling the heads from the wheat. They all pleaded guilty to taking the corn but not trampling it. The Fiscal said he would like the Magistrates to hear Mr Hutton. He and Mr Cairns had been complaining for a year or two back of the damage done to their crops by young people going into the fields and when pulling off the ears, trampling down the rest of the corn, and especially in the turnip fields many were stolen and others lifted and thrown down. Mr Hutton said it was true other farmers and himself had suffered considerable damage by this practice. It was not only what was taken from the fields, but also what was destroyed. He had suffered as much that he had offered a reward last year. He did not like to see such young people in Court, but the practice must be stopped. Sergeant McHardy said Mr Hutton and Mr Cairn, had complained for years The other Sunday night when taking a walk he saw the four accused among the wheat. The boys were pulling the heads of the corn and giving them to the girls. He went to the parents of each, and with one exception they were very angry with their children. He was sorry that the exception, the mother of one of the boys, behaved so badly before the children, stating that she would never have given her name to the police, and refusing to come to the Court. The Fiscal said no doubt it looked a very simple thing for then young people to pull off the ears of the wheat. It was done without thinking but he wished to impress upon them that it was stealing. He did not like to charge them with theft seeing they were so young, and he had made the charge malicious mischief, but it must be distinctly known that if other cases occur they will be charged with theft, and sent to Cupar to he tried by the Sheriff. Provost Black said Bailie Batters and he were exceedingly sorry to see so young people brought before them. None of them could shut their eye to the fact that a great deal of damage was done by young people going into the fields and stealing the corn and trampling down the crops. He knew it was not regarded as theft, but it was stealing, and he hoped they and others would desist in future. If other cases were to be brought up after this warning they would be remitted to Cupar to be dealt with. He was sorry that one parent in Cellardyke had set such s bad example to her family by speaking to the Constable the way she did. Had she been present she would have been seriously admonished for her conduct. Parents should give the police every encouragement then they did their best to prevent young boys and girls and other people from committing offences against the law.
1907
John McRuvie, fisherman, Forth Street, Cellardyke, at the Police Court on Monday, pled guilty to a breach of the peace committed on 27th May in Rodger Street. Accused had two previous convictions against him in 1904. The Fiscal stated that the conduct of accused was most outrageous on the occasion in question, and his language was such as be would not care to read. Several warnings had been given him, and one night he had to be threatened with the cells. Provost Dalzell said they had decided to fine accused 10s or 7 days imprisonment, recommending him to keep from drink altogether if he wished to keep out of the hands of the police. He warned him that should he reappear his punishment would be most severe.
On Wednesday afternoon Mr Miller launched another steam drifter, this one being to the order of Skipper Henry Bett. Cellardyke. The vessel was christened the Breadwinner by Miss Bett, daughter of the owner.
The Town Council on Tuesday christened the new street the Caddies’ Burn, Burnside Terrace.
1908
SALE OF FISHING GEAR AT CELLARDYKE. For Sale by Public Roup, a quantity of NETS and other GEAR, belonging to THOMAS Pratt (Watson,) 10 John Street, Cellardyke, consisting of:- 50 Black Nets (Mended,) 11 White Nets (Mended), 5 ½ Coils Messenger Rope, 2 ¾ inches and 3 ½ inches, about 30 Stoppers, and 20 Pallets. The Sale will take place on SATURDAY, 12th September, at Two o’clock Afternoon, at the Garden Door, EAST FORTH STREET, CELLARDYKE Terms —Cash. W. S. BONTHRON, Auctioneer.
Close of the Shields Drave – The gale of last Monday night was the worst the Fife boat at Shields had experienced all summer. One of the Cellardyke boats, the Mary, while engaged in fishing off the Longstone, was struck by an enormous wave, with the result that the whole of her fishing gear was carried away. The crews of several other fishing vessels attempted to recover the gear, but their efforts proved unsuccessful, and the nets had to be abandoned. Next day the Tyne rang with the success of the Vanguard – a Cellardyke drifter which put out a shot realising £230
A letter was read from Mr D. Watson, Rodger Street, Cellardyke, stating that he was the owner of the boat Providence which was laid up in the harbour. He had been endeavouring to sell the boat, and had been in correspondence with three offerers. He had not yet effected a sale, but was continuing the negotiations. He fully expected that the boat would have been sold before the expiry of the period. The boat was an old one, and was in exactly the same position as the Smiling Morn, to which they had granted a reduction of the dues from 6s to 2s per week. He had to ask for a similar favour as had been granted to Skipper Bett. Provost Black —Having reduced the dues to Bett, we must do the same to Watson. Mr Oliphant—That was my objection when we granted the reduction, and I don’t see how we can get out of it. The reduction was unanimously granted.
GALLANT RESCUE BY DRIFTER— A sad disaster, resulting in the loss of one life, occurred between Scarborough and Whitby on Tuesday morning. The Jane and Priscilla, a motor vessel of Filey herring fishing fleet, had had a very big catch of herrings, and was making for Scarborough when the crew got the assistance of a Scottish steam herring drifter, Venus, of Cellardyke, Skipper William Smith, to tow them to port. The drifter took about twenty crans of herrings from the Filey boat, but the catch was so big that she was still lying low in the water, About a quarter of an hour after being taken in tow, John Stonehouse one of the crew of the Jane and Priscilla called to the skipper that water was coming over the stern. The skipper told him to tell the steam drifter to slacken speed. A few minutes later the motor boat turned almost perpendicular and sank stern foremost. The crew of five were thrown into the sea, and were all rescued, with the exception of Stonehouse, who sank before he could be reached. Deceased was 35, and lived at Filey where the owner of the lost boat, Mr Arthur Douglas also resides. The work of rescue was made more difficult through the heavy sea boots and clothing which the crew of the ill-fated craft were wearing. The steam drifter later arrived at Scarborough and landed the rescued men.
1909
At Cellardyke School Board on Wednesday three parents appeared who objected to send their children to school after fourteen years age. The children had reached that age on 1st, 2nd, and 5th September respectively, but the next prescribed date for terminating school attendance under the Act is 1st, January, the Board, while sympathising with the parents, decided to adhere the terms of the Act. With regard to continuation classes under the new Act, the Board determined wait and see whether such classes suitable the community would be started in the Waid Academy. It was suggested that a conference between Kilrenny and East and West Anstruther Boards should take place regarding these classes.