Ardrossan - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
10 JANUARY 1902

BIRTH

CARSON: At 55 Eglinton Road, Ardrossan, on the 7th instant, the wife of James Allison Carson; a son.

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GLASGOW HERALD
10 JANUARY 1903

SNOWSTORM

Ardrossan:
The snow reached a depth of about three inches on the streets, but in the course of the afternoon it partially melted, making walking difficult.

Outdoor labour at the harbour was almost entirely suspended owing to the severity of the weather.

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GLASGOW HERALD
10 JANUARY 1908

DEATH

THOMSON: At Anderson Terrace, Ardrossan, on the 9th instant, Walter Hamilton Thomson, aged 42 years, the beloved husband of Jeanie Winning.

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GLASGOW HERALD
11 JANUARY 1901

DEATH

ANDREW: At Kilmeny Terrace, South Beach, Ardrossan, on the 9th instant, Catherine McDougall, wife of George Andrew.

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GLASGOW HERALD
11 JANUARY 1902

IN MEMORIAM

REID: In loving memory of our dear wee daughter, Wilhelmina Montgomerie Reid, who died at the Commercial Hotel, Ardrossan, 11 January, 1900.

Long shall memory hold thee dear,
For thou were twined around our hearts,
And here we mark the vacant space,
‘Tis then the unhidden tears shall start.

Inserted by her sorrowing father and mother, William and L. Reid.

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GLASGOW HERALD
11 JANUARY 1908

THE SINKING OF A SMACK – THREE LIVES LOST – INQUIRY AT ROTHESAY

Before Sheriff Martin and a jury at Rothesay yesterday, an inquiry was held with reference to the sinking of the smack JANET McNICOL, of Ardrossan, by the S.S. GLENTOW at Lamlash on October 9, in consequence of which three of her crew were drowned – namely JOHN BANNATINE McNICOL, NEIL STEWART, and ALEXANDER RUSSELL.

The inquiry took place under the Fatal Accidents Inquiry Act. M r. R. D. Macmillan, Procurator-Fiscal, appeared in the public interest; Mr. Archibald D. White, writer, Glasgow, for the owners of the GLENTOW; and Mr. Thomas Guthrie, writer, for Ardrossan, for Alexander McNicol, owner of the smack.

John McIntyre, farmer, Holy Isle, said that on 8 October, the smack came in and anchored opposite his farmhouse. John McNichol and Neil Stewart came off the smack and assisted him in the harvest field till about six o’clock, when they had tea with him, and returned on board. He saw the smack’s riding light put up, and it burned brightly.

Shortly before two o’clock the following morning he had occasion to go out and look for his boat; there was no light visible then. A few minutes later he saw the lights of the steamer, which was nearly a mile off. He saw her port, starboard, and mainmast lights. When he saw the steamer’s lights he looked for that of the smack but it was not visible. It was a dark night but clear enough for seeing such lights. He went into the house, and remained for about ten minutes. He noticed that the steamer passed where he thought the smack was. The steamer came to anchor about 3 a.m. Nothing further transpired during the night.

In the morning he went out to look for the smack, and saw her mast above water. He called out, but got no answer, whereupon he went to Lamlash, and reported the matter to the coastguard.

Afterwards he went on board the GLENTOW with the coastguard, and heard the captain saying he had struck a boat. Under cross-examination, witness admitted that he might have overlooked a light.

John Shedden, Saltcoats, joint-owner of the fishing boat RUBY, said he was anchored off King’s Cross on the evening of October 8. He saw the steamer coming up, and she passed them in the direction of Lamlash Bay. He saw the light of the smack near McIntyre’s farmhouse. Before the arrival of the steamer she had a fine light burning, in fact, he remarked to his brother that it was an extra good light. The last time he saw it burning was about 2 a.m., just before the steamer passed them. He did not look for the lights afterwards, as he was too busy with his own work. He saw the smack’s punt coming ashore in the morning.

James Shedden, brother of the previous witness, corroborated, and other evidence was led.

The Sheriff commented on the possibility of subsequent proceedings and recommended the jury not to attribute blame to any particular person.

THE JURY’S DECISION

The jury found that the accident causing the death of the men was the sinking of the smack in Lamlash Bay on October 9, that the cause of the accident was the running down of it while at anchor by the steamer GLENTOW, and the cause of death was drowning.

Ex-Provost Walker, foreman, intimated that the jury had observed the Sheriff’s recommendation.

The Sheriff – The jury have exercised a very wise and proper decision.

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CLYDEBUILT SHIPS
12 JANUARY 1999

THE BUFFALO

The motor vessel BUFFALO, launched by Ardrossan Dockyard Limited on the 2nd May, 1961, and later named NORBRAE, ROE DEER, NEWFOUNDLAND CONTAINER, CARRIBEAN VICTORY, LEFKIMMI, ST. GEORGE, AND CONTAINER EXPRESS, was reported scuttled on 12 January, 1999.

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GLASGOW HERALD
12 JANUARY 1894

COURT OF SESSION - LUCAS & LAIRD v. ARDROSSAN HARBOUR COMPANY

A settlement was intimated in an action in which Lucas & Laird, contractors, 37 George Street, London, sued the Ardrossan Harbour Company for payment of £15,958 17s 8d as the balance of their account for executing extension works at Ardrossan.

The pursuers rendered to the defenders an account, showing the total amount of the account to £144,487 18s 8d with 10 per cent thereon, £114,448 15s 10d, making a total of £158,936 14s 6d, deducting from which the amount of payments to the account, viz. £143,523 6s 2d, showed a balance of £13,413 8s 4d due to the pursuers.

The defenders stated that the price of the work as originally contracted for with Lawson and Wemyss was b£59,211 14s 10d, and the defenders had therefore already paid to the pursuers £84,311 11s 4d above the price at which Lawson undertook to perform the work. The defenders had repeatedly asked for, but hitherto been unable to obtain from the pursuers, exhibition of their business books, without which it is impossible to check the accounts.

The defenders were entitled to recover from the original contractor, Lawson, from his cautioner, Wemyss, the amounts which the defender might have to pay to the pursuers for completion of the work in excess of the original contract price. The defenders had submitted to Mr. Wolfe Barry, the arbiter named in the contract, their claims against Lawson and Wemyss, and the arbitration was pending. The defenders were willing to accept as decisive of the amount which Mr. Wolfe Barry might determine in that arbitration was due for the work done by the pursuers in completing the contract.

The case has been compromised by the defenders paying a sum which is said to be satisfactory to both parties. Defenders get absolvitor, and neither party gets expenses.

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GLASGOW HERALD
12 JANUARY 1903

STRIKE AT ARDROSSAN

Around 80 dock labourers, who were employed chiefly in discharging cargoes of iron ore, have ceased work at Ardrossan Harbour.

It has for long been the custom for owners of steamers to give the labourers gratuities in addition to their usual wages for working overtime, but of late an attempt has been made to modify or abolish the gratuities, as it was alleged that the rate of wages paid for work done at night was sufficient remuneration. The owners of the steamers frequently wished the cargoes loaded or discharged as soon as possible, and the labourers declined to work at night unless a considerable gratuity was given, the owners hitherto having yielded to the demand.

The labourers, on the other hand, maintain that the gratuity should still be given, and they have ceased work as a protest against any interference with what they regard as an established custom.

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GLASGOW HERALD
12 JANUARY 1907

EGLINTON HUNT BALL

The Earl of Eglinton, and members of the Eglinton Hunt, gave their annual ball last night in the County Buildings, Ayr.

The following were included in the list of the company: -

Mr., Mrs., and Miss Pearson, The Pavilion, Ardrossan.

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GLASGOW HERALD
12 January 1909

DEATH

CAMPBELL: On The 11th instant, Emelia Glasgow, aged 26, fifth daughter of the late James Campbell, writer, Saltcoats, and of Mrs. Campbell, Lauriston, Ardrossan.

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GLASGOW HERALD
13 JANUARY 1872

MARRIAGE

At Boydston, Ardrossan, on the 10th instant, by the Rev. Hugh Meikle, of Fintry, brother of the bridegroom, assisted by the Rev. D. E. McNab, Ardrossan, Hugh Meikle, Esquire, Hillhouse, Galston, to Lizzie, daughter of William Caldwell, Esquire.