Saltcoats - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
4 DECEMBER 1861

BIRTH

At Dockhead Street, Saltcoats, on the 1st instant, Mrs James Fullerton; a son.

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GLASGOW HERALD
4 DECEMBER 1866

FENIANISM AT SALTCOATS

For some time past rumours have been whispered that the Fenians had a secret organisation in our midst. These rumours received a shade of authenticity, it is said, by the flying visit which the famed Head-Centre Stephens paid Ardrossan while “leaving his country for his country’s good.”

Last Saturday morning rumours were renewed with fresh vigour, in consequence of the arrival at Ardrossan of a suspicious looking wooden box, measuring some 7 feet long, and said to contain arms for the use of the Fenians.

A “sharper,” who has frequently regretted that he had not the honour of shaking hands with Stephens when he spent a night in Ardrossan looked anxiously at the case, carefully noted the address of the party to whom it was consigned, and after having fortified himself with breakfast, conveyed the important intelligence to the officers of Her Majesty’s Customs at Ardrossan.

The case was addressed to a native of the Emerald Isle resident in Saltcoats; and curiously enough, he was the reputed “Centre” of the district.

Thither therefore, the officers wended their way armed with all the necessary authority, and proceeded at once to the place of business of the suspected Fenian to make an examination of the case and its contents.

Of course, the Irishman knew that to oppose officers in the execution of their duty was a serious offence, and he wisely offered no resistance to the proposed search, which was at once proceeded with, all the care and cuteness usually displayed by officers being carefully observed.

It turned out, however, that all their labour had been in vain, as this wondrous case contained nothing deadlier than a quantity of Irish linen, and other goods, equally harmless in their nature.

The officers therefore returned homewards, feeling that they had been engaged in a wild goose chase; and we trust the next suspicious looking case which they go a hunting may prove a case of more interest than this has done.

[WIKIPEDIA – James Stephens was an Irish Republican, and founding member of an originally unnamed revolutionary organisation in Dublin. This organisation, founded on 17 March 1858, was later to become the Irish Republican Brotherhood (I.R.B.).]

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GLASGOW HERALD
4 DECEMBER 1869

THEFT

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Criminal Court yesterday, before Sheriff Anderson and a jury, CATHERINE DOCHERTY, residing in Quay Street, Saltcoats, was charged with stealing a silver watch, with a steel chain and a gold seal attached, from the person of David Fee, baker, in Dockhead Street there, on the 30th October.

She pleaded not guilty, but was convicted, and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment.

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GLASGOW HERALD
5 DECEMBER 1851

MARRIAGE

At Saltcoats, on the 21st ultimo, by the Rev. Dr. Landsborough, Mr Robert Morton, seaman, to Isabella, third daughter of Mr Gilbert McKenzie, late shipmaster, Saltcoats.

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GLASGOW HERALD
5 DECEMBER 1878

SALTCOATS – THEFT BY HOUSEBREAKING

Early yesterday morning the shop of Mr William Orr, watchmaker, was entered by burglars, who removed a shutter from a back window, tore away the iron stanchion, and forced up the window. They had gone very deliberately about their work by the aid of lighted papers, and had carefully examined every drawer in the place.

Fortunately the more valuable of the stock is nightly removed to Mr Orr’s dwelling-house and all the thieves seem to have received was a few coppers, the cheaper quality of jewellery, etc., having been left untouched.

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GLASGOW HERALD
6 DECEMBER 1895

THE STORM

Saltcoats:
During Wednesday night there was a severe gale, the wind blowing in fierce squalls, with showers of rain.

Two cottages being erected in Caledonia Road by Mr William Logan suffered some damage. The brick wall of one of them was thrown down, and joists and timber broken.

The roof of an outhouse in Quay Street was carried away.

Windows were in some cases blown in. Slates and window-cans were carried away from the roofs of houses.

A large wooden gate in Eglinton Street was wrenched from its hinges.

In the harbour the fishing smacks escaped injury.

Yesterday the gale continued, and there were some heavy showers.

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GLASGOW HERALD
7 DECEMBER 1818

SHIP NEWS

The BETSEY, Hogg, from Belfast to Glasgow, which ran ashore in Saltcoats Bay on Sunday e’nnight, got off the beach on Friday evening, without damage, after discharging her cargo, and is now safe in Saltcoats harbour.

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GLASGOW HERALD
8 DECEMBER 1826

DEATH

At Saltcoats, on the 1st instant, in his 19th year, Walter, youngest son of Mr Miller, surgeon.

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GLASGOW HERALD
8 DECEMBER 1845

TWO AYRSHIRE MEN DROWNED IN QUEBEC

A letter from the mate of the Woolville, Ronald, of Ardrossan, which recently arrived there, to his father in Saltcoats, mentions inter alia, that at Quebec, on the 1st ultimo, CHARLES MATHIE and THOMAS ADAIR, connected with SPRINGHILL, McLintock, of Irvine, were both that drowned there, the former belonged to Saltcoats, the latter to Irvine.

They were sent ashore to secure some timbers “in the beams”. Mathie accidently fell in the discharge of his duty into the sea, and Adair, who was an excellent swimmer, jumped in to rescue his shipmate, but they unfortunately both perished.

Their bodies were found within a short distance (10 yards) of each other.

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GLASGOW HERALD
9 DECEMBER 1836

DEATH

Suddenly, at Saltcoats, on the 23rd ultimo, Mrs John Barclay.

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GLASGOW HERALD
9 DECEMBER 1874

THEFT

At the pleading diet of Kilmarnock Sheriff and Jury Court yesterday, JESSIE WILSON or SMITH, pleaded guilty to the theft of - (1) a pair of boots on the 13th November last, and - (2) two women’s caps, a handkerchief, and a yard of ribbon, on the 14th November, from the lodging-house of Mrs Fleming, Quay Street, Saltcoats.

Having been previously convicted, she was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment.

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GLASGOW HERALD
10 DECEMBER 1847

SEVERE STORM AT AYR

The west coast has again been visited by a severe storm.

On Saturday afternoon as the smack SUCCESS of Saltcoats, Donald Carr, master, in ballast from Campbeltown, was entering the harbour, the wind blowing roughly, she struck the west end of the breakwater, and soon filled. She shortly afterwards fell over on her broadside, leaving her crew, three in number, to the mercy of the heavy and broken sea.

Preparations were made on shore for the rescue of the crew, but they succeeded in getting into their small boat. They were driven some distance along the north coat, but at last succeeded in effecting a landing near the Bellrock Quarry.

The vessel has become a total wreck. She was the property of the master, who is not insured, and has besides, lost several thousand pounds in money, which could not be recovered when the smack capsized.