Saltcoats - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
12 MARCH 1894

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT A SALTCOATS HOTEL

The Saracen’s Head Hotel, the leading hostelry in Saltcoats, was early yesterday morning burned down. It was a two-storey building with attics, containing 19 apartments, situated at Harbour Street.

The inmates of the house had retired to rest about half-past twelve, and everything then appeared all right.

About five in the morning Mr Hugh Newall, the landlord and proprietor, hearing a noise, searched the house. On going upstairs, and opening the door of a back garret, he was enveloped in smoke, and found that the roof was already in a blaze. There were no guests in the house, and he at once aroused his daughter and a servant girl, who were the only other inmates.

A strong north-west gale had been blowing during the night, and still continued, so that the fire spread with great rapidity. The ringing of the fire bell brought a large band of workers; but by this time the upper part of the building was enveloped in flames.

The burgh is without a brigade or hose for extinguishing fire, and it was found that the fire had taken such a hold of the building that, with the appliances at hand, there was little hope of saving the hotel.

Efforts were directed to prevent the fire spreading to the adjoining house. The joists of the building were cut away, and water was poured on the gables from buckets and a stable hose attached to a spigot. These efforts were ultimately successful, and the fire was confined to the hotel.

Meantime, as much as possible of the furniture and stock which the flames had not yet reached were removed. In this way a considerable amount of property was saved. Four horses were removed from the stables to a place of safety as a precautionary measure.

The fire, however, did not extend beyond the main building, which was gutted, nothing being left but the four walls. The building and furniture is partially insured. How the fire occurred is not known, and the garret where it was discovered is used only as a lumber room.

The Saracen’s Head dates back to the old coaching days as the headquarters of stage coaches that plied between Glasgow and Greenock. It was at one time an inn of some importance.

William Black, the novelist, described the hostelry in “A Daughter of Heth.”

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CASUALTY OF WAR
13 MARCH 1918

DAVID McCULLOCH

Killed in action, Private DAVID McCULLOCH, (19), Royal Army Service Corps – Theatre of War, France and Flanders – son of the late David McCulloch, Saltcoats.

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GLASGOW HERALD
13 MARCH 1893

BOY ACCIDENTALLY KILLED

On Saturday, about two o’clock, a boy named JAMES CAMPBELL, son of Mr Boyd Campbell, Eglinton Place, Saltcoats, was accidentally killed at Little Laught Farm.

He had been playing at the threshing mill, and was caught by the machine and so severely crushed that he died shortly afterwards.

Doctor Brown, Saltcoats, was sent for, but the lad was dead when he arrived.

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CASUALTY OF WAR
14 MARCH 1918

JAMES BRAND SCOTT MILLER

Killed in action, Second Lieutenant JAMES BRAND SCOTT MILLER, (27), Royal Garrison Artillery, son of the late Thomas and Catherine Miller, 13 Springvale Street, Saltcoats.

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LAUNCH AT SALTCOATS
15 MARCH 1861

THE SURGE

The wooden vessel SURGE, built by an unknown Saltcoats builder, was launched on the above date.

[Further details of this vessel are contained in the following link:-

https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?y ... ssel=SURGE

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GLASGOW HERALD
15 MARCH 1888

SALTCOATS – MUSICAL REHEARSAL

The Saltcoats and Stevenston Choral Society brought their session to a close by a public rehearsal of Fawcett’s oratorio “Paradise” in the North Church on Tuesday night.

Provost McIsaac of Parkend occupied the chair, and there was a fair attendance.

Altogether the rehearsal was creditable to the society, the choruses being effectively rendered.

Mr John Wilson, leader of psalmody in the Parish Church, Saltcoats, acted as conductor; and Mr H. Fullerton played the accompaniments.

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GLASGOW HERALD
16 MARCH 1887

MUNICIPAL MEETING – SALTCOATS

At the monthly meeting on Monday night – Provost McIsaac presiding – letters were read from Messrs Gilmour & Christie, Irvine; from the Clerk to the Stevenston School Board; and a petition from ratepayers in the neighbourhood of Kyleshill against placing the slaughter-house on the proposed site. The matter was delayed till the next meeting.

With reference to the sea-wall at the east end, a letter was read from Mr Cunninghame of Auchenharvie stating that the railway and the sea-wall are his private property, and the railway is not subject to the use of the public without his permission. If the public use it they are trespassing, and, whatever the condition of the sea-wall may be, he is not bound to execute works for the benefit of trespassers. The letter was remitted to the Works Committee.

The clerk was instructed to write to Mr Alpine, contractor, for the new railway, and call his attention to the dangerous hole on the new railway ground near Braehead unfenced, and no fence on the railway at the same place.

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GLASGOW HERALD
17 MARCH 1888

SALTCOATS – AMBULANCES CLASSES

These classes successfully conducted by Doctor Milroy, Kilwinning, in the Free Church Lecture Hall, were closed on Thursday night, when there was a large attendance of ladies and gentlemen.

Doctor Kinnier occupied the chair.

The average attendance at the classes was 105, and 91 ladies and gentlemen presented themselves for examination, all of whom passed. The average percentage gained by the ladies was 93.4, and by the gentlemen 85.6.

The medals and certificates to successful students were presented by Mrs McIsaac of Parkend.

It was proposed that Saltcoats whould be made a centre, where appliances could be kept for use in the case of accidents, and it was agreed that Pfrovost McIsaac should confer on the matter with gentlemen in neighbouring towns.

[down south]

SATURDAY 17th MARCH 1973

TROON STUNNED BY FOUR FIRST HALF GOALS

SALTCOATS VICTORIA 4 TROON 0

Four first-half goals stunned Troon and made certain of Saltcoats' first home win of the year.

Vics played three trialists and were without Frankie Clarke, who was with Scotland's junior side, and the injured Joe Smith. The new men showed up well and contributed to the impressive win.

Troon never got going in attack and it was not until the second half that their defence settled down against a pacey Saltcoats side who were out to emulate an earlier win over Troon this season.

Ian Davis, who was effective for Saltcoats as a midfield player, was not averse to travelling upfield and he snatched two goals for his team within a four-minute spell. The first goal, in the eighth minute, resulted from good play between winger Cairns and McGhee and the ball was directed to Davis, who crashed a shot into the net. Four minutes later Cairns passed to the trialist forward who found Davis with a cross and the ball landed in the rigging.

Troon did push their attack towards the Saltcoats penalty area but found the home defence well drilled. O'Hare came close, however, when McConnachie had to clear his shot from the goal-line.

In the 26th minute Saltcoats again caught out Troon's rearguard when a Nicol pass found the trialist forward who beat O'Brien for the third goal.

A minute before the interval McGhee hit a fourth goal for Vics with a well-placed shot.

Troon replaced McPhail with Doolan in the second half and although they shared more of the pressure Saltcoats easily defended their four-goal lead. The nearest misses came at O'Brien's goal.

An amazing incident occurred four minutes from time when referee Mr Brawels of Bishopbriggs blew for the end of the match. It was pointed out to him by officials that four minutes remained and he promptly recalled the teams to the field and restarted play with a corner Troon had won. Nothing of note occurred in the final minutes.

Saltcoats Victoria : Morrison; Newman, Craig, McConnachie, Cairns, Sheridan, Davis, Newman, Young, Nicol and Newman.

Troon : O'Brien; Caddis, McWilliams, Young, Welsh, Jamieson, O'Hare, McPhail, Bingham, Kelly and Gibson.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 23rd March 1973

Susan

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GLASGOW HERALD
5 MARCH 1881

COURT OF SESSION - FRIDAY 4 MARCH 1881 - BEFORE LORD RUTHERFURD CLARK

THE ARDROSSAN SCHOOL BOARD CASE

In this action Dr. C. Marshall, formerly parochial schoolmaster, Saltcoats, sued the School Board of Ardrossan for a retiring allowance. The case which has been in Court for several years in various stages of procedure, has been decided today by Lord Rutherfurd Clark.

The Lord Ordinary has now issued interlocutor, finding, declaring, and discerning in terms of the declaratory conclusions of the libel, and further ordains the defenders to make payment to the pursuer of the sum of £117 6s 8d yearly during his lifetime, beginning the first payment of £44 12s at the term of Martinmass, 1877, for the period preceding that date, and the next term of payment of £58 13s 4d at the term of Whitsunday, 1878, for the half-year preceding, a like sum of £58 13s 4d at Martinmass and Whitsunday respectively in each year thereafter during the lifetime of the pursuer, with legal interest from the time the sum became due till payment. The pursuer is found entitled to expenses.

In a note his Lordship says:- The action is insisted in by the pursuer to the effect only of establishing his right to a retiring allowance. He did not maintain his claim for damages, and indeed that claim seems to be excluded by the majority of the judges who took part in the judgment of 10 December 1879. The pursuer was removed under the 60th section of the Act of 1872, and the returning allowance is also claimed under that section. It is therefore the case of both parties that the pursuer was incompetent, unfit, inefficient, and the controversy between them comes to be whether the incompetency, unfitness, and inefficiency for which the pursuer was removed was due to his own fault. The Lord Ordinary is satisfied that the pursuer was not incompetent, unfit, or inefficient, in the sense of these words. He was a schoolmaster of ability, learning, and great experience, and until the unfortunate dispute which arose between him and the School Board, he had taught with success. He was old, no doubt, but he was by no means worn out; and although he has brought evidence to show that he was and is suffering from various physical infirmities, the Lord Ordinary is not disposed to hold that they incapacitated him from the due discharge of the duties of his office. It is certain it was not on this ground he was removed. Nor in the opinion of the Lord Ordinary was the pursuer inefficient, if he had been fairly dealt by, and if he had received the support and encouragement of the School Board. He might have done very well even without that valuable aid if they had let him alone, and not manifested hostility towards him; but as things were it is clear enough that his usefulness was over. As the Lord Ordinary reads the judgment of the Court to which reference has been made, he understands it to mean that if the pursuer's inefficiency was brought about by the illegal acts and oppression of the Board the pursuer is entitled to the remedy which he asks. In the opinion of the Lord Ordinary this is true in point of fact, and he has therefore given judgment in favour of the pursuer. It has been decided by the Court that if the material averments were proved the defenders acted illegally and oppressively. It is needless to detail the averments, and the judgment of the Court renders it unnecessary to consider them in their legal aspect. Nor, with one exception perhaps, can there be any doubt that they have been proved. For they are established by the minutes and documents of the defenders themselves. The exception refers to the allegations contained in condescendence 8 relating to the efforts which the defenders made to disperse the pursuer's school. But even in respect to this allegation it is certain that if they had unlawfully suspended pursuer on 27 August, 1875, they at the same time instructed the School Board officer "to intimate to the children attending the school that they would be accommodated in Miss Mackay's division." His Lordship then refers to a letter dated 27 August, 1875, and continued - "that this letter was acted on is proved, and with the obvious consequence of diminishing the attendance, and still more, of destroying the usefulness of the pursuer. The unfortunate differences which prevailed so long and the enduring hostility of the defenders to the pursuer could have but one result. The acts of the defenders were a continuous attack upon the pursuer's reputation and character, and made it impossible for him to maintain that confidence or respect of the parents or children, without which the efficiency of a teacher cannot exist. It is true that the pursuer resented the conduct of the Board, and from time to time said and did things which are not to be approved, but on the whole he seems to have conducted himself well under what must at times have been a severe trial. The only remaining question is as to the amount of retiring allowance. At the date of his removal the pursuer held a salary of £176. It is said that part this salary was given as a commutation of fees, and that is true. But it was not the fees the salary which the pursuer was receiving at the date of his removal, and therefore forms a basis for fixing his retiring allowance. This seems to have been the opinion of the Court, especially Lord Deas.

We understand the defenders mean to reclaim against this interlocutor.

GLASGOW HERALD
18 MARCH 1881

DOCTOR MARSHALL v. THE SCHOOL BOARD

This interminable case may now be considered settled.

At a meeting of the School Board held yesterday afternoon, it was resolved, on the recommendation of the committee of the Board having charge of the case, not to reclaim against Lord Rutherford Clark’s judgement, which therefore becomes final.

The Chairman of the Board (Provost Barr) dissented from the resolution not to reclaim.

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GLASGOW HERALD
19 MARCH 1863

MARRIAGE

At Dockhead Street, Saltcoats, on the 17th instant, by the Rev. D. E. McNab, Mr WILLIAM CRAIG, leather merchant, Glasgow, to ABIGAIL, fourth daughter of the late, ROBERT BRYCE, Esquire, merchant, Saltcoats.

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CASUALTY OF WAR
19 MARCH 1918

THOMAS POLLOCK TURLEY

Died at sea, Fireman THOMAS POLLOCK TURLEY, (23) – Mercantile Marine Reserve, HMS Montagua – husband of Elizabeth Cairns Turley, 5 Stanhope Street, Townhead, Glasgow, and son of Mr and Mrs Thomas Turley, 13 Raise Street, Saltcoats.