Bygone News - 100 years ago and over
February 1904
The Maryfield Prisoner Departs for Peterhead
Peter Low, who was sentenced to 10 years' penal servitude for a murderous assault in a Maryfield villa, was removed from Dundee to Peterhead on Saturday morning. Attired in convict garb, Low looked pale and rather agitated, but paid no heed to the people around. Read more......
January 1904
On the Hunt for a Library Site
The Carnegie Scheme for Dundee
The Free Library Committee are still undecided in the matter of a site for the central reading room which forms part of the scheme under the Carnegie gift. In addition to the proposal to acquire the Gaelic Church, the Committee have cast their eyes around Albert Square, but though various suggestions have been made, the majority of the members have "no settled convictions" on the subject of their quest. Read more......
December 1903
Tramway Accident in Dundee
A mishap occurred on the electric tramway system in Dundee yesterday shortly before eleven o'clock. On an electric car reaching the foot of Reform Street, the trolley suddenly sprang off its wire. In its ascent it struck the "live" wire, causing one of the supports to snap. A great flame burst from the wires and it looked as if the whole network was to come toppling down. Read more......
November 1903
Evils of the Magdalen Green
Loose Habits of Young Dundee: Warning to Parents
In these columns a few months ago public attention was directed to the unbecoming conduct of a section of Dundee lads and lassies who nightly parade the central thoroughfares of the city, and also to the prevalent exhibitions of vulgar familiarity which are to be observed in the Nethergate and other popular promenades, but this week revelations of a more serious nature have been made concerning the moral character of young Dundee, and which mark only too clearly the existence of another plague spot in the midst of the citizens of Juteopolis. Read more......
October 1903
Strike in Dundee Mill
On Monday a section of the spinners employed in South Anchor Works, Dundee (Messrs. D. McMaster & Co.) came out on strike. The number of the malcontents was sufficient to disorganise operations in all departments, and the firm being desirous of effecting extensive repairs, stopped the machinery and closed down the whole establishment. Some 400 hands are affected. Read more......
September 1903
Railway Fatality at Dundee
A horrible fatality occurred in Dundee early on Wednesday morning. The scene of the affair was that part of the Caledonian Railway at the Magdalen Green which has recently gained so unenviable a notoriety for fatalities. As the driver of the goods train from Perth to Dundee West, was passing Binrock, on the west side of the Magdalen Green, he noticed what appeared to him to be the part of the body of a man lying on the line. Read more......
August 1903
Runaway Bullock in Dundee Street
Much excitement was caused in the central parts of the city on Monday by the peregrination of a bullock, belonging to a city butcher which had escaped from the slaughter house in East Dock Street. It was about 6 o'clock when the animal broke loose, and the difficulty experienced in securing it will be to some extent realised when it is stated that not until about two hours afterwards was it brought to bay, and that at a point so far remote from the slaughter house as the meadows in Constitution Road. Read more......
July 1903
Death of the Pope
Pope Leo XIII passed away peacefully at four minutes past four on Monday (20th July) afternoon, surrounded by the Leading Cardinals and the members of the Pontificial Court. The illness which commenced on Friday the 3rd inst., took a decided change for the worse on Saturday last, and the Pope became gradually but distinctly weaker on Sunday. A grave change became observable at half-past eleven on Monday forenoon and from that time he never rallied. Read more......
July 1903
Death of the Pope Read more......
June 1903
Lively Scenes at Dundee Station
Not for a considerable time has the Tay Bridge Station presented so animated an appearance as it did between 6 pm and 7 pm on Thursday, when a large excursion of about 400 members of the Ratho Co-operative Society, who had been spending the day in Dundee, started on the homeward journey. Read more......