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A Fishy Tale from Henry

This is one of the many true

stories from Stornoway and

from the rest of the Outer

Hebrides.

Back some 70 years ago, a

few miles from Stornoway,

there lived a carter called

Montgomery. Montgomery

was rather fond of whisky and his horse and cart were often to be seen outside the Star Inn, a favourite haunt of seafarers. He was quite safe as his horse could take him home.

The deep sea steam trawlers carried a supply of "duty free" whisky, for use once outside the 3 mile limit. The Customs officers sealed this treasure while the trawlers were in port.

Montgomery knew that the trawler men were in the habit of hiding a few bottles in the bunkers and used to "visit" these boats, in the hope of cadgeing a drink while the crew were whooping it up in the Star Inn.

On one fateful night, he "visited" an Aberdeen trawler and found the entire crew were ashore boozing in the Star. In vane, he searched among the coals in the bunker, and fell into an inebriated slumber among the coals. Later the crew staggered aboard and the stoker started to feed the furnace. They had put to sea when suddenly a load of coal - and Montgomery - tumbled onto the stoke-hold hearth!

The stoker, stripped to the waist, looked down at the prostrate Montgomery and said "Who are you and where are you from?" Montgomery looked at the flaming furnace then up at the bare chested stoker and said, Montgomery Sir, from Stornoway when I was alive"

The ship had to put about as they were en route for 10 days at sea in the Iceland fishing grounds.

This adventure earned Montgomery the nickname of "The Peacach" (the sinner)

Editor:- Now is that a Fishy tale or not!!! Thanks Henry