A WORKING CENTENARIAN

Evening Star, Issue 12399, 12 January 1905, Page 5

A WORKING CENTENARIAN

A notable centenarian has passed away at iretorhoad, on tlic north-east, coast of Scotland by the death of Peter Sutherland in his one hundred and first year. He was bom in the Buchan district of Aberdeenshire on December 24, 1803, and, nothwithstanding h*s great age,' was up til six months ago able to do odd jobs at a saw-mill, at which he had been continuously employed for seventy years. Sutherland was a man of excellent physique, and when in the prime of life bo stood over six feet in height. Except that he was a little dull of hearing, he retained all his faculties until nearly the end. lie was full of pawky humor, and had many interesting reminiscences to relate of bygone days. He well remembered the terror which tho name of Napoleon excited among the children of his native parish, and the earnest conversations which toos place in his grandmother's house after the famous battle of Waterloo. The newspapers at that time cost 6d each, and one paper had to suffice for several families, meetings being held in the different farmhouses iu the district once a week, when the papers were read and tho news fully discussed. During tho seventy year.-., Sutherland was in Peterhead he witnessed many memorable events, but the disaster of January 10, 13-19, when fifteen of. the citizens of Peterhead were swept off the piers by two huge waves and drowned in the harbor, was an event which he most readily recalled. The centenarian took a prominent part in the local Coronation celebrations two years ago, King Edward being the fifth sovereign he had lived to see on the throne. Mrs Sutherland died only six years ago, after a married life of sixtyfive years.