records of a family of engineers(一个工程师的家庭)-第24章
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airs； yet there was a pretty heavy swell coming ashore upon the rock。
The boats landed at half…past seven o'clock a。m。； at the creek on the
southern side of the rock； marked Port Hamilton。 But as one of the boats
was in the act of entering this creek； the seaman at the bow…oar； who had
just entered the service； having inadvertently expressed some fear from a
heavy sea which came rolling towards the boat； and one of the artificers
having at the same time looked round and missed a stroke with his oar；
such a preponderance was thus given to the rowers upon the opposite side
that when the wave struck the boat it threw her upon a ledge of shelving
rocks； where the water left her； and she having KANTED to seaward； the
next wave completely filled her with water。 After making considerable
efforts the boat was again got afloat in the proper track of the creek； so
that we landed without any other accident than a complete ducking。
There being no possibility of getting a shift of clothes； the artificers began
with all speed to work； so as to bring themselves into heat； while the writer
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and his assistants kept as much as possible in motion。 Having remained
more than an hour upon the rock； the boats left it at half…past nine； and；
after getting on board； the writer recommended to the artificers； as the best
mode of getting into a state of comfort； to strip off their wet clothes and go
to bed for an hour or two。 No further inconveniency was felt； and no one
seemed to complain of the affection called ‘catching cold。'
＇Friday； 18th Sept。＇
An important occurrence connected with the operations of this season
was the arrival of the SMEATON at four p。m。； having in tow the six
principal beams of the beacon…house； together with all the stanchions and
other work on board for fixing it on the rock。 The mooring of the
floating light was a great point gained； but in the erection of the beacon at
this late period of the season new difficulties presented themselves。 The
success of such an undertaking at any season was precarious； because a
single day of bad weather occurring before the necessary fixtures could be
made might sweep the whole apparatus from the rock。 Notwithstanding
these difficulties； the writer had determined to make the trial； although he
could almost have wished； upon looking at the state of the clouds and the
direction of the wind； that the apparatus for the beacon had been still in the
workyard。
＇Saturday； 19th Sept。＇
The main beams of the beacon were made up in two separate rafts；
fixed with bars and bolts of iron。 One of these rafts； not being
immediately wanted； was left astern of the floating light； and the other was
kept in tow by the SMEATON； at the buoy nearest to the rock。 The
Lighthouse yacht rode at another buoy with all hands on board that could
possibly be spared out of the floating light。 The party of artificers and
seamen which landed on the rock counted altogether forty in number。 At
half…past eight o'clock a derrick； or mast of thirty feet in height； was
erected and properly supported with guy…ropes； for suspending the block
for raising the first principal beam of the beacon； and a winch machine
was also bolted down to the rock for working the purchase…tackle。
Upon raising the derrick； all hands on the rock spontaneously gave
three hearty cheers； as a favourable omen of our future exertions in
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pointing out more permanently the position of the rock。 Even to this
single spar of timber； could it be preserved； a drowning man might lay
hold。 When the SMEATON drifted on the 2nd of this month such a spar
would have been sufficient to save us till she could have come to our
relief。
＇Sunday； 20th Sept。＇
The wind this morning was variable； but the weather continued
extremely favourable for the operations throughout the whole day。 At six
a。m。 the boats were in motion； and the raft； consisting of four of the six
principal beams of the beacon…house； each measuring about sixteen inches
square； and fifty feet in length； was towed to the rock； where it was
anchored； that it might ground upon it as the water ebbed。 The sailors and
artificers； including all hands； to…day counted no fewer than fifty…two；
being perhaps the greatest number of persons ever collected upon the Bell
Rock。 It was early in the tide when the boats reached the rock； and the
men worked a considerable time up to their middle in water； every one
being more eager than his neighbour to be useful。 Even the four
artificers who had hitherto declined working on Sunday were to…day most
zealous in their exertions。 They had indeed become so convinced of the
precarious nature and necessity of the work that they never afterwards
absented themselves from the rock on Sunday when a landing was
practicable。
Having made fast a piece of very good new line； at about two…thirds
from the lower end of one of the beams； the purchase…tackle of the derrick
was hooked into the turns of the line； and it was speedily raised by the
number of men on the rock and the power of the winch tackle。 When this
log was lifted to a sufficient height； its foot； or lower end； was STEPPED
into the spot which had been previously prepared for it。 Two of the great
iron stanchions were then set in their respective holes on each side of the
beam； when a rope was passed round them and the beam； to prevent it
from slipping till it could be more permanently fixed。 The derrick； or
upright spar used for carrying the tackle to raise the first beam； was placed
in such a position as to become useful for supporting the upper end of it；
which now became； in its turn； the prop of the tackle for raising the second
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beam。 The whole difficulty of this operation was in the raising and
propping of the first beam； which became a convenient derrick for raising
the second； these again a pair of shears for lifting the third； and the shears
a triangle for raising the fourth。 Having thus got four of the six principal
beams set on end； it required a considerable degree of trouble to get their
upper ends to fit。 Here they formed the apex of a cone； and were all
together mortised into a large piece of beechwood； and secured； for the
present； with ropes； in a temporary manner。 During the short period of one
tide all that could further be done for their security was to put a single
screw…bolt through the great kneed bats or stanchions on each side of the
beams； and screw the nut home。
In this manner these four principal beams were erected； and left in a
pretty secure state。 The men had commenced while there was about two
or three feet of water upon the side of the beacon； and as the sea was
smooth they continued the work equally long during flood…tide。 Two of
the boats being left at the rock to take off the joiners； who were busily
employed on the upper parts till two o'clock p。m。； this tide's work may be
said to have continued for about seven hours； which was the longest that
had hitherto been got upon the rock by at least three hours。
When the first boats left the rock with the artificers employed on the
lower part of the work during the flood…tide； the beacon had quite a novel
appearance。 The beams erected formed a common base of about thirty…
three feet； meeting at the top； which was about forty…five feet above the
rock； and here half a dozen of the artificers were still at work。 After
clearing the rock the boats made a stop； when three hearty cheers were
given； which were returned with equal goodwill by those upon the beacon；
from the personal interest which every one felt in the prosperity of this
work； so intimately connected with his safety。
All hands having returned to their respective ships； they got a shift of
dry clothes and some refreshment。 Being Sunday； they were afterwards
convened by signal on board of the Lighthouse yacht； when prayers were
read； for every heart upon this occasion felt gladness； and every mind was
disposed to be thankful for the happy and successful termination of the
operations of this day。
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＇Monday； 21st Sept。＇
The remaining two principal beams were erected in the course of this
tide； which； with the assistance of those set up yesterday； was found to be
a very simple operation。
The six principal beams of the beacon were thus secured； at least in a
temporary manner； in the course of two tides； or in the short space of
about eleven hours and a half。 Such is the progress that may be made
when active hands and willing minds set properly to work in operations of
this kind。
＇Tuesday 22nd； Sept。＇
Having now got the weighty part of this work over； and being thereby
relieved of the difficulty both of landing and victualling such a number of
men； the SMEATON could now be spared； and she was accordingly
despatched to Arbroath for a supply of water and provisions； and carried
with her six of the artificers who could best be spared。
＇Wednesday； 23rd Sept。＇
In going out of the eastern harbour； the boat which the wri
