records of a family of engineers(一个工程师的家庭)-第25章
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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 writer steered
shipped a sea； that filled her about one…third with water。 She had also
been hid for a short time； by the waves breaking upon the rock； from the
sight of the crew of the preceding boat； who were much alarmed for our
safety； imagining for a time that she had gone down。
The SMEATON returned from Arbroath this afternoon； but there was
so much sea that she could not be made fast to her moorings； and the
vessel was obliged to return to Arbroath without being able either to
deliver the provisions or take the artificers on board。 The Lighthouse
yacht was also soon obliged to follow her example； as the sea was
breaking heavily over her bows。 After getting two reefs in the mainsail；
and the third or storm…jib set； the wind being S。W。； she bent to windward；
though blowing a hard gale； and got into St。 Andrews Bay； where we
passed the night under the lee of Fifeness。
＇Thursday； 24th Sept。＇
At two o'clock this morning we were in St。 Andrews Bay； standing off
and on shore； with strong gales of wind at S。W。； at seven we were off the
entrance of the Tay； at eight stood towards the rock； and at ten passed to
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leeward of it； but could not attempt a landing。 The beacon； however；
appeared to remain in good order； and by six p。m。 the vessel had again
beaten up to St。 Andrews Bay； and got into somewhat smoother water for
the night。
＇Friday； 25th Sept。＇
At seven o'clock bore away for the Bell Rock； but finding a heavy sea
running on it were unable to land。 The writer； however； had the
satisfaction to observe； with his telescope； that everything about the
beacon appeared entire： and although the sea had a most frightful
appearance； yet it was the opinion of every one that； since the erection of
the beacon； the Bell Rock was divested of many of its terrors； and had it
been possible to have got the boats hoisted out and manned； it might have
even been found practicable to land。 At six it blew so hard that it was
found necessary to strike the topmast and take in a third reef of the
mainsail； and under this low canvas we soon reached St。 Andrews Bay；
and got again under the lee of the land for the night。 The artificers； being
sea… hardy； were quite reconciled to their quarters on board of the
Lighthouse yacht； but it is believed that hardly any consideration would
have induced them again to take up their abode in the floating light。
＇Saturday； 26th Sept。＇
At daylight the yacht steered towards the Bell Rock； and at eight a。m。
made fast to her moorings； at ten； all hands； to the amount of thirty； landed；
when the writer had the happiness to find that the beacon had withstood
the violence of the gale and the heavy breach of sea； everything being
found in the same state in which it had been left on the 21st。 The artificers
were now enabled to work upon the rock throughout the whole day； both
at low and high water； but it required the strictest attention to the state of
the weather； in case of their being overtaken with a gale； which might
prevent the possibility of getting them off the rock。
Two somewhat memorable circumstances in the annals of the Bell
Rock attended the operations of this day： one was the removal of Mr。
James Dove； the foreman smith； with his apparatus； from the rock to the
upper part of the beacon； where the forge was now erected on a temporary
platform； laid on the cross beams or upper framing。 The other was the
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artificers having dined for the first time upon the rock； their dinner being
cooked on board of the yacht； and sent to them by one of the boats。 But
what afforded the greatest happiness and relief was the removal of the
large bellows； which had all along been a source of much trouble and
perplexity； by their hampering and incommoding the boat which carried
the smiths and their apparatus。
＇Saturday； 3rd Oct。＇
The wind being west to…day； the weather was very favourable for
operations at the rock； and during the morning and evening tides； with the
aid of torchlight； the masons had seven hours' work upon the site of the
building。 The smiths and joiners； who landed at half…past six a。m。； did
not leave the rock till a quarter…past eleven p。m。； having been at work；
with little intermission； for sixteen hours and three… quarters。 When the
water left the rock； they were employed at the lower parts of the beacon；
and as the tide rose or fell； they shifted the place of their operations。
From these exertions； the fixing and securing of the beacon made rapid
advancement； as the men were now landed in the morning and remained
throughout the day。 But； as a sudden change of weather might have
prevented their being taken off at the proper time of tide； a quantity of
bread and water was always kept on the beacon。
During this period of working at the beacon all the day； and often a
great part of the night； the writer was much on board of the tender； but；
while the masons could work on the rock； and frequently also while it was
covered by the tide； he remained on the beacon； especially during the
night； as he made a point of being on the rock to the latest hour； and was
generally the last person who stepped into the boat。 He had laid this
down as part of his plan of procedure； and in this way had acquired； in the
course of the first season； a pretty complete knowledge and experience of
what could actually be done at the Bell Rock； under all circumstances of
the weather。 By this means also his assistants； and the artificers and
mariners； got into a systematic habit of proceeding at the commencement
of the work； which； it is believed； continued throughout the whole of the
operations。
＇Sunday； 4th Oct。＇
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The external part of the beacon was now finished； with its supports
and bracing…chains； and whatever else was considered necessary for its
stability in so far as the season would permit； and although much was still
wanting to complete this fabric； yet it was in such a state that it could be
left without much fear of the consequences of a storm。 The painting of
the upper part was nearly finished this afternoon； and the SMEATON had
brought off a quantity of brushwood and other articles； for the purpose of
heating or charring the lower part of the principal beams； before being laid
over with successive coats of boiling pitch； to the height of from eight to
twelve feet； or as high as the rise of spring…tides。 A small flagstaff having
also been erected to…day； a flag was displayed for the first time from the
beacon； by which its perspective effect was greatly improved。 On this； as
on all like occasions at the Bell Rock； three hearty cheers were given； and
the steward served out a dram of rum to all hands； while the Lighthouse
yacht； SMEATON； and floating light； hoisted their colours in compliment
to the erection。
＇Monday； 5th Oct。＇
In the afternoon； and just as the tide's work was over； Mr。 John Rennie；
engineer； accompanied by his son Mr。 George； on their way to the harbour
works of Fraserburgh； in Aberdeenshire； paid a visit to the Bell Rock； in a
boat from Arbroath。 It being then too late in the tide for landing； they
remained on board of the Lighthouse yacht all night； when the writer； who
had now been secluded from society for several weeks； enjoyed much of
Mr。 Rennie's interesting conversation； both on general topics； and
professionally upon the progress of the Bell Rock works； on which he was
consulted as chief engineer。
＇Tuesday； 6th Oct。＇
The artificers landed this morning at nine； after which one of the boats
returned to the ship for the writer and Messrs。 Rennie； who； upon landing；
were saluted with a display of the colours from the beacon and by three
cheers from the workmen。 Everything was now in a prepared state for
leaving the rock； and giving up the works afloat for this season； excepting
some small articles； which would still occupy the smiths and joiners for a
few days longer。 They accordingly shifted on board of the SMEATON；
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while the yacht left the rock for Arbroath； with Messrs。 Rennie； the writer；
and the remainder of the artificers。 But； before taking leave； the steward
served out a farewell glass； when three hearty cheers were given； and an
earnest wish expressed that everything； in the spring of 1808； might be
found in the same state of good order as it was now about to be left。
II … OPERATIONS OF 1808
＇Monday； 29th Feb。＇
The writer sailed from Arbroath at one a。m。 in the Lighthouse yacht。
At seven the floating light was hailed； and all on board found to be well。
The crew were observed to have a very healthy…like appearance； and
looked better than at the close of the works upon the rock。 They seemed
only to regret one thing； which was the secession of their cook； Thomas
Elliot … not on account of his professional skill； but for his facetious and
curious manner。 Elliot had something peculiar in his history； and was
reported by his comrades to have seen better days。 He
