records of a family of engineers(一个工程师的家庭)-第28章
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increased and shifted to the eastward； when the vessel rolled very hard；
and the sea often broke over her bows with great force。
＇Wednesday； 8th June＇
Although the motion of the tender was much less than that of the
floating light … at least； in regard to the rolling motion … yet she SENDED；
or pitched； much。 Being also of a very handsome build； and what
seamen term very CLEAN AFT； the sea often struck the counter with such
force that the writer； who possessed the aftermost cabin； being
unaccustomed to this new vessel； could not divest himself of uneasiness；
for when her stern fell into the sea； it struck with so much violence as to
be more like the resistance of a rock than the sea。 The water； at the same
time； often rushed with great force up the rudder…case； and； forcing up the
valve of the water…closet； the floor of his cabin was at times laid under
water。 The gale continued to increase； and the vessel rolled and pitched
in such a manner that the hawser by which the tender was made fast to the
buoy snapped； and she went adrift。 In the act of swinging round to the
wind she shipped a very heavy sea； which greatly alarmed the artificers；
who imagined that we had got upon the rock； but this； from the direction
of the wind； was impossible。 The writer； however； sprung upon deck；
where he found the sailors busily employed in rigging out the bowsprit
and in setting sail。 From the easterly direction of the wind； it was
considered most advisable to steer for the Firth of Forth； and there wait a
change of weather。 At two p。m。 we accordingly passed the Isle of May；
at six anchored in Leith Roads； and at eight the writer landed； when he
came in upon his friends； who were not a little surprised at his unexpected
appearance； which gave an instantaneous alarm for the safety of things at
the Bell Rock。
＇Thursday； 9th June＇
The wind still continued to blow very hard at E。 by N。； and the SIR
JOSEPH BANKS rode heavily； and even drifted with both anchors ahead；
in Leith Roads。 The artificers did not attempt to leave the ship last night；
but there being upwards of fifty people on board； and the decks greatly
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lumbered with the two large boats； they were in a very crowded and
impatient state on board。 But to…day they got ashore； and amused
themselves by walking about the streets of Edinburgh； some in very
humble apparel； from having only the worst of their jackets with them；
which； though quite suitable for their work； were hardly fit for public
inspection； being not only tattered； but greatly stained with the red colour
of the rock。
＇Friday； 10th June＇
To…day the wind was at S。E。； with light breezes and foggy weather。
At six a。m。 the writer again embarked for the Bell Rock； when the vessel
immediately sailed。 At eleven p。m。； there being no wind； the kedge…
anchor was LET GO off Anstruther； one of the numerous towns on the
coast of Fife； where we waited the return of the tide。
＇Saturday； 11th June＇
At six a。m。 the SIR JOSEPH got under weigh； and at eleven was again
made fast to the southern buoy at the Bell Rock。 Though it was now late in
the tide； the writer； being anxious to ascertain the state of things after the
gale； landed with the artificers to the number of forty…four。 Everything
was found in an entire state； but； as the tide was nearly gone； only half an
hour's work had been got when the site of the building was overflowed。
In the evening the boats again landed at nine； and after a good tide's work
of three hours with torchlight； the work was left off at midnight。 To the
distant shipping the appearance of things under night on the Bell Rock；
when the work was going forward； must have been very remarkable；
especially to those who were strangers to the operations。 Mr。 John Reid；
principal lightkeeper； who also acted as master of the floating light during
the working months at the rock； described the appearance of numerous
lights situated so low in the water； when seen at the distance of two or
three miles； as putting him in mind of Milton's description of the fiends in
the lower regions； adding； ‘for it seems greatly to surpass Will…o'…the…Wisp；
or any of those earthly spectres of which we have so often heard。'
＇Monday； 13th June＇
From the difficulties attending the landing on the rock； owing to the
breach of sea which had for days past been around it； the artificers showed
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some backwardness at getting into the boats this morning； but after a little
explanation this was got over。 It was always observable that for some
time after anything like danger had occurred at the rock； the workmen
became much more cautious； and on some occasions their timidity was
rather troublesome。 It fortunately happened； however； that along with the
writer's assistants and the sailors there were also some of the artificers
themselves who felt no such scruples； and in this way these difficulties
were the more easily surmounted。 In matters where life is in danger it
becomes necessary to treat even unfounded prejudices with tenderness； as
an accident； under certain circumstances； would not only have been
particularly painful to those giving directions； but have proved highly
detrimental to the work； especially in the early stages of its advancement。
At four o'clock fifty…eight persons landed； but the tides being
extremely languid； the water only left the higher parts of the rock； and no
work could be done at the site of the building。 A third forge was；
however； put in operation during a short time； for the greater conveniency
of sharpening the picks and irons； and for purposes connected with the
preparations for fixing the railways on the rock。 The weather towards the
evening became thick and foggy； and there was hardly a breath of wind to
ruffle the surface of the water。 Had it not； therefore； been for the noise
from the anvils of the smiths who had been left on the beacon throughout
the day； which afforded a guide for the boats； a landing could not have
been attempted this evening； especially with such a company of artificers。
This circumstance confirmed the writer's opinion with regard to the
propriety of connecting large bells to be rung with machinery in the
lighthouse； to be tolled day and night during the continuance of foggy
weather。
＇Thursday； 23rd June＇
The boats landed this evening； when the artificers had again two hours'
work。 The weather still continuing very thick and foggy； more difficulty
was experienced in getting on board of the vessels to…night than had
occurred on any previous occasion； owing to a light breeze of wind which
carried the sound of the bell； and the other signals made on board of the
vessels； away from the rock。 Having fortunately made out the position of
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the sloop SMEATON at the N。E。 buoy … to which we were much assisted
by the barking of the ship's dog； … we parted with the SMEATON'S boat；
when the boats of the tender took a fresh departure for that vessel； which
lay about half a mile to the south…westward。 Yet such is the very
deceiving state of the tides； that； although there was a small binnacle and
compass in the landing…master's boat； we had； nevertheless； passed the SIR
JOSEPH a good way； when； fortunately； one of the sailors catched the
sound of a blowing…horn。 The only fire…arms on board were a pair of
swivels of one…inch calibre； but it is quite surprising how much the sound
is lost in foggy weather； as the report was heard but at a very short
distance。 The sound from the explosion of gunpowder is so
instantaneous that the effect of the small guns was not so good as either
the blowing of a horn or the tolling of a bell； which afforded a more
constant and steady direction for the pilot。
＇Wednesday； 6th July＇
Landed on the rock with the three boats belonging to the tender at five
p。m。； and began immediately to bale the water out of the foundation…pit
with a number of buckets； while the pumps were also kept in action with
relays of artificers and seamen。 The work commenced upon the higher
parts of the foundation as the water left them； but it was now pretty
generally reduced to a level。 About twenty men could be conveniently
employed at each pump； and it is quite astonishing in how short a time so
great a body of water could be drawn off。 The water in the foundation…
pit at this time measured about two feet in depth； on an area of forty…two
feet in diameter； and yet it was drawn off in the course of about half an
hour。 After this the artificers commenced with their picks and continued
at work for two hours and a half； some of the sailors being at the same
time busily employed in clearing the foundation of chips and in conveying
the irons to and from the smiths on the beacon； where they were sharped。
At eight o'clock the sea broke in upon us and overflowed the foundation…
pit； when the boats returned to the tender。
＇Thursday； 7th July＇
The landing…master's bell rung this morning about four o'clock； and at
half…past five； the foundation being cleared； the work co
