records of a family of engineers(一个工程师的家庭)-第33章
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Board of Customs at Edinburgh。 But such were the doubts entertained
on the subject that； on having previously received the appeal from the
collector at Montrose； the case had been submitted to the consideration of
the Lords of the Treasury； whose decision was now waited for。
In this state of things the writer felt particularly desirous to get the
thirteenth course finished； that the building might be in a more secure state
in the event of bad weather。 An opportunity was therefore embraced on
the 25th； in sailing with provisions for the floating light； to carry the
necessary stones to the rock for this purpose； which were landed and built
on the 26th and 27th。 But so closely was the watch kept up that a
Custom…house officer was always placed on board of the SMEATON and
PATRIOT while they were afloat； till the embargo was especially removed
from the lighthouse vessels。 The artificers at the Bell Rock had been
reduced to fifteen； who were regularly supplied with provisions； along
with the crew of the floating light； mainly through the port officer's liberal
interpretation of his orders。
＇Tuesday； 1st Aug。＇
There being a considerable swell and breach of sea upon the rock
yesterday； the stones could not be got landed till the day following； when
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the wind shifted to the southward and the weather improved。 But to…day
no less than seventy…eight blocks of stone were landed； of which forty
were built； which completed the fourteenth and part of the fifteenth
courses。 The number of workmen now resident in the beacon…house was
augmented to twenty…four； including the landing…master's crew from the
tender and the boat's crew from the floating light； who assisted at landing
the stones。 Those daily at work upon the rock at this period amounted to
forty…six。 A cabin had been laid out for the writer on the beacon； but his
apartment had been the last which was finished； and he had not yet taken
possession of it； for though he generally spent the greater part of the day；
at this time； upon the rock； yet he always slept on board of the tender。
＇Friday； 11th Aug。＇
The wind was at S。 E。 on the 11th； and there was so very heavy a swell
of sea upon the rock that no boat could approach it。
＇Saturday； 12th Aug。＇
The gale still continuing from the S。E。； the sea broke with great
violence both upon the building and the beacon。 The former being twenty…
three feet in height； the upper part of the crane erected on it having been
lifted from course to course as the building advanced； was now about
thirty…six feet above the rock。 From observations made on the rise of the
sea by this crane； the artificers were enabled to estimate its height to be
about fifty feet above the rock； while the sprays fell with a most alarming
noise upon their cabins。 At low… water； in the evening； a signal was made
from the beacon； at the earnest desire of some of the artificers； for the
boats to come to the rock； and although this could not be effected without
considerable hazard； it was； however； accomplished； when twelve of their
number； being much afraid； applied to the foreman to be relieved； and
went on board of the tender。 But the remaining fourteen continued on the
rock； with Mr。 Peter Logan； the foreman builder。 Although this rule of
allowing an option to every man either to remain on the rock or return to
the tender was strictly adhered to； yet； as it would have been extremely
inconvenient to have the men parcelled out in this manner； it became
necessary to embrace the first opportunity of sending those who had left
the beacon to the workyard； with as little appearance of intention as
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possible； lest it should hurt their feelings； or prevent others from acting
according to their wishes； either in landing on the rock or remaining on the
beacon。
＇Tuesday； 15th Aug。＇
The wind had fortunately shifted to the S。W。 this morning； and though
a considerable breach was still upon the rock； yet the landing…master's
crew were enabled to get one praam…boat； lightly loaded with five stones；
brought in safety to the western creek； these stones were immediately laid
by the artificers； who gladly embraced the return of good weather to
proceed with their operations。 The writer had this day taken possession
of his cabin in the beacon…house。 It was small； but commodious； and was
found particularly convenient in coarse and blowing weather； instead of
being obliged to make a passage to the tender in an open boat at all times；
both during the day and the night； which was often attended with much
difficulty and danger。
＇Saturday； 19th Aug。＇
For some days past the weather had been occasionally so thick and
foggy that no small difficulty was experienced in going even between the
rock and the tender； though quite at hand。 But the floating light's boat
lost her way so far in returning on board that the first land she made； after
rowing all night； was Fifeness； a distance of about fourteen miles。 The
weather having cleared in the morning； the crew stood off again for the
floating light； and got on board in a half… famished and much exhausted
state； having been constantly rowing for about sixteen hours。
＇Sunday； 20th Aug。＇
The weather being very favourable to…day； fifty…three stones were
landed； and the builders were not a little gratified in having built the
twenty…second course； consisting of fifty…one stones； being the first course
which had been completed in one day。 This； as a matter of course；
produced three hearty cheers。 At twelve noon prayers were read for the
first time on the Bell Rock； those present； counting thirty； were crowded
into the upper apartment of the beacon； where the writer took a central
position； while two of the artificers； joining hands； supported the Bible。
＇Friday； 25th Aug。＇
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To…day the artificers laid forty…five stones； which completed the
twenty…fourth course； reckoning above the first entire one； and the twenty…
sixth above the rock。 This finished the solid part of the building； and
terminated the height of the outward casing of granite； which is thirty…one
feet six inches above the rock or site of the foundation… stone； and about
seventeen feet above high…water of spring… tides。 Being a particular crisis
in the progress of the lighthouse； the landing and laying of the last stone
for the season was observed with the usual ceremonies。
From observations often made by the writer； in so far as such can be
ascertained； it appears that no wave in the open seas； in an unbroken state；
rises more than from seven to nine feet above the general surface of the
ocean。 The Bell Rock Lighthouse may therefore now be considered at
from eight to ten feet above the height of the waves； and； although the
sprays and heavy seas have often been observed； in the present state of the
building； to rise to the height of fifty feet； and fall with a tremendous noise
on the beacon…house； yet such seas were not likely to make any impression
on a mass of solid masonry； containing about 1400 tons；
＇Wednesday； 30th Aug。＇
The whole of the artificers left the rock at mid…day； when the tender
made sail for Arbroath； which she reached about six p。m。 The vessel
being decorated with colours； and having fired a salute of three guns on
approaching the harbour； the workyard artificers； with a multitude of
people； assembled at the harbour； when mutual cheering and
congratulations took place between those afloat and those on the quays。
The tender had now； with little exception； been six months on the station
at the Bell Rock； and during the last four months few of the squad of
builders had been ashore。 In particular； Mr。 Peter Logan； the foreman； and
Mr。 Robert Selkirk； principal builder； had never once left the rock。 The
artificers； having made good wages during their stay； like seamen upon a
return voyage； were extremely happy； and spent the evening with much
innocent mirth and jollity。
In reflecting upon the state of the matters at the Bell Rock during the
working months； when the writer was much with the artificers； nothing
can equal the happy manner in which these excellent workmen spent their
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time。 They always went from Arbroath to their arduous task cheering
and they generally returned in the same hearty state。 While at the rock；
between the tides； they amused themselves in reading； fishing； music；
playing cards； draughts； etc。； or in sporting with one another。 In the
workyard at Arbroath the young men were almost； without exception；
employed in the evening at school； in writing and arithmetic； and not a
few were learning architectural drawing； for which they had every
convenience and facility； and were； in a very obliging manner； assisted in
their studies by Mr。 David Logan； clerk of the works。 It therefore affords
the most pleasing reflections to look back upon the pursuits of about sixty
individuals who for years conducted themselves； on all occasions； in a
sober and rational manner。
