records of a family of engineers(一个工程师的家庭)-第34章
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individuals who for years conducted themselves； on all occasions； in a
sober and rational manner。
IV … OPERATIONS OF 1810
＇Thursday； 10th May＇
The wind had shifted to…day to W。N。W。； when the writer； with
considerable difficulty； was enabled to land upon the rock for the first time
this season； at ten a。m。 Upon examining the state of the building； and
apparatus in general； he had the satisfaction to find everything in good
order。 The mortar in all the joints was perfectly entire。 The building；
now thirty feet in height； was thickly coated with FUCI to the height of
about fifteen feet； calculating from the rock： on the eastern side； indeed；
the growth of seaweed was observable to the full height of thirty feet； and
even on the top or upper bed of the last…laid course； especially towards the
eastern side； it had germinated； so as to render walking upon it somewhat
difficult。
The beacon…house was in a perfectly sound state； and apparently just
as it had been left in the month of November。 But the tides being neap； the
lower parts； particularly where the beams rested on the rock； could not
now be seen。 The floor of the mortar gallery having been already laid
down by Mr。 Watt and his men on a former visit； was merely soaked with
the sprays； but the joisting…beams which supported it had； in the course of
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the winter； been covered with a fine downy conferva produced by the
range of the sea。 They were also a good deal whitened with the mute of
the cormorant and other sea…fowls； which had roosted upon the beacon in
winter。 Upon ascending to the apartments； it was found that the motion
of the sea had thrown open the door of the cook…house： this was only shut
with a single latch； that in case of shipwreck at the Bell Rock the mariner
might find ready access to the shelter of this forlorn habitation； where a
supply of provisions was kept； and being within two miles and a half of
the floating light； a signal could readily be observed； when a boat might be
sent to his relief as the weather permitted。 An arrangement for this
purpose formed one of the instructions on board of the floating light； but
happily no instance occurred for putting it in practice。 The hearth or
fireplace of the cook…house was built of brick in as secure a manner as
possible； to prevent accident from fire； but some of the plaster…work had
shaken loose； from its damp state and the tremulous motion of the beacon
in stormy weather。 The writer next ascended to the floor which was
occupied by the cabins of himself and his assistants； which were in
tolerably good order； having only a damp and musty smell。 The barrack
for the artificers； over all； was next visited； it had now a very dreary and
deserted appearance when its former thronged state was recollected。 In
some parts the water had come through the boarding； and had discoloured
the lining of green cloth； but it was； nevertheless； in a good habitable
condition。 While the seamen were employed in landing a stock of
provisions； a few of the artificers set to work with great eagerness to
sweep and clean the several apartments。 The exterior of the beacon was；
in the meantime； examined； and found in perfect order。 The painting；
though it had a somewhat blanched appearance； adhered firmly both on
the sides and roof； and only two or three panes of glass were broken in the
cupola； which had either been blown out by the force of the wind； or
perhaps broken by sea…fowl。
Having on this occasion continued upon the building and beacon a
considerable time after the tide had begun to flow； the artificers were
occupied in removing the forge from the top of the building； to which the
gangway or wooden bridge gave great facility； and； although it stretched
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or had a span of forty…two feet； its construction was extremely simple；
while the road…way was perfectly firm and steady。 In returning from this
visit to the rock every one was pretty well soused in spray before reaching
the tender at two o'clock p。m。； where things awaited the landing party in as
comfortable a way as such a situation would admit。
＇Friday； 11th May＇
The wind was still easterly； accompanied with rather a heavy swell of
sea for the operations in hand。 A landing was； however； made this
morning； when the artificers were immediately employed in scraping the
seaweed off the upper course of the building； in order to apply the moulds
of the first course of the staircase； that the joggle…holes might be marked
off in the upper course of the solid。 This was also necessary previously
to the writer's fixing the position of the entrance door； which was regulated
chiefly by the appearance of the growth of the seaweed on the building；
indicating the direction of the heaviest seas； on the opposite side of which
the door was placed。 The landing…master's crew succeeded in towing into
the creek on the western side of the rock the praam…boat with the balance…
crane； which had now been on board of the praam for five days。 The
several pieces of this machine； having been conveyed along the railways
upon the waggons to a position immediately under the bridge； were
elevated to its level； or thirty feet above the rock； in the following manner。
A chain…tackle was suspended over a pulley from the cross…beam
connecting the tops of the kingposts of the bridge； which was worked by a
winch…machine with wheel； pinion； and barrel； round which last the chain
was wound。 This apparatus was placed on the beacon side of the bridge； at
the distance of about twelve feet from the cross…beam and pulley in the
middle of the bridge。 Immediately under the cross…beam a hatch was
formed in the roadway of the bridge； measuring seven feet in length and
five feet in breadth； made to shut with folding boards like a double door；
through which stones and other articles were raised； the folding doors
were then let down； and the stone or load was gently lowered upon a
waggon which was wheeled on railway trucks towards the lighthouse。 In
this manner the several castings of the balance…crane were got up to the
top of the solid of the building。
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The several apartments of the beacon…house having been cleaned out
and supplied with bedding； a sufficient stock of provisions was put into
the store； when Peter Fortune； formerly noticed； lighted his fire in the
beacon for the first time this season。 Sixteen artificers at the same time
mounted to their barrack…room； and all the foremen of the works also took
possession of their cabin； all heartily rejoiced at getting rid of the trouble
of boating and the sickly motion of the tender。
＇Saturday； 12th May＇
The wind was at E。N。E。； blowing so fresh； and accompanied with so
much sea； that no stones could be landed to…day。 The people on the rock；
however； were busily employed in screwing together the balance…crane；
cutting out the joggle…holes in the upper course； and preparing all things
for commencing the building operations。
＇Sunday； 13th May＇
The weather still continues boisterous； although the barometer has all
the while stood at about 30 inches。 Towards evening the wind blew so
fresh at E。 by S。 that the boats both of the SMEATON and tender were
obliged to be hoisted in； and it was feared that the SMEATON would have
to slip her moorings。 The people on the rock were seen busily employed；
and had the balance…crane apparently ready for use； but no communication
could be had with them to…day。
＇Monday； 14th May＇
The wind continued to blow so fresh； and the SMEATON rode so
heavily with her cargo； that at noon a signal was made for her getting
under weigh； when she stood towards Arbroath； and on board of the tender
we are still without any communication with the people on the rock； where
the sea was seen breaking over the top of the building in great sprays； and
raging with much agitation among the beams of the beacon。
＇Thursday； 17th May＇
The wind； in the course of the day； had shifted from north to west； the
sea being also considerably less； a boat landed on the rock at six p。m。； for
the first time since the 11th； with the provisions and water brought off by
the PATRIOT。 The inhabitants of the beacon were all well； but tired
above measure for want of employment； as the balance… crane and
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apparatus was all in readiness。 Under these circumstances they felt no
less desirous of the return of good weather than those afloat； who were
continually tossed with the agitation of the sea。 The writer； in particular；
felt himself almost as much fatigued and worn…out as he had been at any
period since the commencement of the work。 The very backward state of
the weather at so advanced a period of the season unavoidably created
some alarm； lest he should be overtaken with bad weather at a late period
of the season； with the building operations in an unfinished state。 These
apprehensions were； no doubt； rather increased by the inconveniences of
his situation afloat； as the tender rolled and pitched excessively at times。
This being also his first off…set for the season； every bone of his body felt
