records of a family of engineers(一个工程师的家庭)-第36章
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his writing…desk set upon the storeroom floor； when he wrote to Mrs。
Stevenson … certainly the first letter dated from the Bell Rock
LIGHTHOUSE … giving a detail of the fortunate progress of the work with
an assurance that the lighthouse would soon be completed at the rate at
which it now proceeded； and； the PATRIOT having sailed for Arbroath in
the evening； he felt no small degree of pleasure in despatching this
communication to his family。
The weather still continuing favourable for the operations at the rock；
the work proceeded with much energy； through the exertions both of the
seamen and artificers。 For the more speedy and effectual working of the
several tackles in raising the materials as the building advanced in height；
and there being a great extent of railway to attend to； which required
constant repairs； two additional millwrights were added to the complement
on the rock； which； including the writer； now counted thirty…one in all。
So crowded was the men's barrack that the beds were ranged five tier in
height； allowing only about one foot eight inches for each bed。 The
artificers commenced this morning at five o'clock； and； in the course of the
day； they laid the forty…eighth and forty…ninth courses； consisting each of
sixteen blocks。 From the favourable state of the weather； and the regular
manner in which the work now proceeded； the artificers had generally
from four to seven extra hours' work； which； including their stated wages
of 3s。 4d。； yielded them from 5s。 4d。 to about 6s。 10d。 per day besides their
board； even the postage of their letters was paid while they were at the
Bell Rock。 In these advantages the foremen also shared； having about
double the pay and amount of premiums of the artificers。 The seamen
being less out of their element in the Bell Rock operations than the
landsmen； their premiums consisted in a slump sum payable at the end of
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the season； which extended from three to ten guineas。
As the laying of the floors was somewhat tedious； the landing…master
and his crew had got considerably beforehand with the building artificers
in bringing materials faster to the rock than they could be built。 The
seamen having； therefore； some spare time； were occasionally employed
during fine weather in dredging or grappling for the several mushroom
anchors and mooring…chains which had been lost in the vicinity of the Bell
Rock during the progress of the work by the breaking loose and drifting of
the floating buoys。 To encourage their exertions in this search； five
guineas were offered as a premium for each set they should find； and； after
much patient application； they succeeded to…day in hooking one of these
lost anchors with its chain。
It was a general remark at the Bell Rock； as before noticed； that fish
were never plenty in its neighbourhood excepting in good weather。
Indeed； the seamen used to speculate about the state of the weather from
their success in fishing。 When the fish disappeared at the rock； it was
considered a sure indication that a gale was not far off； as the fish seemed
to seek shelter in deeper water from the roughness of the sea during these
changes in the weather。 At this time the rock； at high…water； was
completely covered with podlies； or the fry of the coal…fish； about six or
eight inches in length。 The artificers sometimes occupied half an hour
after breakfast and dinner in catching these little fishes； but were more
frequently supplied from the boats of the tender。
＇Saturday； 16th June＇
The landing…master having this day discharged the SMEATON and
loaded the HEDDERWICK AND DICKIE praam…boats with nineteen
stones； they were towed to their respective moorings； when Captain
Wilson； in consequence of the heavy swell of sea； came in his boat to the
beacon…house to consult with the writer as to the propriety of venturing the
loaded praam…boats with their cargoes to the rock while so much sea was
running。 After some dubiety expressed on the subject； in which the ardent
mind of the landing…master suggested many arguments in favour of his
being able to convey the praams in perfect safety； it was acceded to。 In
bad weather； and especially on occasions of difficulty like the present； Mr。
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Wilson； who was an extremely active seaman； measuring about five feet
three inches in height； of a robust habit； generally dressed himself in what
he called a MONKEY JACKET； made of thick duffle cloth； with a pair of
Dutchman's petticoat trousers； reaching only to his knees； where they were
met with a pair of long water…tight boots； with this dress； his glazed hat；
and his small brass speaking trumpet in his hand； he bade defiance to the
weather。 When he made his appearance in this most suitable attire for the
service his crew seemed to possess additional life； never failing to use
their utmost exertions when the captain put on his STORM RIGGING。
They had this morning commenced loading the praam…boats at four
o'clock； and proceeded to tow them into the eastern landing…place； which
was accomplished with much dexterity； though not without the risk of
being thrown； by the force of the sea； on certain projecting ledges of the
rock。 In such a case the loss even of a single stone would have greatly
retarded the work。 For the greater safety in entering the creek it was
necessary to put out several warps and guy…ropes to guide the boats into its
narrow and intricate entrance； and it frequently happened that the sea
made a clean breach over the praams； which not only washed their decks；
but completely drenched the crew in water。
＇Sunday； 17th June＇
It was fortunate； in the present state of the weather； that the fiftieth
course was in a sheltered spot； within the reach of the tackle of the winch…
machine upon the bridge； a few stones were stowed upon the bridge itself；
and the remainder upon the building； which kept the artificers at work。
The stowing of the materials upon the rock was the department of
Alexander Brebner； mason； who spared no pains in attending to the safety
of the stones； and who； in the present state of the work； when the stones
were landed faster than could be built； generally worked till the water rose
to his middle。 At one o'clock to…day the bell rung for prayers； and all
hands were collected into the upper barrack…room of the beacon…house；
when the usual service was performed。
The wind blew very hard in the course of last night from N。E。； and to…
day the sea ran so high that no boat could approach the rock。 During the
dinner…hour； when the writer was going to the top of the building as usual；
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but just as he had entered the door and was about to ascend the ladder； a
great noise was heard overhead； and in an instant he was soused in water
from a sea which had most unexpectedly come over the walls； though now
about fifty…eight feet in height。 On making his retreat he found himself
completely whitened by the lime； which had mixed with the water while
dashing down through the different floors； and； as nearly as he could guess；
a quantity equal to about a hogshead had come over the walls； and now
streamed out at the door。 After having shifted himself； he again sat down
in his cabin； the sea continuing to run so high that the builders did not
resume their operations on the walls this afternoon。 The incident just
noticed did not create more surprise in the mind of the writer than the
sublime appearance of the waves as they rolled majestically over the rock。
This scene he greatly enjoyed while sitting at his cabin window； each
wave approached the beacon like a vast scroll unfolding； and in passing
discharged a quantity of air； which he not only distinctly felt； but was even
sufficient to lift the leaves of a book which lay before him。 These waves
might be ten or twelve feet in height； and about 250 feet in length； their
smaller end being towards the north； where the water was deep； and they
were opened or cut through by the interposition of the building and beacon。
The gradual manner in which the sea； upon these occasions； is observed to
become calm or to subside； is a very remarkable feature of this
phenomenon。 For example； when a gale is succeeded by a calm； every
third or fourth wave forms one of these great seas； which occur in spaces
of from three to five minutes； as noted by the writer's watch； but in the
course of the next tide they become less frequent； and take off so as to
occur only in ten or fifteen minutes； and； singular enough； at the third tide
after such gales； the writer has remarked that only one or two of these
great waves appear in the course of the whole tide。
＇Tuesday； 19th June＇
The 19th was a very unpleasant and disagreeable day； both for the
seamen and artificers； as it rained throughout with little intermission from
four a。m。 till eleven p。m。； accompanied with thunder and lightning； during
which period the work nevertheless continued unremittingly； and the
builders laid the fifty…first and fifty…second courses。 This state of weather
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was no less severe upon the mor
