records of a family of engineers(一个工程师的家庭)-第39章
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a single book； the Sacred Volume … whether considered for the striking
diversity of its story； the morality of its doctrine； or the important truths of
its gospel … would have proved by far the greatest treasure。
＇Monday； 2nd July＇
In walking over the workyard at Arbroath this morning； the writer
found that the stones of the course immediately under the cornice were all
in hand； and that a week's work would now finish the whole； while the
intermediate courses lay ready numbered and marked for shipping to the
rock。 Among other subjects which had occupied his attention to…day was
a visit from some of the relations of George Dall； a young man who had
been impressed near Dundee in the month of February last； a dispute had
arisen between the magistrates of that burgh and the Regulating Officer as
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to his right of impressing Dall； who was BONA FIDE one of the protected
seamen in the Bell Rock service。 In the meantime； the poor lad was
detained； and ultimately committed to the prison of Dundee； to remain
until the question should be tried before the Court of Session。 His friends
were naturally very desirous to have him relieved upon bail。 But； as this
was only to be done by the judgment of the Court； all that could be said
was that his pay and allowances should be continued in the same manner
as if he had been upon the sick…list。 The circumstances of Dall's case
were briefly these：… He had gone to see some of his friends in the
neighbourhood of Dundee； in winter； while the works were suspended；
having got leave of absence from Mr。 Taylor； who commanded the Bell
Rock tender； and had in his possession one of the Protection Medals。
Unfortunately； however； for Dall； the Regulating Officer thought proper to
disregard these documents； as； according to the strict and literal
interpretation of the Admiralty regulations； a seaman does not stand
protected unless he is actually on board of his ship； or in a boat belonging
to her； or has the Admiralty protection in his possession。 This order of
the Board； however； cannot be rigidly followed in practice； and therefore；
when the matter is satisfactorily stated to the Regulating Officer； the
impressed man is generally liberated。 But in Dall's case this was
peremptorily refused； and he was retained at the instance of the
magistrates。 The writer having brought the matter under the
consideration of the Commissioners of the Northern Lighthouses； they
authorised it to be tried on the part of the Lighthouse Board； as one of
extreme hardship。 The Court； upon the first hearing； ordered Dall to be
liberated from prison； and the proceedings never went further。
＇Wednesday； 4th July＇
Being now within twelve courses of being ready for building the
cornice； measures were taken for getting the stones of it and the parapet…
wall of the light…room brought from Edinburgh； where； as before noticed；
they had been prepared and were in readiness for shipping。 The honour
of conveying the upper part of the lighthouse； and of landing the last stone
of the building on the rock； was considered to belong to Captain Pool of
the SMEATON； who had been longer in the service than the master of the
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PATRIOT。 The SMEATON was； therefore； now partly loaded with old
iron； consisting of broken railways and other lumber which had been lying
about the rock。 After landing these at Arbroath； she took on board James
Craw； with his horse and cart； which could now be spared at the workyard；
to be employed in carting the stones from Edinburgh to Leith。 Alexander
Davidson and William Kennedy； two careful masons； were also sent to
take charge of the loading of the stones at Greenside； and stowing them on
board of the vessel at Leith。 The writer also went on board； with a view
to call at the Bell Rock and to take his passage up the Firth of Forth。 The
wind； however； coming to blow very fresh from the eastward； with thick
and foggy weather； it became necessary to reef the mainsail and set the
second jib。 When in the act of making a tack towards the tender； the
sailors who worked the head…sheets were； all of a sudden； alarmed with the
sound of the smith's hammer and anvil on the beacon； and had just time to
put the ship about to save her from running ashore on the northwestern
point of the rock； marked ‘James Craw's Horse。' On looking towards the
direction from whence the sound came； the building and beacon…house
were seen； with consternation； while the ship was hailed by those on the
rock； who were no less confounded at seeing the near approach of the
SMEATON； and； just as the vessel cleared the danger； the smith and those
in the mortar gallery made signs in token of their happiness at our
fortunate escape。 From this occurrence the writer had an experimental
proof of the utility of the large bells which were in preparation to be rung
by the machinery of the revolving light； for； had it not been the sound of
the smith's anvil； the SMEATON； in all probability； would have been
wrecked upon the rock。 In case the vessel had struck； those on board
might have been safe； having now the beacon… house； as a place of refuge；
but the vessel； which was going at a great velocity； must have suffered
severely； and it was more than probable that the horse would have been
drowned； there being no means of getting him out of the vessel。 Of this
valuable animal and his master we shall take an opportunity of saying
more in another place。
＇Thursday； 5th July＇
The weather cleared up in the course of the night； but the wind shifted
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to the N。E。 and blew very fresh。 From the force of the wind； being now
the period of spring…tides； a very heavy swell was experienced at the rock。
At two o'clock on the following morning the people on the beacon were in
a state of great alarm about their safety； as the sea had broke up part of the
floor of the mortar gallery！； which was thus cleared of the lime…casks and
other buoyant articles； and； the alarm…bell being rung； all hands were
called to render what assistance was in their power for the safety of
themselves and the materials。 At this time some would willingly have
left the beacon and gone into the building： the sea； however； ran so high
that there was no passage along the bridge of communication； and； when
the interior of the lighthouse came to be examined in the morning； it
appeared that great quantities of water had come over the walls … now
eighty feet in height … and had run down through the several apartments
and out at the entrance door。
The upper course of the lighthouse at the workyard of Arbroath was
completed on the 6th； and the whole of the stones were； therefore； now
ready for being shipped to the rock。 From the present state of the works it
was impossible that the two squads of artificers at Arbroath and the Bell
Rock could meet together at this period； and as in public works of this
kind； which had continued for a series of years； it is not customary to
allow the men to separate without what is termed a 〃finishing…pint；〃 five
guineas were for this purpose placed at the disposal of Mr。 David Logan；
clerk of works。 With this sum the stone…cutters at Arbroath had a merry
meeting in their barrack； collected their sweethearts and friends； and
concluded their labours with a dance。 It was remarked； however； that
their happiness on this occasion was not without alloy。 The consideration
of parting and leaving a steady and regular employment； to go in quest of
work and mix with other society； after having been harmoniously lodged
for years together in one large 〃guildhall or barrack；〃 was rather painful。
＇Friday； 6th July＇
While the writer was at Edinburgh he was fortunate enough to meet
with Mrs。 Dickson； only daughter of the late celebrated Mr。 Smeaton；
whose works at the Eddystone Lighthouse had been of such essential
consequence to the operations at the Bell Rock。 Even her own elegant
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accomplishments are identified with her father's work； she having herself
made the drawing of the vignette on the title… page of the NARRATIVE
OF THE EDDYSTONE LIGHTHOUSE。 Every admirer of the works of
that singularly eminent man must also feel an obligation to her for the very
comprehensive and distinct account given of his life； which is attached to
his reports； published； in three volumes quarto； by the Society of Civil
Engineers。 Mrs。 Dickson； being at this time returning from a tour to the
Hebrides and Western Highlands of Scotland； had heard of the Bell Rock
works； and from their similarity to those of the Eddystone was strongly
impressed with a desire of visiting the spot。 But on inquiring for the
writer at Edinburgh； and finding from him that the upper part of the
lighthouse； consisting of nine courses； might be seen in the immediate
vicinity； and also that one of the vessels which； in compliment to her
father's memory；
