records of a family of engineers-第21章

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heir　dung；　and　their　flight；　as　the　boats　approached；　was　a　very　unlooked…for　indication　of　life　and　habitation　on　the　Bell　Rock；　conveying　the　momentary　idea　of　the　conversion　of　this　fatal　rock；　from　being　a　terror　to　the　mariner；　into　a　residence　of　man　and　a　safeguard　to　shipping。

Upon　narrowly　examining　the　great　iron　stanchions　with　which　the　beams　were　fixed　to　the　rock；　the　writer　had　the　satisfaction　of　finding　that　there　was　not　the　least　appearance　of　working　or　shifting　at　any　of　the　joints　or　places　of　connection；　and；　excepting　the　loosening　of　the　bracing…chains；　everything　was　found　in　the　same　entire　state　in　which　it　had　been　left　in　the　month　of　October。　　This；　in　the　estimation　of　the　writer；　was　a　matter　of　no　small　importance　to　the　future　success　of　the　work。　　He　from　that　moment　saw　the　practicability　and　propriety　of　fitting　up　the　beacon；　not　only　as　a　place　of　refuge　in　case　of　accident　to　the　boats　in　landing；　but　as　a　residence　for　the　artificers　during　the　working　months。

While　upon　the　top　of　the　beacon　the　writer　was　reminded　by　the　landing…master　that　the　sea　was　running　high；　and　that　it　would　be　necessary　to　set　off　while　the　rock　afforded　anything　like　shelter　to　the　boats；　which　by　this　time　had　been　made　fast　by　a　long　line　to　the　beacon；　and　rode　with　much　agitation；　each　requiring　two　men　with　boat…hooks　to　keep　them　from　striking　each　other；　or　from　ranging　up　against　the　beacon。　　But　even　under　these　circumstances　the　greatest　confidence　was　felt　by　every　one；　from　the　security　afforded　by　this　temporary　erection。　　For；　supposing　the　wind　had　suddenly　increased　to　a　gale；　and　that　it　had　been　found　unadvisable　to　go　into　the　boats；　or；　supposing　they　had　drifted　or　sprung　a　leak　from　striking　upon　the　rocks；　in　any　of　these　possible　and　not　at　all　improbable　cases；　those　who　might　thus　have　been　left　upon　the　rock　had　now　something　to　lay　hold　of；　and；　though　occupying　this　dreary　habitation　of　the　sea…gull　and　the　cormorant；　affording　only　bread　and　water；　yet　LIFE；　would　be　preserved；　and　the　mind　would　still　be　supported　by　the　hope　of　being　ultimately　relieved。

＇Wednesday；　25th　May＇

On　the　25th　of　May　the　writer　embarked　at　Arbroath；　on　board　of　the　SIR　JOSEPH　BANKS；　for　the　Bell　Rock；　accompanied　by　Mr。　Logan　senior；　foreman　builder；　with　twelve　masons　and　two　smiths；　together　with　thirteen　seamen；　including　the　master；　mate；　and　steward。

＇Thursday；　26th　May＇

Mr。　James　Wilson；　now　commander　of　the　PHAROS；　floating　light；　and　landing…master；　in　the　room　of　Mr。　Sinclair；　who　had　left　the　service；　came　into　the　writer's　cabin　this　morning　at　six　o'clock；　and　intimated　that　there　was　a　good　appearance　of　landing　on　the　rock。　　Everything　being　arranged；　both　boats　proceeded　in　company；　and　at　eight　a。m。　they　reached　the　rock。　　The　lighthouse　colours　were　immediately　hoisted　upon　the　flagstaff　of　the　beacon；　a　compliment　which　was　duly　returned　by　the　tender　and　floating　light；　when　three　hearty　cheers　were　given；　and　a　glass　of　rum　was　served　out　to　all　hands　to　drink　success　to　the　operations　of　1808。

＇Friday；　27th　May＇

This　morning　the　wind　was　at　east；　blowing　a　fresh　gale；　the　weather　being　hazy；　with　a　considerable　breach　of　sea　setting　in　upon　the　rock。　　The　morning　bell　was　therefore　rung；　in　some　doubt　as　to　the　practicability　of　making　a　landing。　　After　allowing　the　rock　to　get　fully　up；　or　to　be　sufficiently　left　by　the　tide；　that　the　boats　might　have　some　shelter　from　the　range　of　the　sea；　they　proceeded　at　8　a。m。；　and　upon　the　whole　made　a　pretty　good　landing；　and　after　two　hours　and　three…quarters'　work　returned　to　the　ship　in　safety。

In　the　afternoon　the　wind　considerably　increased；　and；　as　a　pretty　heavy　sea　was　still　running；　the　tender　rode　very　hard；　when　Mr。　Taylor；　the　commander；　found　it　necessary　to　take　in　the　bowsprit；　and　strike　the　fore　and　main　topmasts；　that　she　might　ride　more　easily。　　After　consulting　about　the　state　of　the　weather；　it　was　resolved　to　leave　the　artificers　on　board　this　evening；　and　carry　only　the　smiths　to　the　rock；　as　the　sharpening　of　the　irons　was　rather　behind；　from　their　being　so　much　broken　and　blunted　by　the　hard　and　tough　nature　of　the　rock；　which　became　much　more　compact　and　hard　as　the　depth　of　excavation　was　increased。　　Besides　avoiding　the　risk　of　encumbering　the　boats　with　a　number　of　men　who　had　not　yet　got　the　full　command　of　the　oar　in　a　breach　of　sea；　the　writer　had　another　motive　for　leaving　them　behind。　　He　wanted　to　examine　the　site　of　the　building　without　interruption；　and　to　take　the　comparative　levels　of　the　different　inequalities　of　its　area；　and　as　it　would　have　been　painful　to　have　seen　men　standing　idle　upon　the　Bell　Rock；　where　all　moved　with　activity；　it　was　judged　better　to　leave　them　on　board。　　The　boats　landed　at　half…past　seven　p。m。；　and　the　landing…master；　with　the　seamen；　was　employed　during　this　tide　in　cutting　the　seaweeds　from　the　several　paths　leading　to　the　landing…places；　to　render　walking　more　safe；　for；　from　the　slippery　state　of　the　surface　of　the　rock；　many　severe　tumbles　had　taken　place。　In　the　meantime　the　writer　took　the　necessary　levels；　and　having　carefully　examined　the　site　of　the　building　and　considered　all　its　parts；　it　still　appeared　to　be　necessary　to　excavate　to　the　average　depth　of　fourteen　inches　over　the　whole　area　of　the　foundation。

＇Saturday；　28th　May＇

The　wind　still　continued　from　the　eastward　with　a　heavy　swell；　and　to…day　it　was　accompanied　with　foggy　weather　and　occasional　showers　of　rain。　　Notwithstanding　this；　such　was　the　confidence　which　the　erection　of　the　beacon　had　inspired　that　the　boats　landed　the　artificers　on　the　rock　under　very　unpromising　circumstances；　at　half…past　eight；　and　they　continued　at　work　till　half…past　eleven；　being　a　period　of　three　hours；　which　was　considered　a　great　tide's　work　in　the　present　low　state　of　the　foundation。　　Three　of　the　masons　on　board　were　so　afflicted　with　sea…sickness　that　they　had　not　been　able　to　take　any　food　for　almost　three　days；　and　they　were　literally　assisted　into　the　boats　this　morning　by　their　companions。　　It　was；　however；　not　a　little　surprising　to　see　how　speedily　these　men　revived　upon　landing　on　the　rock　and　eating　a　little　dulse。　　Two　of　them　afterwards　assisted　the　sailors　in　collecting　the　chips　of　stone　and　carrying　them　out　of　the　way　of　the　pickmen；　but　the　third　complained　of　a　pain　in　his　head；　and　was　still　unable　to　do　anything。　　Instead　of　returning　to　the　tender　with　the　boats；　these　three　men　remained　on　the　beacon　all　day；　and　had　their　victuals　sent　to　them　along　with　the　smiths'。　　From　Mr。　Dove；　the　foreman　smith；　they　had　much　sympathy；　for　he　preferred　remaining　on　the　beacon　at　all　hazards；　to　be　himself　relieved　from　the　malady　of　sea…sickness。　　The　wind　continuing　high；　with　a　heavy　sea；　and　the　tide　falling　late；　it　was　not　judged　proper　to　land　the　artificers　this　evening；　but　in　the　twilight　the　boats　were　sent　to　fetch　the　people　on　board　who　had　been　left　on　the　rock。

＇Sunday；　29th　May＇

The　wind　was　from　the　S。W。　to…day；　and　the　signal…bell　rung；　as　usual；　about　an　hour　before　the　period　for　landing　on　the　rock。　　The　writer　was　rather　surprised；　however；　to　hear　the　landing…master　repeatedly　call；　‘All　hands　for　the　rock！'　and；　coming　on　deck；　he　was　disappointed　to　find　the　seamen　only　in　the　boats。　　Upon　inquiry；　it　appeared　that　some　misunderstanding　had　taken　place　about　the　wages　of　the　artificers　for　Sundays。　　They　had　preferred　wages　for　seven　days　statedly　to　the　former　mode　of　allowing　a　day　for　each　tide's　work　on　Sunday；　as　they　did　not　like　the　appearance　of　working　for　double　or　even　treble　wages　on　Sunday；　and　would　rather　have　it　understood　that　their　work　on　that　day　arose　more　from　the　urgency　of　the　case　than　with　a　view　to　emolument。　　This　having　been　judged　creditable　to　their　religious　feelings；　and　readily　adjusted　to　their　wish；　the　boats　proceeded　to　the　rock；　and　the　work　commenced　at　nine　a。m。

＇Monday；　30th　May＇

Mr。　Francis　Watt　commenced；　with　five　joiners；　to　fit　up　a　temporary　platform　upon　the　beacon；　about　twenty…five　feet　above　the　highest　part　of　the　rock。　　This　platform　was　to　be　used　as　the　site　of　the　smith's　forge；　after　the　beacon　should　be　fitted　up　as　a　barrack；　and　here　also　the　mortar　was　to　be　mixed　and　prepared　for　the　building；　and　it　was　accordingly　termed　the　Mortar　Gallery。

The　landing…master's　crew　completed　the　discharging　from　the　SMEATON　of　her　cargo　of　the　cast…iron　rails　and　timber。　It　must　not　here　be　omitted　to　notice　that　the　SMEATON　took　in　ballast　from　the　Bell　Rock；　consisting　of　the　shivers　or　chips　of　stone　produced　by　the　workmen　in　preparing　the　site　of　the　building；　which　were　now　accumulating　in　great　quantities　on　the　rock。　　These　the　boats　loaded；　after　discharging　the　iron。　The　object　in　carrying　off　these　chips；　besides　ballasting　the　vessel；　was　to　get　them　permanently　out　of　the　way；　as　they　were　apt　to　shift　about　from　place　to　place　with　every　gale　of　wind；　and　it　often　required　a　considerable　time　to　clear　the　foundation　a　second　time　of　this　rubbish。　　The　circumstance　of　ballasting　a　ship　at　the　Bell　Rock　afforded　great　entertainment；　especially　to　the　sailors；　and　it　was　perhaps　with　truth　remarked　that　the　SMEATON　was　the　first　vessel　that　had　ever　taken　on　board　ballast　at　the　Bell　Rock。　　Mr。　Pool；　the　commander　of　this　vessel；　afterwards　acquainted　the　writer　that；　when　the　ballast　was　landed　upon　the　quay　at　Leith；　many　persons　carried　away　specimens　of　it；　as　part　of　a　cargo　from　the　Bell　Rock；　when　he　added；　that　such　was　the　interest　excited；　from　the　number　of　specimens　carried　away；　that　some　of　his　friends　suggested　that　he　should　have　sent　the　whole　to　the　Cross　of　Edinburgh；　where　each　piece　might　have　sold　for　a　penny。

＇Tuesday；　31st　May＇

In　the　evening　the　boats　went　to　the　rock；　and　brought　the　joiners　and　smiths；　and　their　sickly　companions；　on　board　of　the　tender。　　These　also　brought　with　them　two　baskets　full　of　fish；　which　they　had　caught　at　high…water　from　the　beacon；　reporting；　at　the　same　time；　to　their　comrades；　that　the　fish　were　swimming　in　such　numbers　over　the　rock　at　high…water　that　it　was　completely　hid　from　their　sight；　and　nothing　seen　but　the　movement　of　thousands　of　fish。　　They　were　almost　exclusively　of　the　species　called　the　podlie；　or　young　coal…　fish。　　This　discovery；　made　for　the　first　time　to…day　by　the　workmen；　was　considered　fortunate；　as　an　additional　circumstance　likely　to　produce　an　inclination　among　the　artificers　to　take　up　their　residence　in　the　beacon；　when　it　came　to　be　fitted　up　as　a　barrack。

＇Tuesday；　7th　June＇

At　three　o'clock　in　the　morning　the　ship's　bell　was　rung　as　the　signal　for　landing　at　the　rock。　　When　the　landing　was　to　be　made　before　breakfast；　it　was　customary　to　give　each　of　the　artificers　and　seamen　a　dram　and　a　biscuit；　and　coffee　was　prepared　by　the　steward　for　the　cabins。　　Exactly　at　four　o'clock　the　whole　party　landed　from　three　boats；　including　one　of　those　belonging　to　the　floating　light；　with　a　part　of　that　ship's　crew；　which　always　attended　the　works　in　moderate　weather。　　The　landing…master's　boat；　called　the　SEAMAN；　but　more　commonly　called　the　LIFEBOAT；　took　the　lead。　　The　next　boat；　called　the　MASON；　w