records of a family of engineers-第24章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ficers　landed；　and　continued　at　work　till　half…past　ten；　when　the　remaining　seventeen　stones　were　laid　which　completed　the　third　entire　course；　or　fourth　of　the　lighthouse；　with　which　the　building　operations　were　closed　for　the　season。


III　…　OPERATIONS　OF　1809



＇Wednesday；　24th　May＇

The　last　night　was　the　first　that　the　writer；　had　passed　in　his　old　quarters　on　board　of　the　floating　light　for　about　twelve　months；　when　the　weather　was　so　fine　and　the　sea　so　smooth　that　even　here　he　felt　but　little　or　no　motion；　excepting　at　the　turn　of　the　tide；　when　the　vessel　gets　into　what　the　seamen　term　the　TROUGH　OF　THE　SEA。　　At　six　a。m。　Mr。　Watt；　who　conducted　the　operations　of　the　railways　and　beacon…　house；　had　landed　with　nine　artificers。　　At　half…past　one　p。m。　Mr。　Peter　Logan　had　also　landed　with　fifteen　masons；　and　immediately　proceeded　to　set　up　the　crane。　　The　sheer…crane　or　apparatus　for　lifting　the　stones　out　of　the　praam…boats　at　the　eastern　creek　had　been　already　erected；　and　the　railways　now　formed　about　two…thirds　of　an　entire　circle　round　the　building：　some　progress　had　likewise　been　made　with　the　reach　towards　the　western　landing…place。　　The　floors　being　laid；　the　beacon　now　assumed　the　appearance　of　a　habitation。　　The　SMEATON　was　at　her　moorings；　with　the　FERNIE　praam…boat　astern；　for　which　she　was　laying　down　moorings；　and　the　tender　being　also　at　her　station；　the　Bell　Rock　had　again　put　on　its　former　busy　aspect。

＇Wednesday；　31st　May＇

The　landing…master's　bell；　often　no　very　favourite　sound；　rung　at　six　this　morning；　but　on　this　occasion；　it　is　believed；　it　was　gladly　received　by　all　on　board；　as　the　welcome　signal　of　the　return　of　better　weather。　　The　masons　laid　thirteen　stones　to…day；　which　the　seamen　had　landed；　together　with　other　building　materials。　　During　these　twenty…　four　hours　the　wind　was　from　the　south；　blowing　fresh　breezes；　accompanied　with　showers　of　snow。　　In　the　morning　the　snow　showers　were　so　thick　that　it　was　with　difficulty　the　landing…　master；　who　always　steered　the　leading　boat；　could　make　his　way　to　the　rock　through　the　drift。　　But　at　the　Bell　Rock　neither　snow　nor　rain；　nor　fog　nor　wind；　retarded　the　progress　of　the　work；　if　unaccompanied　by　a　heavy　swell　or　breach　of　the　sea。

The　weather　during　the　months　of　April　and　May　had　been　uncommonly　boisterous；　and　so　cold　that　the　thermometer　seldom　exceeded　40　degrees；　while　the　barometer　was　generally　about　29。50。　　We　had　not　only　hail　and　sleet；　but　the　snow　on　the　last　day　of　May　lay　on　the　decks　and　rigging　of　the　ship　to　the　depth　of　about　three　inches；　and；　although　now　entering　upon　the　month　of　June；　the　length　of　the　day　was　the　chief　indication　of　summer。　　Yet　such　is　the　effect　of　habit；　and　such　was　the　expertness　of　the　landing…master's　crew；　that；　even　in　this　description　of　weather；　seldom　a　tide's　work　was　lost。　　Such　was　the　ardour　and　zeal　of　the　heads　of　the　several　departments　at　the　rock；　including　Mr。　Peter　Logan；　foreman　builder；　Mr。　Francis　Watt；　foreman　millwright；　and　Captain　Wilson；　landing…master；　that　it　was　on　no　occasion　necessary　to　address　them；　excepting　in　the　way　of　precaution　or　restraint。　　Under　these　circumstances；　however；　the　writer　not　unfrequently　felt　considerable　anxiety；　of　which　this　day's　experience　will　afford　an　example。

＇Thursday；　1st　June＇

This　morning；　at　a　quarter…past　eight；　the　artificers　were　landed　as　usual；　and；　after　three　hours　and　three…　quarters'　work；　five　stones　were　laid；　the　greater　part　of　this　tide　having　been　taken　up　in　completing　the　boring　and　trenailing　of　the　stones　formerly　laid。　　At　noon　the　writer；　with　the　seamen　and　artificers；　proceeded　to　the　tender；　leaving　on　the　beacon　the　joiners；　and　several　of　those　who　were　troubled　with　sea…sickness　…　among　whom　was　Mr。　Logan；　who　remained　with　Mr。　Watt　…　counting　altogether　eleven　persons。　　During　the　first　and　middle　parts　of　these　twenty…　four　hours　the　wind　was　from　the　east；　blowing　what　the　seamen　term　‘fresh　breezes'；　but　in　the　afternoon　it　shifted　to　E。N。E。；　accompanied　with　so　heavy　a　swell　of　sea　that　the　SMEATON　and　tender　struck　their　topmasts；　launched　in　their　bolt…sprits；　and　‘made　all　snug'　for　a　gale。　　At　four　p。m。　the　SMEATON　was　obliged　to　slip　her　moorings；　and　passed　the　tender；　drifting　before　the　wind；　with　only　the　foresail　set。　In　passing；　Mr。　Pool　hailed　that　he　must　run　for　the　Firth　of　Forth　to　prevent　the　vessel　from　‘riding　under。'

On　board　of　the　tender　the　writer's　chief　concern　was　about　the　eleven　men　left　upon　the　beacon。　　Directions　were　accordingly　given　that　everything　about　the　vessel　should　be　put　in　the　best　possible　state；　to　present　as　little　resistance　to　the　wind　as　possible；　that　she　might　have　the　better　chance　of　riding　out　the　gale。　　Among　these　preparations　the　best　bower　cable　was　bent；　so　as　to　have　a　second　anchor　in　readiness　in　case　the　mooring…hawser　should　give　way；　that　every　means　might　be　used　for　keeping　the　vessel　within　sight　of　the　prisoners　on　the　beacon；　and　thereby　keep　them　in　as　good　spirits　as　possible。　　From　the　same　motive　the　boats　were　kept　afloat　that　they　might　be　less　in　fear　of　the　vessel　leaving　her　station。　　The　landing…master　had；　however；　repeatedly　expressed　his　anxiety　for　the　safety　of　the　boats；　and　wished　much　to　have　them　hoisted　on　board。　At　seven　p。m。　one　of　the　boats；　as　he　feared；　was　unluckily　filled　with　sea　from　a　wave　breaking　into　her；　and　it　was　with　great　difficulty　that　she　could　be　baled　out　and　got　on　board；　with　the　loss　of　her　oars；　rudder；　and　loose　thwarts。　　Such　was　the　motion　of　the　ship　that　in　taking　this　boat　on　board　her　gunwale　was　stove　in；　and　she　otherwise　received　considerable　damage。　　Night　approached；　but　it　was　still　found　quite　impossible　to　go　near　the　rock。　　Consulting；　therefore；　the　safety　of　the　second　boat；　she　also　was　hoisted　on　board　of　the　tender。

At　this　time　the　cabins　of　the　beacon　were　only　partially　covered；　and　had　neither　been　provided　with　bedding　nor　a　proper　fireplace；　while　the　stock　of　provisions　was　but　slender。　　In　these　uncomfortable　circumstances　the　people　on　the　beacon　were　left　for　the　night；　nor　was　the　situation　of　those　on　board　of　the　tender　much　better。　　The　rolling　and　pitching　motion　of　the　ship　was　excessive；　and；　excepting　to　those　who　had　been　accustomed　to　a　residence　in　the　floating　light；　it　seemed　quite　intolerable。　　Nothing　was　heard　but　the　hissing　of　the　winds　and　the　creaking　of　the　bulkheads　or　partitions　of　the　ship；　the　night　was；　therefore；　spent　in　the　most　unpleasant　reflections　upon　the　condition　of　the　people　on　the　beacon；　especially　in　the　prospect　of　the　tender　being　driven　from　her　moorings。　　But；　even　in　such　a　case；　it　afforded　some　consolation　that　the　stability　of　the　fabric　was　never　doubted；　and　that　the　boats　of　the　floating　light　were　at　no　great　distance；　and　ready　to　render　the　people　on　the　rock　the　earliest　assistance　which　the　weather　would　permit。　The　writer's　cabin　being　in　the　sternmost　part　of　the　ship；　which　had　what　sailors　term　a　good　entry；　or　was　sharp　built；　the　sea；　as　before　noticed；　struck　her　counter　with　so　much　violence　that　the　water；　with　a　rushing　noise；　continually　forced　its　way　up　the　rudder…case；　lifted　the　valve　of　the　water…closet；　and　overran　the　cabin　floor。　　In　these　circumstances　daylight　was　eagerly　looked　for；　and　hailed　with　delight；　as　well　by　those　afloat　as　by　the　artificers　upon　the　rock。

＇Friday；　2nd　June＇

In　the　course　of　the　night　the　writer　held　repeated　conversations　with　the　officer　on　watch；　who　reported　that　the　weather　continued　much　in　the　same　state；　and　that　the　barometer　still　indicated　29。20　inches。　　At　six　a。m。　the　landing…master　considered　the　weather　to　have　somewhat　moderated；　and；　from　certain　appearances　of　the　sky；　he　was　of　opinion　that　a　change　for　the　better　would　soon　take　place。　He　accordingly　proposed　to　attempt　a　landing　at　low…water；　and　either　get　the　people　off　the　rock；　or　at　least　ascertain　what　state　they　were　in。　　At　nine　a。m。　he　left　the　vessel　with　a　boat　well　manned；　carrying　with　him　a　supply　of　cooked　provisions　and　a　tea…kettle　full　of　mulled　port　wine　for　the　people　on　the　beacon；　who　had　not　had　any　regular　diet　for　about　thirty　hours；　while　they　were　exposed　during　that　period；　in　a　great　measure；　both　to　the　winds　and　the　sprays　of　the　sea。　　The　boat　having　succeeded　in　landing；　she　returned　at　eleven　a。m。　with　the　artificers；　who　had　got　off　with　considerable　difficulty；　and　who　were　heartily　welcomed　by　all　on　board。

Upon　inquiry　it　appeared　that　three　of　the　stones　last　laid　upon　the　building　had　been　partially　lifted　from　their　beds　by　the　force　of　the　sea；　and　were　now　held　only　by　the　trenails；　and　that　the　cast…iron　sheer…crane　had　again　been　thrown　down　and　completely　broken。　　With　regard　to　the　beacon；　the　sea　at　high…water　had　lifted　part　of　the　mortar　gallery　or　lowest　floor；　and　washed　away　all　the　lime…casks　and　other　movable　articles　from　it；　but　the　principal　parts　of　this　fabric　had　sustained　no　damage。　　On　pressing　Messrs。　Logan　and　Watt　on　the　situation　of　things　in　the　course　of　the　night；　Mr。　Logan　emphatically　said：　‘That　the　beacon　had　an　ILL…　FAURED　（1）　TWIST　when　the　sea　broke　upon　it　at　high…water；　but　that　they　were　not　very　apprehensive　of　danger。'　　On　inquiring　as　to　how　they　spent　the　night；　it　appeared　that　they　had　made　shift　to　keep　a　small　fire　burning；　and　by　means　of　some　old　sails　defended　themselves　pretty　well　from　the　sea　sprays。

（1）　Ill…formed　…　ugly。　…　＇R。　L。　S。＇

It　was　particularly　mentioned　that　by　the　exertions　of　James　Glen；　one　of　the　joiners；　a　number　of　articles　were　saved　from　being　washed　off　the　mortar　gallery。　　Glen　was　also　very　useful　in　keeping　up　the　spirits　of　the　forlorn　party。　In　the　early　part　of　life　he　had　undergone　many　curious　adventures　at　sea；　which　he　now　recounted　somewhat　after　the　manner　of　the　tales　of　the　ARABIAN　NIGHTS。　　When　one　observed　that　the　beacon　was　a　most　comfortless　lodging；　Glen　would　presently　introduce　some　of　his　exploits　and　hardships；　in　comparison　with　which　the　state　of　things　at　the　beacon　bore　an　aspect　of　comfort　and　happiness。　　Looking　to　their　slender　stock　of　provisions；　and　their　perilous　and　uncertain　chance　of　speedy　relief；　he　would　launch　out　into　an　account　of　one　of　his　expeditions　in　the　North　Sea；　when　the　vessel；　being　much　disabled　in　a　storm；　was　driven　before　the　wind　with　the　loss　of　almost　all　their　provisions；　and　the　ship　being　much　infested　with　rats；　the　crew　hunted　these　vermin　with　great　eagerness　to　help　their　scanty　allowance。　　By　such　means　Glen　had　the　address　to　make　his　companions；　in　some　measure；　satisfied；　or　at　least　passive；　with　regard　to　their　miserable　prospects　upon　this　half…tide　rock　in　the　middle　of　the　ocean。　This　incident　is　noticed；　more　particularly；　to　show　the　effects　of　such　a　happy　turn　of　mind；　even　under　the　most　distressing　and　ill…fated　circumstances。

＇Saturday；　17th　June＇

At　eight　a。m。　the　artificers　and　sailors；　forty…five　in　number；　landed　on　the　rock；　and　after　four　hours'　work　seven　stones　were　laid。　　The　remainder　of　this　tide；　from　the　threatening　appearance　of　the　weather；　was　occupied　in　trenailing　and　making　all　things　as　secure　as　possible。　　At　twelve　noon　the　rock