records of a family of engineers-第25章

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r；　was　occupied　in　trenailing　and　making　all　things　as　secure　as　possible。　　At　twelve　noon　the　rock　and　building　were　again　overflowed；　when　the　masons　and　seamen　went　on　board　of　the　tender；　but　Mr。　Watt；　with　his　squad　of　ten　men；　remained　on　the　beacon　throughout　the　day。　　As　it　blew　fresh　from　the　N。W。　in　the　evening；　it　was　found　impracticable　either　to　land　the　building　artificers　or　to　take　the　artificers　off　the　beacon；　and　they　were　accordingly　left　there　all　night；　but　in　circumstances　very　different　from　those　of　the　1st　of　this　month。　　The　house；　being　now　in　a　more　complete　state；　was　provided　with　bedding；　and　they　spent　the　night　pretty　well；　though　they　complained　of　having　been　much　disturbed　at　the　time　of　high…water　by　the　shaking　and　tremulous　motion　of　their　house　and　by　the　plashing　noise　of　the　sea　upon　mortar　gallery。　　Here　James　Glen's　versatile　powers　were　again　at　work　in　cheering　up　those　who　seemed　to　be　alarmed；　and　in　securing　everything　as　far　as　possible。　　On　this　occasion　he　had　only　to　recall　to　the　recollections　of　some　of　them　the　former　night　which　they　had　spent　on　the　beacon；　the　wind　and　sea　being　then　much　higher；　and　their　habitation　in　a　far　less　comfortable　state。

The　wind　still　continuing　to　blow　fresh　from　the　N。W。；　at　five　p。m。　the　writer　caused　a　signal　to　be　made　from　the　tender　for　the　SMEATON　AND　PATRIOT　to　slip　their　moorings；　when　they　ran　for　Lunan　Bay；　an　anchorage　on　the　east　side　of　the　Redhead。　　Those　on　board　of　the　tender　spent　but　a　very　rough　night；　and　perhaps　slept　less　soundly　than　their　companions　on　the　beacon；　especially　as　the　wind　was　at　N。W。；　which　caused　the　vessel　to　ride　with　her　stern　towards　the　Bell　Rock；　so　that；　in　the　event　of　anything　giving　way；　she　could　hardly　have　escaped　being　stranded　upon　it。

＇Sunday；　18th　June＇

The　weather　having　moderated　to…day；　the　wind　shifted　to　the　westward。　　At　a　quarter…past　nine　a。m。　the　artificers　landed　from　the　tender　and　had　the　pleasure　to　find　their　friends　who　had　been　left　on　the　rock　quite　hearty；　alleging　that　the　beacon　was　the　preferable　quarters　of　the　two。

＇Saturday；　24th　June＇

Mr。　Peter　Logan；　the　foreman　builder；　and　his　squad；　twenty…one　in　number；　landed　this　morning　at　three　o'clock；　and　continued　at　work　four　hours　and　a　quarter；　and　after　laying　seventeen　stones　returned　to　the　tender。　　At　six　a。m。　Mr。　Francis　Watt　and　his　squad　of　twelve　men　landed；　and　proceeded　with　their　respective　operations　at　the　beacon　and　railways；　and　were　left　on　the　rock　during　the　whole　day　without　the　necessity　of　having　any　communication　with　the　tender；　the　kitchen　of　the　beacon…house　being　now　fitted　up。　It　was　to…day；　also；　that　Peter　Fortune　…　a　most　obliging　and　well…known　character　in　the　Lighthouse　service　…　was　removed　from　the　tender　to　the　beacon　as　cook　and　steward；　with　a　stock　of　provisions　as　ample　as　his　limited　store…room　would　admit。

When　as　many　stones　were　built　as　comprised　this　day's　work；　the　demand　for　mortar　was　proportionally　increased；　and　the　task　of　the　mortar…makers　on　these　occasions　was　both　laborious　and　severe。　　This　operation　was　chiefly　performed　by　John　Watt　…　a　strong；　active　quarrier　by　profession；　…　who　was　a　perfect　character　in　his　way；　and　extremely　zealous　in　his　department。　　While　the　operations　of　the　mortar…makers　continued；　the　forge　upon　the　gallery　was　not　generally　in　use；　but；　as　the　working　hours　of　the　builders　extended　with　the　height　of　the　building；　the　forge　could　not　be　so　long　wanted；　and　then　a　sad　confusion　often　ensued　upon　the　circumscribed　floor　of　the　mortar　gallery；　as　the　operations　of　Watt　and　his　assistants　trenched　greatly　upon　those　of　the　smiths。　　Under　these　circumstances　the　boundary　of　the　smiths　was　much　circumscribed；　and　they　were　personally　annoyed；　especially　in　blowy　weather；　with　the　dust　of　the　lime　in　its　powdered　state。　　The　mortar…makers；　on　the　other　hand；　were　often　not　a　little　distressed　with　the　heat　of　the　fire　and　the　sparks　elicited　on　the　anvil；　and　not　unaptly　complained　that　they　were　placed　between　the　‘devil　and　the　deep　sea。'

＇Sunday；　25th　June＇

The　work　being　now　about　ten　feet　in　height；　admitted　of　a　rope…ladder　being　distended　（1）　between　the　beacon　and　the　building。　　By　this　‘Jacob's　Ladder；'　as　the　seamen　termed　it；　a　communication　was　kept　up　with　the　beacon　while　the　rock　was　considerably　under　water。　　One　end　of　it　being　furnished　with　tackle…blocks；　was　fixed　to　the　beams　of　the　beacon；　at　the　level　of　the　mortar　gallery；　while　the　further　end　was　connected　with　the　upper　course　of　the　building　by　means　of　two　Lewis　bats　which　were　lifted　from　course　to　course　as　the　work　advanced。　　In　the　same　manner　a　rope　furnished　with　a　travelling　pulley　was　distended　for　the　purpose　of　transporting　the　mortar…buckets；　and　other　light　articles　between　the　beacon　and　the　building；　which　also　proved　a　great　conveniency　to　the　work。　　At　this　period　the　rope…ladder　and　tackle　for　the　mortar　had　a　descent　from　the　beacon　to　the　building；　by　and　by　they　were　on　a　level；　and　towards　the　end　of　the　season；　when　the　solid　part　had　attained　its　full　height；　the　ascent　was　from　the　mortar　gallery　to　the　building。

（1）　This　is　an　incurable　illusion　of　my　grandfather's；　he　always　writes　‘distended'　for　‘extended。'　…　＇R。　L。　S。＇

＇Friday；　30th　June＇

The　artificers　landed　on　the　rock　this　morning　at　a　quarter…past　six；　and　remained　at　work　five　hours。　　The　cooking　apparatus　being　now　in　full　operation；　all　hands　had　breakfast　on　the　beacon　at　the　usual　hour；　and　remained　there　throughout　the　day。　　The　crane　upon　the　building　had　to　be　raised　to…day　from　the　eighth　to　the　ninth　course；　an　operation　which　now　required　all　the　strength　that　could　be　mustered　for　working　the　guy…tackles；　for　as　the　top　of　the　crane　was　at　this　time　about　thirty…five　feet　above　the　rock；　it　became　much　more　unmanageable。　　While　the　beam　was　in　the　act　of　swinging　round　from　one　guy　to　another；　a　great　strain　was　suddenly　brought　upon　the　opposite　tackle；　with　the　end　of　which　the　artificers　had　very　improperly　neglected　to　take　a　turn　round　some　stationary　object；　which　would　have　given　them　the　complete　command　of　the　tackle。　　Owing　to　this　simple　omission；　the　crane　got　a　preponderancy　to　one　side；　and　fell　upon　the　building　with　a　terrible　crash。　　The　surrounding　artificers　immediately　flew　in　every　direction　to　get　out　of　its　way；　but　Michael　Wishart；　the　principal　builder；　having　unluckily　stumbled　upon　one　of　the　uncut　trenails；　fell　upon　his　back。　　His　body　fortunately　got　between　the　movable　beam　and　the　upright　shaft　of　the　crane；　and　was　thus　saved；　but　his　feet　got　entangled　with　the　wheels　of　the　crane　and　were　severely　injured。　　Wishart；　being　a　robust　young　man；　endured　his　misfortune　with　wonderful　firmness；　he　was　laid　upon　one　of　the　narrow　framed　beds　of　the　beacon　and　despatched　in　a　boat　to　the　tender；　where　the　writer　was　when　this　accident　happened；　not　a　little　alarmed　on　missing　the　crane　from　the　top　of　the　building；　and　at　the　same　time　seeing　a　boat　rowing　towards　the　vessel　with　great　speed。　　When　the　boat　came　alongside　with　poor　Wishart；　stretched　upon　a　bed　covered　with　blankets；　a　moment　of　great　anxiety　followed；　which　was；　however；　much　relieved　when；　on　stepping　into　the　boat；　he　was　accosted　by　Wishart；　though　in　a　feeble　voice；　and　with　an　aspect　pale　as　death　from　excessive　bleeding。　　Directions　having　been　immediately　given　to　the　coxswain　to　apply　to　Mr。　Kennedy　at　the　workyard　to　procure　the　best　surgical　aid；　the　boat　was　sent　off　without　delay　to　Arbroath。　　The　writer　then　landed　at　the　rock；　when　the　crane　was　in　a　very　short　time　got　into　its　place　and　again　put　in　a　working　state。

＇Monday；　3rd　July＇

The　writer　having　come　to　Arbroath　with　the　yacht；　had　an　opportunity　of　visiting　Michael　Wishart；　the　artificer　who　had　met　with　so　severe　an　accident　at　the　rock　on　the　30th　ult。；　and　had　the　pleasure　to　find　him　in　a　state　of　recovery。　　From　Dr。　Stevenson's　account；　under　whose　charge　he　had　been　placed；　hopes　were　entertained　that　amputation　would　not　be　necessary；　as　his　patient　still　kept　free　of　fever　or　any　appearance　of　mortification；　and　Wishart　expressed　a　hope　that　he　might；　at　least；　be　ultimately　capable　of　keeping　the　light　at　the　Bell　Rock；　as　it　was　not　now　likely　that　he　would　assist　further　in　building　the　house。

＇Saturday；　8th　July＇

It　was　remarked　to…day；　with　no　small　demonstration　of　joy；　that　the　tide；　being　neap；　did　not；　for　the　first　time；　overflow　the　building　at　high…water。　　Flags　were　accordingly　hoisted　on　the　beacon…house；　and　crane　on　the　top　of　the　building；　which　were　repeated　from　the　floating　light；　Lighthouse　yacht；　tender；　SMEATON；　PATRIOT；　and　the　two　praams。　　A　salute　of　three　guns　was　also　fired　from　the　yacht　at　high…water；　when；　all　the　artificers　being　collected　on　the　top　of　the　building；　three　cheers　were　given　in　testimony　of　this　important　circumstance。　　A　glass　of　rum　was　then　served　out　to　all　hands　on　the　rock　and　on　board　of　the　respective　ships。

＇Sunday；　16th　July＇

Besides　laying；　boring；　trenailing；　wedging；　and　grouting　thirty…two　stones；　several　other　operations　were　proceeded　with　on　the　rock　at　low…water；　when　some　of　the　artificers　were　employed　at　the　railways；　and　at　high…water　at　the　beacon…house。　　The　seamen　having　prepared　a　quantity　of　tarpaulin；　or　cloth　laid　over　with　successive　coats　of　hot　tar；　the　joiners　had　just　completed　the　covering　of　the　roof　with　it。　　This　sort　of　covering　was　lighter　and　more　easily　managed　than　sheet…lead　in　such　a　situation。　　As　a　further　defence　against　the　weather　the　whole　exterior　of　this　temporary　residence　was　painted　with　three　coats　of　white…lead　paint。　　Between　the　timber　framing　of　the　habitable　part　of　the　beacon　the　interstices　were　to　be　stuffed　with　moss；　as　a　light　substance　that　would　resist　dampness　and　check　sifting　winds；　the　whole　interior　was　then　to　be　lined　with　green　baize　cloth；　so　that　both　without　and　within　the　cabins　were　to　have　a　very　comfortable　appearance。

Although　the　building　artificers　generally　remained　on　the　rock　throughout　the　day；　and　the　millwrights；　joiners；　and　smiths；　while　their　number　was　considerable；　remained　also　during　the　night；　yet　the　tender　had　hitherto　been　considered　as　their　night　quarters。　　But　the　wind　having　in　the　course　of　the　day　shifted　to　the　N。W。；　and　as　the　passage　to　the　tender；　in　the　boats；　was　likely　to　be　attended　with　difficulty；　the　whole　of　the　artificers；　with　Mr。　Logan；　the　foreman；　preferred　remaining　all　night　on　the　beacon；　which　had　of　late　become　the　solitary　abode　of　George…Forsyth；　a　jobbing　upholsterer；　who　had　been　employed　in　lining　the　beacon…house　with　cloth　and　in　fitting　up　the　bedding。　　Forsyth　was　a　tall；　thin；　and　rather　loose…made　man；　who　had　an　utter　aversion　at　climbing　upon　the　trap…ladders　of　the　beacon；　but　especially　at　the　process　of　boating；　and　the　motion　of　the　ship；　which　he　said　‘was　death　itself。'　　He　therefore　pertinaciously　insisted　with　the　landing…master　in　being　left　upon　the　beacon；　with　a　small　black　dog　as　his　only　companion。　　The　writer；　however；　felt　some　delicacy　in　leaving　a　single　individual　upon　the　rock；　who　must　have　been　so　very　helpless　in　case　of　accident。