records of a family of engineers-第32章
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been proposed to a person accustomed to a city life； at once to take up his quarters off a sunken reef and land upon it in boats at all hours of the night； the proposition must have appeared quite impracticable and extravagant； but this practice coming progressively upon the artificers； it was ultimately undertaken with the greatest alacrity。 Notwithstanding this； however； it must be acknowledged that it was not till after much labour and peril； and many an anxious hour； that the writer is enabled to state that the site of the Bell Rock Lighthouse is fully prepared for the first entire course of the building。
＇Friday； 12th Aug。＇
The artificers landed this morning at half…past ten； and after an hour and a half's work eight stones were laid； which completed the first entire course of the building； consisting of 123 blocks； the last of which was laid with three hearty cheers。
＇Saturday； 10th Sept。＇
Landed at nine a。m。； and by a quarter…past twelve noon twenty…three stones had been laid。 The works being now somewhat elevated by the lower courses； we got quit of the very serious inconvenience of pumping water to clear the foundation…pit。 This gave much facility to the operations； and was noticed with expressions of as much happiness by the artificers as the seamen had shown when relieved of the continual trouble of carrying the smith's bellows off the rock prior to the erection of the beacon。
＇Wednesday； 21st Sept。＇
Mr。 Thomas Macurich； mate of the SMEATON； and James Scott； one of the crew； a young man about eighteen years of age； immediately went into their boat to make fast a hawser to the ring in the top of the floating buoy of the moorings； and were forthwith to proceed to land their cargo； so much wanted； at the rock。 The tides at this period were very strong； and the mooring…chain； when sweeping the ground； had caught hold of a rock or piece of wreck by which the chain was so shortened that when the tide flowed the buoy got almost under water； and little more than the ring appeared at the surface。 When Macurich and Scott were in the act of making the hawser fast to the ring； the chain got suddenly disentangled at the bottom； and this large buoy； measuring about seven feet in height and three feet in diameter at the middle； tapering to both ends； being what seamen term a NUN…BUOY； vaulted or sprung up with such force that it upset the boat； which instantly filled with water。 Mr。 Macurich； with much exertion； succeeded in getting hold of the boat's gunwale； still above the surface of the water； and by this means was saved； but the young man Scott was unfortunately drowned。 He had in all probability been struck about the head by the ring of the buoy； for although surrounded with the oars and the thwarts of the boat which floated near him； yet he seemed entirely to want the power of availing himself of such assistance； and appeared to be quite insensible； while Pool； the master of the SMEATON； called loudly to him； and before assistance could be got from the tender； he was carried away by the strength of the current and disappeared。
The young man Scott was a great favourite in the service； having had something uncommonly mild and complaisant in his manner； and his loss was therefore universally regretted。 The circumstances of his case were also peculiarly distressing to his mother； as her husband； who was a seaman； had for three years past been confined to a French prison； and the deceased was the chief support of the family。 In order in some measure to make up the loss to the poor woman for the monthly aliment regularly allowed her by her late son； it was suggested that a younger boy； a brother of the deceased； might be taken into the service。 This appeared to be rather a delicate proposition； but it was left to the landing…master to arrange according to circumstances； such was the resignation； and at the same time the spirit； of the poor woman； that she readily accepted the proposal； and in a few days the younger Scott was actually afloat in the place of his brother。 On representing this distressing case to the Board； the Commissioners were pleased to grant an annuity of 5 pounds to Scott's mother。
The SMEATON； not having been made fast to the buoy； had； with the ebb…tide； drifted to leeward a considerable way eastward of the rock； and could not； till the return of the flood…tide； be worked up to her moorings； so that the present tide was lost； notwithstanding all exertions which had been made both ashore and afloat with this cargo。 The artificers landed at six a。m。； but； as no materials could be got upon the rock this morning； they were employed in boring trenail holes and in various other operations； and after four hours' work they returned on board the tender。 When the SMEATON got up to her moorings； the landing…master's crew immediately began to unload her。 There being too much wind for towing the praams in the usual way； they were warped to the rock in the most laborious manner by their windlasses； with successive grapplings and hawsers laid out for this purpose。 At six p。m。 the artificers 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
