records of a family of engineers(一个工程师的家庭)-第33节
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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
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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； was
generally steered by the writer； while the floating light's boat； PHAROS；
was under the management of the boatswain of that ship。
Having now so considerable a party of workmen and sailors on the
rock； it may be proper here to notice how their labours were directed。
Preparations having been made last month for the erection of a second
forge upon the beacon； the smiths commenced their operations both upon
the lower and higher platforms。 They were employed in sharpening the
picks and irons for the masons； and in making bats and other apparatus of
various descriptions connected with the fitting of the railways。 The
landing…master's crew were occupied in assisting the millwrights in laying
the railways to hand。 Sailors； of all other descriptions of men； are the most
accommodating in the use of their hands。 They worked freely with the
boring…irons； and assisted in all the operations of the railways； acting by
turns as boatmen； seamen； and artificers。 We had no such character on
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the Bell Rock as the common labourer。 All the operations of this
department were cheerfully undertaken by the seamen； who； both on the
rock and on shipboard； were the inseparable companions of every work
connected with the erection of the Bell Rock Lighthouse。 It will
naturally be supposed that about twenty…five masons； occupied with their
picks in executing and preparing the foundation of the lighthouse； in the
course of a tide of about three hours； would make a considerable
impression upon an area even of forty…two feet in diameter。 But in
proportion as the foundation was deepened； the rock was found to be
much more hard and difficult to work； while the baling and pumping of
water became much more troublesome。 A joiner was kept almost
constantly employed in fitting the picks to their handles； which； as well as
the points to the irons； were very frequently broken。
The Bell Rock this morning presented by far the most busy and active
appearance it had exhibited since the erection of the principal beams of the
beacon。 The surface of the rock was crowded with men； the two forges
flaming； the one above the other； upon the beacon； while the anvils
thundered with the rebounding noise of their wooden supports； and formed
a curious contrast with the occasional clamour of the surges。 The wind was
westerly； and the weather being extremely agreeable； as soon after
breakfast as the tide had sufficiently overflowed the rock to float the boats
over it； the smiths； with a number of the artificers； returned to the beacon；
carrying their fishing…tackle along with them。 In the course of the
forenoon； the beacon exhibited a still more extraordinary appearance than
the rock had done in the morning。 The sea being smooth； it seemed to be
afloat upon the water； with a number of men supporting themselves in all
the variety of attitude and position： while； from the upper part of this
wooden house； the volumes of smoke which ascended from the forges
gave the whole a very curious and fanciful appearance。
In the course of this tide it was observed that a heavy swell was setting
in from the eastward； and the appearance of the sky indicated a change of
weather； while the wind was shifting about。 The barometer also had
fallen from 30 in。 to 29。6。 It was； therefore； judged prudent to shift the
vessel to the S。W。 or more distant buoy。 Her bowsprit was also soon
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afterwards taken in； the topmasts struck； and everything made SNUG； as
seamen term it； for a gale。 During the course of the night the wind
increased and shifted to the eastward； when the vess
