records of a family of engineers(一个工程师的家庭)-第30节
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！
beams； and screw the nut home。
In this manner these four principal beams were erected； and left in a
pretty secure state。 The men had commenced while there was about two
or three feet of water upon the side of the beacon； and as the sea was
smooth they continued the work equally long during flood…tide。 Two of
the boats being left at the rock to take off the joiners； who were busily
employed on the upper parts till two o'clock p。m。； this tide's work may be
said to have continued for about seven hours； which was the longest that
had hitherto been got upon the rock by at least three hours。
When the first boats left the rock with the artificers employed on the
lower part of the work during the flood…tide； the beacon had quite a novel
appearance。 The beams erected formed a common base of about thirty…
three feet； meeting at the top； which was about forty…five feet above the
rock； and here half a dozen of the artificers were still at work。 After
clearing the rock the boats made a stop； when three hearty cheers were
given； which were returned with equal goodwill by those upon the beacon；
from the personal interest which every one felt in the prosperity of this
work； so intimately connected with his safety。
All hands having returned to their respective ships； they got a shift of
dry clothes and some refreshment。 Being Sunday； they were afterwards
convened by signal on board of the Lighthouse yacht； when prayers were
read； for every heart upon this occasion felt gladness； and every mind was
disposed to be thankful for the happy and successful termination of the
operations of this day。
93
… Page 94…
RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
＇Monday； 21st Sept。＇
The remaining two principal beams were erected in the course of this
tide； which； with the assistance of those set up yesterday； was found to be
a very simple operation。
The six principal beams of the beacon were thus secured； at least in a
temporary manner； in the course of two tides； or in the short space of
about eleven hours and a half。 Such is the progress that may be made
when active hands and willing minds set properly to work in operations of
this kind。
＇Tuesday 22nd； Sept。＇
Having now got the weighty part of this work over； and being thereby
relieved of the difficulty both of landing and victualling such a number of
men； the SMEATON could now be spared； and she was accordingly
despatched to Arbroath for a supply of water and provisions； and carried
with her six of the artificers who could best be spared。
＇Wednesday； 23rd Sept。＇
In going out of the eastern harbour； the boat which the writer steered
shipped a sea； that filled her about one…third with water。 She had also
been hid for a short time； by the waves breaking upon the rock； from the
sight of the crew of the preceding boat； who were much alarmed for our
safety； imagining for a time that she had gone down。
The SMEATON returned from Arbroath this afternoon； but there was
so much sea that she could not be made fast to her moorings； and the
vessel was obliged to return to Arbroath without being able either to
deliver the provisions or take the artificers on board。 The Lighthouse
yacht was also soon obliged to follow her example； as the sea was
breaking heavily over her bows。 After getting two reefs in the mainsail；
and the third or storm…jib set； the wind being S。W。； she bent to windward；
though blowing a hard gale； and got into St。 Andrews Bay； where we
passed the night under the lee of Fifeness。
＇Thursday； 24th Sept。＇
At two o'clock this morning we were in St。 Andrews Bay； standing off
and on shore； with strong gales of wind at S。W。； at seven we were off the
entrance of the Tay； at eight stood towards the rock； and at ten passed to
94
… Page 95…
RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
leeward of it； but could not attempt a landing。 The beacon； however；
appeared to remain in good order； and by six p。m。 the vessel had again
beaten up to St。 Andrews Bay； and got into somewhat smoother water for
the night。
＇Friday； 25th Sept。＇
At seven o'clock bore away for the Bell Rock； but finding a heavy sea
running on it were unable to land。 The writer； however； had the
satisfaction to observe； with his telescope； that everything about the
beacon appeared entire： and although the sea had a most frightful
appearance； yet it was the opinion of every one that； since the erection of
the beacon； the Bell Rock was divested of many of its terrors； and had it
been possible to have got the boats hoisted out and manned； it might have
even been found practicable to land。 At six it blew so hard that it was
found necessary to strike the topmast and take in a third reef of the
mainsail； and under this low canvas we soon reached St。 Andrews Bay；
and got again under the lee of the land for the night。 The artificers； being
sea… hardy； were quite reconciled to their quarters on board of the
Lighthouse yacht； but it is believed that hardly any consideration would
have induced them again to take up their abode in the floating light。
＇Saturday； 26th Sept。＇
At daylight the yacht steered towards the Bell Rock； and at eight a。m。
made fast to her moorings； at ten； all hands； to the amount of thirty； landed；
when the writer had the happiness to find that the beacon had withstood
the violence of the gale and the heavy breach of sea； everything being
found in the same state in which it had been left on the 21st。 The artificers
were now enabled to work upon the rock throughout the whole day； both
at low and high water； but it required the strictest attention to the state of
the weather； in case of their being overtaken with a gale； which might
prevent the possibility of getting them off the rock。
Two somewhat memorable circumstances in the annals of the Bell
Rock attended the operations of this day： one was the removal of Mr。
James Dove； the foreman smith； with his apparatus； from the rock to the
upper part of the beacon； where the forge was now erected on a temporary
platform； laid on the cross beams or upper framing。 The other was the
95
… Page 96…
RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
artificers having dined for the first time upon the rock； their dinner being
cooked on board of the yacht； and sent to them by one of the boats。 But
what afforded the greatest happiness and relief was the removal of the
large bellows； which had all along been a source of much trouble and
perplexity； by their hampering and incommoding the boat which carried
the smiths and their apparatus。
＇Saturday； 3rd Oct。＇
The wind being west to…day； the weather was very favourable for
operations at the rock； and during the morning and evening tides； with the
aid of torchlight； the masons had seven hours' work upon the site of the
building。 The smiths and joiners； who landed at half…past six a。m。； did
not leave the rock till a quarter…past eleven p。m。； having been at work；
with little intermission； for sixteen hours and three… quarters。 When the
water left the rock； they were employed at the lower parts of the beacon；
and as the tide rose or fell； they shifted the place of their operations。
From these exertions； the fixing and securing of the beacon made rapid
advancement； as the men were now landed in the morning and remained
throughout the day。 But； as a sudden change of weather might have
prevented their being taken off at the proper time of tide； a quantity of
bread and water was always kept on the beacon。
During this period of working at the beacon all the
