records of a family of engineers(一个工程师的家庭)-第31节
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bread and water was always kept on the beacon。
During this period of working at the beacon all the day； and often a
great part of the night； the writer was much on board of the tender； but；
while the masons could work on the rock； and frequently also while it was
covered by the tide； he remained on the beacon； especially during the
night； as he made a point of being on the rock to the latest hour； and was
generally the last person who stepped into the boat。 He had laid this
down as part of his plan of procedure； and in this way had acquired； in the
course of the first season； a pretty complete knowledge and experience of
what could actually be done at the Bell Rock； under all circumstances of
the weather。 By this means also his assistants； and the artificers and
mariners； got into a systematic habit of proceeding at the commencement
of the work； which； it is believed； continued throughout the whole of the
operations。
＇Sunday； 4th Oct。＇
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The external part of the beacon was now finished； with its supports
and bracing…chains； and whatever else was considered necessary for its
stability in so far as the season would permit； and although much was still
wanting to complete this fabric； yet it was in such a state that it could be
left without much fear of the consequences of a storm。 The painting of
the upper part was nearly finished this afternoon； and the SMEATON had
brought off a quantity of brushwood and other articles； for the purpose of
heating or charring the lower part of the principal beams； before being laid
over with successive coats of boiling pitch； to the height of from eight to
twelve feet； or as high as the rise of spring…tides。 A small flagstaff having
also been erected to…day； a flag was displayed for the first time from the
beacon； by which its perspective effect was greatly improved。 On this； as
on all like occasions at the Bell Rock； three hearty cheers were given； and
the steward served out a dram of rum to all hands； while the Lighthouse
yacht； SMEATON； and floating light； hoisted their colours in compliment
to the erection。
＇Monday； 5th Oct。＇
In the afternoon； and just as the tide's work was over； Mr。 John Rennie；
engineer； accompanied by his son Mr。 George； on their way to the harbour
works of Fraserburgh； in Aberdeenshire； paid a visit to the Bell Rock； in a
boat from Arbroath。 It being then too late in the tide for landing； they
remained on board of the Lighthouse yacht all night； when the writer； who
had now been secluded from society for several weeks； enjoyed much of
Mr。 Rennie's interesting conversation； both on general topics； and
professionally upon the progress of the Bell Rock works； on which he was
consulted as chief engineer。
＇Tuesday； 6th Oct。＇
The artificers landed this morning at nine； after which one of the boats
returned to the ship for the writer and Messrs。 Rennie； who； upon landing；
were saluted with a display of the colours from the beacon and by three
cheers from the workmen。 Everything was now in a prepared state for
leaving the rock； and giving up the works afloat for this season； excepting
some small articles； which would still occupy the smiths and joiners for a
few days longer。 They accordingly shifted on board of the SMEATON；
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while the yacht left the rock for Arbroath； with Messrs。 Rennie； the writer；
and the remainder of the artificers。 But； before taking leave； the steward
served out a farewell glass； when three hearty cheers were given； and an
earnest wish expressed that everything； in the spring of 1808； might be
found in the same state of good order as it was now about to be left。
II … OPERATIONS OF 1808
＇Monday； 29th Feb。＇
The writer sailed from Arbroath at one a。m。 in the Lighthouse yacht。
At seven the floating light was hailed； and all on board found to be well。
The crew were observed to have a very healthy…like appearance； and
looked better than at the close of the works upon the rock。 They seemed
only to regret one thing； which was the secession of their cook； Thomas
Elliot … not on account of his professional skill； but for his facetious and
curious manner。 Elliot had something peculiar in his history； and was
reported by his comrades to have seen better days。 He was； however；
happy with his situation on board of the floating light； and； having a taste
for music； dancing； and acting plays； he contributed much to the
amusement of the ship's company in their dreary abode during the winter
months。 He had also recommended himself to their notice as a good
shipkeeper； for as it did not answer Elliot to go often ashore； he had
always given up his turn of leave to his neighbours。 At his own desire he
was at length paid off； when he had a considerable balance of wages to
receive； which he said would be sufficient to carry him to the West Indies；
and he accordingly took leave of the Lighthouse service。
＇Tuesday； 1st March＇
At daybreak the Lighthouse yacht； attended by a boat from the floating
light； again stood towards the Bell Rock。 The weather felt extremely
cold this morning； the thermometer being at 34 degrees； with the wind at
east； accompanied by occasional showers of snow； and the marine
barometer indicated 29。80。 At half…past seven the sea ran with such force
upon the rock that it seemed doubtful if a landing could be effected。 At
half…past eight； when it was fairly above water； the writer took his place in
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the floating light's boat with the artificers； while the yacht's boat followed；
according to the general rule of having two boats afloat in landing
expeditions of this kind； that； in case of accident to one boat； the other
might assist。 In several unsuccessful attempts the boats were beat back
by the breach of the sea upon the rock。 On the eastern side it separated
into two distinct waves； which came with a sweep round to the western
side； where they met； and at the instance of their confluence the water rose
in spray to a considerable height。 Watching what the sailors term a
SMOOTH； we caught a favourable opportunity； and in a very dexterous
manner the boats were rowed between the two seas； and made a
favourable landing at the western creek。
At the latter end of last season； as was formerly noticed； the beacon
was painted white； and from the bleaching of the weather and the sprays of
the sea the upper parts were kept clean； but within the range of the tide the
principal beams were observed to be thickly coated with a green stuff； the
CONFERVA of botanists。 Notwithstanding the intrusion of these works；
which had formerly banished the numerous seals that played about the
rock； they were now seen in great numbers； having been in an almost
undisturbed state for six months。 It had now also； for the first time； got
some inhabitants of the feathered tribe： in particular the scarth or
cormorant； and the large herring…gull； had made the beacon a resting…place；
from its vicinity to their fishing…grounds。 About a dozen of these birds had
rested upon the cross…beams； which； in some places； were coated with
their dung； and their flight； as the boats approached； was a very unlooked…
for indication of life and habitation on the Bell Rock； conveying the
momentary idea of the conversion of this fatal rock； from being a terror to
the mariner； into a residence of man and a safeguard to shipping。
Upon narrowly examining the great iron stanchions with which the
beams were fixed to the rock； the writer had the satisfaction of finding that
there was not the least appearance of wo
