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！
of consideration which fully marked their opinion as to the hazardous
nature of the undertaking on which they were about to enter。 They went
in a body to church on Sunday； and whether it was in the ordinary course；
or designed for the occasion； the writer is not certain； but the service was；
in many respects； suitable to their circumstances。
＇Monday； 17th Aug。＇
The tide happening to fall late in the evening of Monday the 17th； the
party； counting twenty…four in number； embarked on board of the
SMEATON about ten o'clock p。m。； and sailed from Arbroath with a gentle
breeze at west。 Our ship's colours having been flying all day in
compliment to the commencement of the work； the other vessels in the
harbour also saluted； which made a very gay appearance。 A number of
the friends and acquaintances of those on board having been thus collected；
the piers； though at a late hour； were perfectly crowded； and just as the
SMEATON cleared the harbour； all on board united in giving three hearty
cheers； which were returned by those on shore in such good earnest； that；
in the still of the evening； the sound must have been heard in all parts of
the town； re…echoing from the walls and lofty turrets of the venerable
Abbey of Aberbrothwick。 The writer felt much satisfaction at the manner
63
… Page 64…
RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
of this parting scene； though he must own that the present rejoicing was；
on his part； mingled with occasional reflections upon the responsibility of
his situation； which extended to the safety of all who should be engaged in
this perilous work。 With such sensations he retired to his cabin； but as
the artificers were rather inclined to move about the deck than to remain in
their confined berths below； his repose was transient； and the vessel being
small every motion was necessarily heard。 Some who were musically
inclined occasionally sung； but he listened with peculiar pleasure to the
sailor at the helm； who hummed over Dibdin's characteristic air：…
‘They say there's a Providence sits up aloft； To keep watch for the life
of poor Jack。'
＇Tuesday； 18th Aug。＇
The weather had been very gentle all night； and； about four in the
morning of the 18th； the SMEATON anchored。 Agreeably to an arranged
plan of operations； all hands were called at five o'clock a。m。； just as the
highest part of the Bell Rock began to show its sable head among the light
breakers； which occasionally whitened with the foaming sea。 The two
boats belonging to the floating light attended the SMEATON； to carry the
artificers to the rock； as her boat could only accommodate about six or
eight sitters。 Every one was more eager than his neighbour to leap into
the boats and it required a good deal of management on the part of the
coxswains to get men unaccustomed to a boat to take their places for
rowing and at the same time trimming her properly。 The landing…master
and foreman went into one boat； while the writer took charge of another；
and steered it to and from the rock。 This became the more necessary in
the early stages of the work； as places could not be spared for more than
two； or at most three seamen to each boat； who were always stationed； one
at the bow； to use the boat…hook in fending or pushing off； and the other at
the aftermost oar； to give the proper time in rowing； while the middle oars
were double…banked； and rowed by the artificers。
As the weather was extremely fine； with light airs of wind from the
east； we landed without difficulty upon the central part of the rock at half…
past five； but the water had not yet sufficiently left it for commencing the
work。 This interval； however； did not pass unoccupied。 The first and
64
… Page 65…
RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
last of all the principal operations at the Bell Rock were accompanied by
three hearty cheers from all hands； and； on occasions like the present； the
steward of the ship attended； when each man was regaled with a glass of
rum。 As the water left the rock about six； some began to bore the holes
for the great bats or holdfasts； for fixing the beams of the Beacon… house；
while the smith was fully attended in laying out the site of his forge； upon
a somewhat sheltered spot of the rock； which also recommended itself
from the vicinity of a pool of water for tempering his irons。 These
preliminary steps occupied about an hour； and as nothing further could be
done during this tide towards fixing the forge； the workmen gratified their
curiosity by roaming about the rock； which they investigated with great
eagerness till the tide overflowed it。 Those who had been sick picked
dulse （FUCUS PALMATUS）； which they ate with much seeming appetite；
others were more intent upon collecting limpets for bait； to enjoy the
amusement of fishing when they returned on board of the vessel。 Indeed；
none came away empty…handed； as everything found upon the Bell Rock
was considered valuable； being connected with some interesting
association。 Several coins； and numerous bits of shipwrecked iron； were
picked up； of almost every description； and； in particular； a marking…iron
lettered JAMES … a circumstance of which it was thought proper to give
notice to the public； as it might lead to the knowledge of some unfortunate
shipwreck； perhaps unheard of till this simple occurrence led to the
discovery。 When the rock began to be overflowed； the landing…master
arranged the crews of the respective boats； appointing twelve persons to
each。 According to a rule which the writer had laid down to himself； he
was always the last person who left the rock。
In a short time the Bell Rock was laid completely under water； and the
weather being extremely fine； the sea was so smooth that its place could
not be pointed out from the appearance of the surface … a circumstance
which sufficiently demonstrates the dangerous nature of this rock； even
during the day； and in the smoothest and calmest state of the sea。 During
the interval between the morning and the evening tides； the artificers were
variously employed in fishing