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hands were on board of her till he approached more nearly and observed
people upon the rock； but not supposing that the assistance of his boat was
necessary to carry the artificers off the rock； he anchored on the lee…side
and began to fish； waiting； as usual； till the letters were sent for； as the
pilot…boat was too large and unwieldy for approaching the rock when there
was any roughness or run of the sea at the entrance of the landing creeks。
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Upon this fortunate change of circumstances； sixteen of the artificers
were sent； at two trips； in one of the boats； with instructions for Spink to
proceed with them to the floating light。 This being accomplished； the
remaining sixteen followed in the two boats belonging to the service of the
rock。 Every one felt the most perfect happiness at leaving the Bell Rock
this morning； though a very hard and even dangerous passage to the
floating light still awaited us； as the wind by this time had increased to a
pretty hard gale； accompanied with a considerable swell of sea。 Every
one was as completely drenched in water as if he had been dragged astern
of the boats。 The writer； in particular； being at the helm； found； on
getting on board； that his face and ears were completely coated with a thin
film of salt from the sea spray； which broke constantly over the bows of
the boat。 After much baling of water and severe work at the oars； the
three boats reached the floating light； where some new difficulties
occurred in getting on board in safety； owing partly to the exhausted state
of the men； and partly to the violent rolling of the vessel。
As the tide flowed； it was expected that the SMEATON would have
got to windward； but； seeing that all was safe； after tacking for several
hours and making little progress； she bore away for Arbroath； with the
praam…boat。 As there was now too much wind for the pilot…boat to return
to Arbroath； she was made fast astern of the floating light； and the crew
remained on board till next day； when the weather moderated。 There can
be very little doubt that the appearance of James Spink with his boat on
this critical occasion was the means of preventing the loss of lives at the
rock this morning。 When these circumstances； some years afterwards；
came to the knowledge of the Board； a small pension was ordered to our
faithful pilot； then in his seventieth year； and he still continues to wear the
uniform clothes and badge of the Lighthouse service。 Spink is a
remarkably strong man； whose TOUT ENSEMBLE is highly
characteristic of a North…country fisherman。 He usually dresses in a PE…
JACKET； cut after a particular fashion； and wears a large； flat； blue bonnet。
A striking likeness of Spink in his pilot…dress； with the badge or insignia
on his left arm which is characteristic of the boatmen in the service of the
Northern Lights； has been taken by Howe； and is in the writer's
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RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
possession。
＇Thursday； 3rd Sept。＇
The bell rung this morning at five o'clock； but the writer must
acknowledge； from the circumstances of yesterday； that its sound was
extremely unwelcome。 This appears also to have been the feelings of the
artificers； for when they came to be mustered； out of twenty…six； only eight；
besides the foreman and seamen； appeared upon deck to accompany the
writer to the rock。 Such are the baneful effects of anything like
misfortune or accident connected with a work of this description。 The
use of argument to persuade the men to embark in cases of this kind would
have been out of place； as it is not only discomfort； or even the risk of the
loss of a limb； but life itself that becomes the question。 The boats；
notwithstanding the thinness of our ranks； left the vessel at half…past five。
The rough weather of yesterday having proved but a summer's gale； the
wind came to…day in gentle breezes； yet； the atmosphere being cloudy； it a
not a very favourable appearance。 The boats reached the rock at six a。m。；
and the eight artificers who landed were employed in clearing out the bat…
holes for the beacon…house； and had a very prosperous tide of four hours'
work； being the longest yet experienced by half an hour。
The boats left the rock again at ten o'clock； and the weather having
cleared up as we drew near the vessel； the eighteen artificers who had
remained on board were observed upon deck； but as the boats approached
they sought their way below； being quite ashamed of their conduct。 This
was the only instance of refusal to go to the rock which occurred during
the whole progress of the work； excepting that of the four men who
declined working upon Sunday； a case which the writer did not conceive
to be at all analogous to the present。 It may here be mentioned； much to
the credit of these four men； that they stood foremost in embarking for the
rock this morning。
＇Saturday； 5th Sept。＇
It was fortunate that a landing was not attempted this evening； for at
eight o'clock the wind shifted to E。S。E。； and at ten it had become a hard
gale； when fifty fathoms of the floating light's hempen cable were veered
out。 The gale still increasing； the ship rolled and laboured excessively；
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and at midnight eighty fathoms of cable were veered out； while the sea
continued to strike the vessel with a degree of force which had not before
been experienced。
＇Sunday； 6th Sept。＇
During the last night there was little rest on board of the PHAROS；
and daylight； though anxiously wished for； brought no relief； as the gale
continued with unabated violence。 The sea struck so hard upon the
vessel's bows that it rose in great quantities； or in ‘green seas；' as the
sailors termed it； which were carried by the wind as far aft as the quarter…
deck； and not infrequently over the stern of the ship altogether。 It fell
occasionally so heavily on the skylight of the writer's cabin； though so far
aft as to be within five feet of the helm； that the glass was broken to pieces
before the dead…light could be got into its place； so that the water poured
down in great quantities。 In shutting out the water； the admission of light
was prevented； and in the morning all continued in the most comfortless
state of darkness。 About ten o'clock a。m。 the wind shifted to N。E。； and
blew； if possible； harder than before； and it was accompanied by a much
heavier swell of sea。 In the course of the gale； the part of the cable in the
hause…hole had been so often shifted that nearly the whole length of one of
her hempen cables； of 120 fathoms； had been veered out； besides the
chain…moorings。 The cable； for its preservation； was also carefully
served or wattled with pieces of canvas round the windlass； and with
leather well greased in the hause…hole。 In this state things remained
during the whole day； every sea which struck the vessel … and the seas
followed each other in close succession … causing her to shake； and all on
board occasionally to tremble。 At each of these strokes of the sea the
rolling and pitching of the vessel ceased for a time； and her motion was
felt as if she had either broke adrift before the wind or were in the act of
sinking； but； when another sea came； she ranged up against it with great
force； and this became the regular intimation of our being still riding at
anchor。
About eleven o'clock； the writer with some difficulty got out of bed；
but； in attempting to dress； he was thrown twice upon the floor at the
opposite end of the cabin。 In an undressed state he made shift to get