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with three hearty cheers。
＇Saturday； 10th Sept。＇
Landed at nine a。m。； and by a quarter…past twelve noon twenty…three
stones had been laid。 The works being now somewhat elevated by the
lower courses； we got quit of the very serious inconvenience of pumping
water to clear the foundation…pit。 This gave much facility to the
operations； and was noticed with expressions of as much happiness by the
artificers as the seamen had shown when relieved of the continual trouble
of carrying the smith's bellows off the rock prior to the erection of the
beacon。
＇Wednesday； 21st Sept。＇
Mr。 Thomas Macurich； mate of the SMEATON； and James Scott； one
of the crew； a young man about eighteen years of age； immediately went
into their boat to make fast a hawser to the ring in the top of the floating
buoy of the moorings； and were forthwith to proceed to land their cargo；
so much wanted； at the rock。 The tides at this period were very strong；
and the mooring…chain； when sweeping the ground； had caught hold of a
rock or piece of wreck by which the chain was so shortened that when the
tide flowed the buoy got almost under water； and little more than the ring
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appeared at the surface。 When Macurich and Scott were in the act of
making the hawser fast to the ring； the chain got suddenly disentangled at
the bottom； and this large buoy； measuring about seven feet in height and
three feet in diameter at the middle； tapering to both ends； being what
seamen term a NUN…BUOY； vaulted or sprung up with such force that it
upset the boat； which instantly filled with water。 Mr。 Macurich； with
much exertion； succeeded in getting hold of the boat's gunwale； still above
the surface of the water； and by this means was saved； but the young man
Scott was unfortunately drowned。 He had in all probability been struck
about the head by the ring of the buoy； for although surrounded with the
oars and the thwarts of the boat which floated near him； yet he seemed
entirely to want the power of availing himself of such assistance； and
appeared to be quite insensible； while Pool； the master of the SMEATON；
called loudly to him； and before assistance could be got from the tender；
he was carried away by the strength of the current and disappeared。
The young man Scott was a great favourite in the service； having had
something uncommonly mild and complaisant in his manner； and his loss
was therefore universally regretted。 The circumstances of his case were
also peculiarly distressing to his mother； as her husband； who was a
seaman； had for three years past been confined to a French prison； and the
deceased was the chief support of the family。 In order in some measure
to make up the loss to the poor woman for the monthly aliment regularly
allowed her by her late son； it was suggested that a younger boy； a brother
of the deceased； might be taken into the service。 This appeared to be
rather a delicate proposition； but it was left to the landing…master to
arrange according to circumstances； such was the resignation； and at the
same time the spirit； of the poor woman； that she readily accepted the
proposal； and in a few days the younger Scott was actually afloat in the
place of his brother。 On representing this distressing case to the Board；
the Commissioners were pleased to grant an annuity of 5 pounds to Scott's
mother。
The SMEATON； not having been made fast to the buoy； had； with the
ebb…tide； drifted to leeward a considerable way eastward of the rock； and
could not； till the return of the flood…tide； be worked up to her moorings；
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RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
so that the present tide was lost； notwithstanding all exertions which had
been made both ashore and afloat with this cargo。 The artificers landed
at six a。m。； but； as no materials could be got upon the rock this morning；
they were employed in boring trenail holes and in various other operations；
and after four hours' work they returned on board the tender。 When the
SMEATON got up to her moorings； the landing…master's crew
immediately began to unload her。 There being too much wind for towing
the praams in the usual way； they were warped to the rock in the most
laborious manner by their windlasses； with successive grapplings and
hawsers laid out for this purpose。 At six p。m。 the artificers landed； and
continued at work till half…past ten； when the remaining seventeen stones
were laid which completed the third entire course； or fourth of the
lighthouse； with which the building operations were closed for the season。
III … OPERATIONS OF 1809
＇Wednesday； 24th May＇
The last night was the first that the writer； had passed in his old
quarters on board of the floating light for about twelve months； when the
weather was so fine and the sea so smooth that even here he felt but little
or no motion； excepting at the turn of the tide； when the vessel gets into
what the seamen term the TROUGH OF THE SEA。 At six a。m。 Mr。 Watt；
who conducted the operations of the railways and beacon… house； had
landed with nine artificers。 At half…past one p。m。 Mr。 Peter Logan had
also landed with fifteen masons； and immediately proceeded to set up the
crane。 The sheer…crane or apparatus for lifting the stones out of the
praam…boats at the eastern creek had been already erected； and the
railways now formed about two…thirds of an entire circle round the
building： some progress had likewise been made with the reach towards
the western landing…place。 The floors being laid； the beacon now
assumed the appearance of a habitation。 The SMEATON was at her
moorings； with the FERNIE praam…boat astern； for which she was laying
down moorings； and the tender being also at her station； the Bell Rock had
again put on its former busy aspect。
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＇Wednesday； 31st May＇
The landing…master's bell； often no very favourite sound； rung at six
this morning； but on this occasion； it is believed； it was gladly received by
all on board； as the welcome signal of the return of better weather。 The
masons laid thirteen stones to…day； which the seamen had landed； together
with other building materials。 During these twenty… four hours the wind
was from the south； blowing fresh breezes； accompanied with showers of
snow。 In the morning the snow showers were so thick that it was with
difficulty the landing… master； who always steered the leading boat； could
make his way to the rock through the drift。 But at the Bell Rock neither
snow nor rain； nor fog nor wind； retarded the progress of the work； if
unaccompanied by a heavy swell or breach of the sea。
The weather during the months of April and May had been
uncommonly boisterous； and so cold that the thermometer seldom
exceeded 40 degrees； while the barometer was generally about 29。50。
We had not only hail and sleet； but the snow on the last day of May lay on
the decks and rigging of the ship to the depth of about three inches； and；
although now entering upon the month of June； the length of the day was
the chief indication of summer。 Yet such is the effect of habit； and such
was the expertness of the landing…master's crew； that； even in this
description of weather； seldom a tide's work was lost。 Such was the
ardour and zeal of the heads of the several departments at the rock；
including Mr。 Peter Logan； foreman builder； Mr。 Francis Watt； foreman
millwright； and Captain Wilson； landing…master； that it was on no occasion
necessary to address them； excepting in the way of precaution or restraint。
Under these circums