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！
necessary to address them； excepting in the way of precaution or restraint。
Under these circumstances； however； the writer not unfrequently felt
considerable anxiety； of which this day's experience will afford an
example。
＇Thursday； 1st June＇
This morning； at a quarter…past eight； the artificers were landed as
usual； and； after three hours and three… quarters' work； five stones were
laid； the greater part of this tide having been taken up in completing the
boring and trenailing of the stones formerly laid。 At noon the writer； with
the seamen and artificers； proceeded to the tender； leaving on the beacon
115
… Page 116…
RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
the joiners； and several of those who were troubled with sea…sickness …
among whom was Mr。 Logan； who remained with Mr。 Watt … counting
altogether eleven persons。 During the first and middle parts of these
twenty… four hours the wind was from the east； blowing what the seamen
term ‘fresh breezes'； but in the afternoon it shifted to E。N。E。； accompanied
with so heavy a swell of sea that the SMEATON and tender struck their
topmasts； launched in their bolt…sprits； and ‘made all snug' for a gale。 At
four p。m。 the SMEATON was obliged to slip her moorings； and passed the
tender； drifting before the wind； with only the foresail set。 In passing； Mr。
Pool hailed that he must run for the Firth of Forth to prevent the vessel
from ‘riding under。'
On board of the tender the writer's chief concern was about the eleven
men left upon the beacon。 Directions were accordingly given that
everything about the vessel should be put in the best possible state； to
present as little resistance to the wind as possible； that she might have the
better chance of riding out the gale。 Among these preparations the best
bower cable was bent； so as to have a second anchor in readiness in case
the mooring…hawser should give way； that every means might be used for
keeping the vessel within sight of the prisoners on the beacon； and thereby
keep them in as good spirits as possible。 From the same motive the boats
were kept afloat that they might be less in fear of the vessel leaving her
station。 The landing…master had； however； repeatedly expressed his
anxiety for the safety of the boats； and wished much to have them hoisted
on board。 At seven p。m。 one of the boats； as he feared； was unluckily filled
with sea from a wave breaking into her； and it was with great difficulty
that she could be baled out and got on board； with the loss of her oars；
rudder； and loose thwarts。 Such was the motion of the ship that in taking
this boat on board her gunwale was stove in； and she otherwise received
considerable damage。 Night approached； but it was still found quite
impossible to go near the rock。 Consulting； therefore； the safety of the
second boat； she also was hoisted on board of the tender。
At this time the cabins of the beacon were only partially covered； and
had neither been provided with bedding nor a proper fireplace； while the
stock of provisions was but slender。 In these uncomfortable
116
… Page 117…
RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
circumstances the people on the beacon were left for the night； nor was the
situation of those on board of the tender much better。 The rolling and
pitching motion of the ship was excessive； and； excepting to those who
had been accustomed to a residence in the floating light； it seemed quite
intolerable。 Nothing was heard but the hissing of the winds and the
creaking of the bulkheads or partitions of the ship； the night was； therefore；
spent in the most unpleasant reflections upon the condition of the people
on the beacon； especially in the prospect of the tender being driven from
her moorings。 But； even in such a case； it afforded some consolation that
the stability of the fabric was never doubted； and that the boats of the
floating light were at no great distance； and ready to render the people on
the rock the earliest assistance which the weather would permit。 The
writer's cabin being in the sternmost part of the ship； which had what
sailors term a good entry； or was sharp built； the sea； as before noticed；
struck her counter with so much violence that the water； with a rushing
noise； continually forced its way up the rudder…case； lifted the valve of the
water…closet； and overran the cabin floor。 In these circumstances daylight
was eagerly looked for； and hailed with delight； as well by those afloat as
by the artificers upon the rock。
＇Friday； 2nd June＇
In the course of the night the writer held repeated conversations with
the officer on watch； who reported that the weather continued much in the
same state； and that the barometer still indicated 29。20 inches。 At six a。m。
the landing…master considered the weather to have somewhat moderated；
and； from certain appearances of the sky； he was of opinion that a change
for the better would soon take place。 He accordingly proposed to attempt a
landing at low…water； and either get the people off the rock； or at least
ascertain what state they were in。 At nine a。m。 he left the vessel with a
boat well manned； carrying with him a supply of cooked provisions and a
tea…kettle full of mulled port wine for the people on the beacon； who had
not had any regular diet for about thirty hours； while they were exposed
during that period； in a great measure； both to the winds and the sprays of
the sea。 The boat having succeeded in landing； she returned at eleven
a。m。 with the artificers； who had got off with considerable difficulty； and
117
… Page 118…
RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
who were heartily welcomed by all on board。
Upon inquiry it appeared that three of the stones last laid upon the
building had been partially lifted from their beds by the force of the sea；
and were now held only by the trenails； and that the cast…iron sheer…crane
had again been thrown down and completely broken。 With regard to the
beacon； the sea at high…water had lifted part of the mortar gallery or lowest
floor； and washed away all the lime…casks and other movable articles from
it； but the principal parts of this fabric had sustained no damage。 On
pressing Messrs。 Logan and Watt on the situation of things in the course of
the night； Mr。 Logan emphatically said： ‘That the beacon had an ILL…
FAURED （1） TWIST when the sea broke upon it at high…water； but that
they were not very apprehensive of danger。' On inquiring as to how they
spent the night； it appeared that they had made shift to keep a small fire
burning； and by means of some old sails defended themselves pretty well
from the sea sprays。
（1） Ill…formed … ugly。 … ＇R。 L。 S。＇
It was particularly mentioned that by the exertions of James Glen； one
of the joiners； a number of articles were saved from being washed off the
mortar gallery。 Glen was also very useful in keeping up the spirits of the
forlorn party。 In the early part of life he had undergone many curious
adventures at sea； which he now recounted somewhat after the manner of
the tales of the ARABIAN NIGHTS。 When one observed that the
beacon was a most comfortless lodging； Glen would presently introduce
some of his exploits and hardships； in comparison with which the state of
things at the beacon bore an aspect of comfort and happiness。 Looking to
their slender stock of provisions； and their perilous and uncertain chance
of speedy relief； he would launch out into an account of one of his
expeditions in the North Sea； when the vessel； being much disabled in a
storm； was driven before the wind with the loss of almost all their
provisions； and the ship being much infested with rats； the crew hunted
these vermin