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took possession of their old quarters in the beacon…house； with feelings
very different from those of 1807； when the works commenced。
The barometer for some days past had been falling from 29。90； and to…
day it was 29。50； with the wind at N。E。； which； in the course of this day；
increased to a strong gale accompanied with a sea which broke with great
violence upon the rock。 At twelve noon the tender rode very heavily at
her moorings； when her chain broke at about ten fathoms from the ships
bows。 The kedge…anchor was immediately let go； to hold her till the
floating buoy and broken chain should be got on board。 But while this
was in operation the hawser of the kedge was chafed through on the rocky
bottom and parted； when the vessel was again adrift。 Most fortunately；
however； she cast off with her head from the rock； and narrowly cleared it；
when she sailed up the Firth of Forth to wait the return of better weather。
The artificers were thus left upon the rock with so heavy a sea running that
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it was ascertained to have risen to a height of eighty feet on the building。
Under such perilous circumstances it would be difficult to describe the
feelings of those who； at this time； were cooped up in the beacon in so
forlorn a situation； with the sea not only raging under them； but
occasionally falling from a great height upon the roof of their temporary
lodging； without even the attending vessel in view to afford the least
gleam of hope in the event of any accident。 It is true that they now had
the masonry of the lighthouse to resort to； which； no doubt； lessened the
actual danger of their situation； but the building was still without a roof；
and the deadlights； or storm…shutters； not being yet fitted； the windows of
the lower story were stove in and broken； and at high…water the sea ran in
considerable quantities out at the entrance door。
＇Thursday； 16th Aug。＇
The gale continues with unabated violence to…day； and the sprays rise
to a still greater height； having been carried over the masonry of the
building； or about ninety feet above the level of the sea。 At four o'clock
this morning it was breaking into the cook's berth； when he rang the
alarm…bell； and all hands turned out to attend to their personal safety。 The
floor of the smith's； or mortar gallery； was now completely burst up by the
force of the sea； when the whole of the deals and the remaining articles
upon the floor were swept away； such as the cast…iron mortar…tubs； the iron
hearth of the forge； the smith's bellows； and even his anvil were thrown
down upon the rock。 Before the tide rose to its full height to…day some of
the artificers passed along the bridge into the lighthouse； to observe the
effects of the sea upon it； and they reported that they had felt a slight
tremulous motion in the building when great seas struck it in a certain
direction； about high…water mark。 On this occasion the sprays were again
observed to wet the balcony； and even to come over the parapet wall into
the interior of the light…room。
＇Thursday； 23rd Aug。＇
The wind being at W。S。W。； and the weather more moderate； both the
tender and the SMEATON got to their moorings on the 23rd； when all
hands were employed in transporting the sash… frames from on board of
the SMEATON to the rock。 In the act of setting up one of these frames
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upon the bridge； it was unguardedly suffered to lose its balance； and in
saving it from damage Captain Wilson met with a severe bruise in the
groin； on the seat of a gun…shot wound received in the early part of his life。
This accident laid him aside for several days。
＇Monday； 27th Aug。＇
The sash…frames of the light…room； eight in number； and weighing each
254 pounds； having been got safely up to the top of the building； were
ranged on the balcony in the order in which they were numbered for their
places on the top of the parapet…wall； and the balance…crane； that useful
machine having now lifted all the heavier articles； was unscrewed and
lowered； to use the landing…master's phrase； ‘in mournful silence。'
＇Sunday； 2nd Sept。＇
The steps of the stair being landed； and all the weightier articles of the
light…room got up to the balcony； the wooden bridge was now to be
removed； as it had a very powerful effect upon the beacon when a heavy
sea struck it； and could not possibly have withstood the storms of a winter。
Everything having been cleared from the bridge； and nothing left but the
two principal beams with their horizontal braces； James Glen； at high…
water； proceeded with a saw to cut through the beams at the end next the
beacon； which likewise disengaged their opposite extremity； inserted a few
inches into the building。 The frame was then gently lowered into the
water； and floated off to the SMEATON to be towed to Arbroath； to be
applied as part of the materials in the erection of the lightkeepers' houses。
After the removal of the bridge； the aspect of things at the rock was much
altered。 The beacon… house and building had both a naked look to those
accustomed to their former appearance； a curious optical deception was
also remarked； by which the lighthouse seemed to incline from the
perpendicular towards the beacon。 The horizontal rope… ladder before
noticed was again stretched to preserve the communication； and the
artificers were once more obliged to practise the awkward and straddling
manner of their passage between them during 1809。
At twelve noon the bell rung for prayers； after which the artificers
went to dinner； when the writer passed along the rope…ladder to the
lighthouse； and went through the several apartments； which were now
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cleared of lumber。 In the afternoon all hands were summoned to the
interior of the house； when he had the satisfaction of laying the upper step
of the stair； or last stone of the building。 This ceremony concluded with
three cheers； the sound of which had a very loud and strange effect within
the walls of the lighthouse。 At six o'clock Mr。 Peter Logan and eleven of
the artificers embarked with the writer for Arbroath； leaving Mr。 James
Glen with the special charge of the beacon and railways； Mr。 Robert
Selkirk with the building； with a few artificers to fit the temporary
windows to render the house habitable。
＇Sunday； 14th Oct。＇
On returning from his voyage to the Northern Lighthouses； the writer
landed at the Bell Rock on Sunday； the 14th of October； and had the
pleasure to find； from the very favourable state of the weather； that the
artificers had been enabled to make great progress with the fitting…up of
the light…room。
＇Friday； 19th Oct。＇
The light…room work had proceeded； as usual； to…day under the
direction of Mr。 Dove； assisted in the plumber…work by Mr。 John Gibson；
and in the brazier…work by Mr。 Joseph Fraser； while Mr。 James Slight；
with the joiners； were fitting up the storm…shuttters of the windows。 In
these several departments the artificers were at work till seven o'clock
p。m。； and it being then dark； Mr。 Dove gave orders to drop work in the
light…room； and all hands proceeded from thence to the beacon… house；
when Charles Henderson； smith； and Henry Dickson； brazier； left the work
together。 Being both young men； who had been for several weeks upon
the rock； they had become familiar； and even playful； on the most difficult
parts about the be