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！
the rock； they had become familiar； and even playful； on the most difficult
parts about the beacon and building。 This evening they were trying to
outrun each other in descending from the light…room； when Henderson led
the way； but they were in conversation with each other till they came to
the rope…ladder distended between the entrance…door of the lighthouse and
the beacon。 Dickson； on reaching the cook…room； was surprised at not
seeing his companion； and inquired hastily for Henderson。 Upon which
the cook replied； ‘Was he before you upon the rope…ladder？' Dickson
answered； ‘Yes； and I thought I heard something fall。' Upon this the alarm
159
… Page 160…
RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
was given； and links were immediately lighted； with which the artificers
descended on the legs of the beacon； as near the surface of the water as
possible； it being then about full tide； and the sea breaking to a
considerable height upon the building； with the wind at S。S。E。 But； after
watching till low…water； and searching in every direction upon the rock； it
appeared that poor Henderson must have unfortunately fallen through the
rope…ladder； and been washed into the deep water。
The deceased had passed along this rope…ladder many hundred times；
both by day and night； and the operations in which he was employed being
nearly finished； he was about to leave the rock when this melancholy
catastrophe took place。 The unfortunate loss of Henderson cast a deep
gloom upon the minds of all who were at the rock； and it required some
management on the part of those who had charge to induce the people to
remain patiently at their work； as the weather now became more
boisterous； and the nights long； they found their habitation extremely
cheerless； while the winds were howling about their ears； and the waves
lashing with fury against the beams of their insulated habitation。
＇Tuesday； 23rd Oct。＇
The wind had shifted in the night to N。W。； and blew a fresh gale； while
the sea broke with violence upon the rock。 It was found impossible to land；
but the writer； from the boat； hailed Mr。 Dove； and directed the ball to be
immediately fixed。 The necessary preparations were accordingly made；
while the vessel made short tacks on the southern side of the rock； in
comparatively smooth water。 At noon Mr。 Dove； assisted by Mr。 James
Slight； Mr。 Robert Selkirk； Mr。 James Glen； and Mr。 John Gibson； plumber；
with considerable difficulty； from the boisterous state of the weather； got
the gilded ball screwed on； measuring two feet in diameter； and forming
the principal ventilator at the upper extremity of the cupola of the light…
room。 At Mr。 Hamilton's desire； a salute of seven guns was fired on this
occasion； and； all hands being called to the quarter…deck； ‘Stability to the
Bell Rock Lighthouse' was not forgotten。
＇Tuesday； 30th Oct。＇
On reaching the rock it was found that a very heavy sea still ran upon
it； but the writer having been disappointed on two former occasions； and；
160
… Page 161…
RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
as the erection of the house might now be considered complete； there
being nothing wanted externally； excepting some of the storm…shutters for
the defence of the windows； he was the more anxious at this time to
inspect it。 Two well…manned boats were therefore ordered to be in
attendance； and； after some difficulty； the wind being at N。N。E。； they got
safely into the western creek； though not without encountering plentiful
sprays。 It would have been impossible to have attempted a landing to…
day； under any other circumstances than with boats perfectly adapted to
the purpose； and with seamen who knew every ledge of the rock； and even
the length of the sea…weeds at each particular spot； so as to dip their oars
into the water accordingly； and thereby prevent them from getting
entangled。 But what was of no less consequence to the safety of the
party； Captain Wilson； who always steered the boat； had a perfect
knowledge of the set of the different waves； while the crew never shifted
their eyes from observing his motions； and the strictest silence was
preserved by every individual except himself。
On entering the house； the writer had the pleasure to find it in a
somewhat habitable condition； the lower apartments being closed in with
temporary windows； and fitted with proper storm…shutters。 The lowest
apartment at the head of the staircase was occupied with water； fuel； and
provisions； put up in a temporary way until the house could be furnished
with proper utensils。 The second； or light…room store； was at present
much encumbered with various tools and apparatus for the use of the
workmen。 The kitchen immediately over this had； as yet； been supplied
only with a common ship's caboose and plate…iron funnel； while the
necessary cooking utensils had been taken from the beacon。 The
bedroom was for the present used as the joiners' workshop； and the
strangers' room； immediately under the light…room； was occupied by the
artificers； the beds being ranged in tiers； as was done in the barrack of the
beacon。 The light…room； though unprovided with its machinery； being
now covered over with the cupola； glazed and painted； had a very
complete and cleanly appearance。 The balcony was only as yet fitted
with a temporary rail； consisting of a few iron stanchions； connected with
ropes； and in this state it was necessary to leave it during the winter。
161
… Page 162…
RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
Having gone over the whole of the low…water works on the rock； the
beacon； and lighthouse； and being satisfied that only the most untoward
accident in the landing of the machinery could prevent the exhibition of
the light in the course of the winter； Mr。 John Reid； formerly of the
floating light； was now put in charge of the lighthouse as principal keeper；
Mr。 James Slight had charge of the operations of the artificers； while Mr。
James Dove and the smiths； having finished the frame of the light…room；
left the rock for the present。 With these arrangements the writer bade
adieu to the works for the season。 At eleven a。m。 the tide was far
advanced； and there being now little or no shelter for the boats at the rock；
they had to be pulled through the breach of sea； which came on board in
great quantities； and it was with extreme difficulty that they could be kept
in the proper direction of the landing…creek。 On this occasion he may be
permitted to look back with gratitude on the many escapes made in the
course of this arduous undertaking； now brought so near to a successful
conclusion。
＇Monday； 5th Nov。＇
On Monday； the 5th； the yacht again visited the rock； when Mr。 Slight
and the artificers returned with her to the workyard； where a number of
things were still to prepare connected with the temporary fitting up of the
accommodation for the lightkeepers。 Mr。 John Reid and Peter Fortune
were now the only inmates of the house。 This was the smallest number
of persons hitherto left in the lighthouse。 As four lightkeepers were to be
the complement； it was intended that three should always be at the rock。
Its present inmates； however； could hardly have been better selected for
such a situation； Mr。 Reid being a person possessed of the strictest notions
of duty and habits of regularity from long service on board of a man…of…
war； while Mr。 Fortune had one of the most happy and contented
dispositions imaginable。
＇Tuesday； 13th Nov。＇
From Saturday the 10th till Tuesday the 13th； the wind had been from
N。E。 blowing a heavy gale； bu