Account of the Skerryvore lighthouse : $b with notes on the illumination of lighthousesStevenson, Alan
History
Account of the Skerryvore lighthouse : $b with notes on the illumination of lighthouses
Stevenson, Alan
Skerryvore Lighthouse (Hebrides, Scotland)
_11th September._--This was our last day’s work on the Rock this
season. We landed at four o’clock with very great difficulty, and some
danger of having our boats swamped; and we were forced, owing to the
heavy sea which broke upon it, to leave the Rock at high water; but,
about one o’clock, we were enabled to return, as the sea fell a little.
By dint of great exertions, we got the last of the diagonal braces
fixed, and the bats run up with lead and painted, for their protection
against corrosion. We also contrived to remove the greater part of
the tools from the Rock, but some we were forced to leave to their
fate. To the upper part of the pyramid we lashed a water-tight chest,
containing biscuits and a cask of water, to serve as a means of support
to any shipwrecked mariners who might chance to reach the Rock. I also
caused some spars to be lashed at various levels, by way of testing the
effects of the sea; but to how little purpose, the sequel will shew.
Before leaving the Rock, I climbed to the top of the pyramid, from
which I now, for the first time, got a bird’s eye view of the various
shoals which the stormy state of the sea so well disclosed; and my
elevation above the Rock itself decreased the apparent elevation of
the rugged ledge so much, that it seemed to me as if each successive
wave must sweep right over its surface, and carry us all before it
into the wide Atlantic. So loud was the roaring of the wind among the
timbers of the barrack, and so hoarse the clamour of the waves, that
I could not hear the voices of the men below; and I, with difficulty,
occasionally caught the sharp tinkle of the hammers on the Rock. When I
looked back upon the works of the season, upon our difficulties, and,
I must add, dangers, and the small result of our exertions--for we had
only been 165 hours at work on the Rock between the 7th August and
the 11th September--I could see that, in good truth, there were many
difficulties before us; but there was also much cause for thankfulness,
in the many escapes we had made.
After a somewhat precarious embarkation in the boats, and shipping
several seas in our way, we reached the vessel, and immediately set
sail with three cheers, rejoicing to have thus concluded our season’s
work.
~Destruction of the barrack during a gale.~
~Letter from Mr Hogben.~
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account