An Account of the Bell Rock Light-House: Including the Details of the Erection and Peculiar Structure of That Edifice; to Which Is Prefixed a Historical View of the Institution and Progress of the Northern Light-HousesStevenson, Robert
History
An Account of the Bell Rock Light-House: Including the Details of the Erection and Peculiar Structure of That Edifice; to Which Is Prefixed a Historical View of the Institution and Progress of the Northern Light-Houses
Stevenson, Robert
Bell Rock Lighthouse (Scotland); Lighthouses -- Scotland
The wind still continued to blow very hard at E. by N., and the Sir
Joseph Banks rode heavily, and even drifted with both anchors ahead,
in Leith Roads. The artificers did not attempt to leave the ship last
night; but there being upwards of fifty-people on board, and the decks
greatly lumbered with the two large boats, they were in a very crowded
and impatient state on board. But to-day they got ashore, and amused
themselves by walking about the streets of Edinburgh, some in very
humble apparel, from having only the worst of their jackets with them,
which, though quite suitable for their work, were hardly fit for public
inspection, being not only tattered, but greatly stained with the red
colour of the rock.
[Sidenote: Friday, 10th.]
To-day the wind was at S. E., with light breezes and foggy weather. At
6 A. M. the writer again embarked for the Bell Rock, when the vessel
immediately sailed. At 11 P. M., there being no wind, the kedge-anchor
was _let go_ off Anstruther, one of the numerous towns on the coast of
Fife, where we waited the return of the tide.
[Sidenote: Saturday, 11th.]
Before leaving Leith Roads, the muster-roll was called, to see that
all hands were on board; and we also shipped an additional seaman. The
vessel, therefore, required a great stock of provisions and water, and,
from her very hampered situation, with the stores and apparatus of
various kinds which she had on board, it became necessary to embrace
every opportunity of filling up the stock of water, as landsmen use a
much greater quantity of that indispensable article for every purpose
than seamen. Mr Taylor, who commanded the Tender, and whose attention
in this respect was quite indefatigable, sent the boat ashore at
Anstruther, at a very early hour this morning, for an additional supply.
[Sidenote: Work continued on the Rock till midnight.]
Throughout these twenty-four hours, the winds were variable and the
weather was hazy. At 6 A. M. the Sir Joseph got under weigh, and at
11 was again made fast to the southern buoy at the Bell Rock. Though
it was now late in the tide, the writer being anxious to ascertain
the state of things after the gale, landed with the artificers, to
the number of forty-four. Every thing was found in an entire state;
but, as the tide was nearly gone, only half an hour’s work had been
got when the site of the building was overflowed. During the period of
high-water, the boats were employed in bringing stores and provisions
from on board the Smeaton, which had also returned from Arbroath,
whither she had run for shelter. In the evening the boats again landed
at 9, and, after a good tide’s-work of three hours, with torch-light,
the work was left off at midnight.
[Sidenote: Appearance of the Rock at night.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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