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the event of anything giving way； she could hardly have escaped being
stranded upon it。
＇Sunday； 18th June＇
The weather having moderated to…day； the wind shifted to the
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westward。 At a quarter…past nine a。m。 the artificers landed from the
tender and had the pleasure to find their friends who had been left on the
rock quite hearty； alleging that the beacon was the preferable quarters of
the two。
＇Saturday； 24th June＇
Mr。 Peter Logan； the foreman builder； and his squad； twenty…one in
number； landed this morning at three o'clock； and continued at work four
hours and a quarter； and after laying seventeen stones returned to the
tender。 At six a。m。 Mr。 Francis Watt and his squad of twelve men landed；
and proceeded with their respective operations at the beacon and railways；
and were left on the rock during the whole day without the necessity of
having any communication with the tender； the kitchen of the beacon…
house being now fitted up。 It was to…day； also； that Peter Fortune … a most
obliging and well…known character in the Lighthouse service … was
removed from the tender to the beacon as cook and steward； with a stock
of provisions as ample as his limited store…room would admit。
When as many stones were built as comprised this day's work； the
demand for mortar was proportionally increased； and the task of the
mortar…makers on these occasions was both laborious and severe。 This
operation was chiefly performed by John Watt … a strong； active quarrier
by profession； … who was a perfect character in his way； and extremely
zealous in his department。 While the operations of the mortar…makers
continued； the forge upon the gallery was not generally in use； but； as the
working hours of the builders extended with the height of the building； the
forge could not be so long wanted； and then a sad confusion often ensued
upon the circumscribed floor of the mortar gallery； as the operations of
Watt and his assistants trenched greatly upon those of the smiths。 Under
these circumstances the boundary of the smiths was much circumscribed；
and they were personally annoyed； especially in blowy weather； with the
dust of the lime in its powdered state。 The mortar…makers； on the other
hand； were often not a little distressed with the heat of the fire and the
sparks elicited on the anvil； and not unaptly complained that they were
placed between the ‘devil and the deep sea。'
＇Sunday； 25th June＇
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The work being now about ten feet in height； admitted of a rope…ladder
being distended （1） between the beacon and the building。 By this
‘Jacob's Ladder；' as the seamen termed it； a communication was kept up
with the beacon while the rock was considerably under water。 One end
of it being furnished with tackle…blocks； was fixed to the beams of the
beacon； at the level of the mortar gallery； while the further end was
connected with the upper course of the building by means of two Lewis
bats which were lifted from course to course as the work advanced。 In
the same manner a rope furnished with a travelling pulley was distended
for the purpose of transporting the mortar…buckets； and other light articles
between the beacon and the building； which also proved a great
conveniency to the work。 At this period the rope…ladder and tackle for
the mortar had a descent from the beacon to the building； by and by they
were on a level； and towards the end of the season； when the solid part had
attained its full height； the ascent was from the mortar gallery to the
building。
（1） This is an incurable illusion of my grandfather's； he always writes
‘distended' for ‘extended。' … ＇R。 L。 S。＇
＇Friday； 30th June＇
The artificers landed on the rock this morning at a quarter…past six； and
remained at work five hours。 The cooking apparatus being now in full
operation； all hands had breakfast on the beacon at the usual hour； and
remained there throughout the day。 The crane upon the building had to
be raised to…day from the eighth to the ninth course； an operation which
now required all the strength that could be mustered for working the guy…
tackles； for as the top of the crane was at this time about thirty…five feet
above the rock； it became much more unmanageable。 While the beam
was in the act of swinging round from one guy to another； a great strain
was suddenly brought upon the opposite tackle； with the end of which the
artificers had very improperly neglected to take a turn round some
stationary object； which would have given them the complete command of
the tackle。 Owing to this simple omission； the crane got a preponderancy
to one side； and fell upon the building with a terrible crash。 The
surrounding artificers immediately flew in every direction to get out of its
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way； but Michael Wishart； the principal builder； having unluckily
stumbled upon one of the uncut trenails； fell upon his back。 His body
fortunately got between the movable beam and the upright shaft of the
crane； and was thus saved； but his feet got entangled with the wheels of
the crane and were severely injured。 Wishart； being a robust young man；
endured his misfortune with wonderful firmness； he was laid upon one of
the narrow framed beds of the beacon and despatched in a boat to the
tender； where the writer was when this accident happened； not a little
alarmed on missing the crane from the top of the building； and at the same
time seeing a boat rowing towards the vessel with great speed。 When the
boat came alongside with poor Wishart； stretched upon a bed covered with
blankets； a moment of great anxiety followed； which was； however； much
relieved when； on stepping into the boat； he was accosted by Wishart；
though in a feeble voice； and with an aspect pale as death from excessive
bleeding。 Directions having been immediately given to the coxswain to
apply to Mr。 Kennedy at the workyard to procure the best surgical aid； the
boat was sent off without delay to Arbroath。 The writer then landed at
the rock； when the crane was in a very short time got into its place and
again put in a working state。
＇Monday； 3rd July＇
The writer having come to Arbroath with the yacht； had an opportunity
of visiting Michael Wishart； the artificer who had met with so severe an
accident at the rock on the 30th ult。； and had the pleasure to find him in a
state of recovery。 From Dr。 Stevenson's account； under whose charge he
had been placed； hopes were entertained that amputation would not be
necessary； as his patient still kept free of fever or any appearance of
mortification；