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RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
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 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
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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；
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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