登陆注册
4128800000064

第64章 CHAPTER III THE BUILDING OF THE BELL ROCK(41)

The artificers had finished the laying of the balcony course, excepting the centre-stone of the light-room floor, which, like the centres of the other floors, could not be laid in its place till after the removal of the foot and shaft of the balance-crane. During the dinner-hour, when the men were off work the writer generally took some exercise by walking round the walls when the rock was under water; but to-day his boundary was greatly enlarged, for, instead of the narrow wall as a path, he felt no small degree of pleasure in walking round the balcony and passing out and in at the space allotted for the light-room door. In the labours of this day both the artificers and seamen felt their work to be extremely easy compared with what it had been for some days past.

[Sunday, 29th July]

Captain Wilson and his crew had made preparations for landing the last stone, and, as may well be supposed, this was a day of great interest at the Bell Rock. 'That it might lose none of its honours,' as he expressed himself, the HEDDERWICK praam-boat, with which the first stone of the building had been landed, was appointed also to carry the last. At seven o'clock this evening the seamen hoisted three flags upon the HEDDERWICK, when the colours of the DICKIE praam-boat, tender, SMEATON, floating light, beacon-house, and lighthouse were also displayed; and, the weather being remarkably fine, the whole presented a very gay appearance, and, in connection with the associations excited, the effect was very pleasing. The praam which carried the stone was towed by the seamen in gallant style to the rock, and, on its arrival, cheers were given as a finale to the landing department.

[Monday, 30th July]

The ninetieth or last course of the building having been laid to-day, which brought the masonry to the height of one hundred and two feet six inches, the lintel of the light-room door, being the finishing-stone of the exterior walls, was laid with due formality by the writer, who, at the same time, pronounced the following benediction: "May the Great Architect of the Universe, under whose blessing this perilous work has prospered, preserve it as a guide to the mariner."

[Friday, 3rd Aug.]

At three p.m., the necessary preparations having been made, the artificers commenced the completing of the floors of the several apartments, and at seven o'clock the centre-stone of the light-room floor was laid, which may be held as finishing the masonry of this important national edifice.

After going through the usual ceremonies observed by the brotherhood on occasions of this kind, the writer, addressing himself to the artificers and seamen who were present, briefly alluded to the utility of the undertaking as a monument of the wealth of British commerce, erected through the spirited measures of the Commissioners of the Northern Lighthouses by means of the able assistance of those who now surrounded him.

He then took an opportunity of stating that toward those connected with this arduous work he would ever retain the most heartfelt regard in all their interests.

[Saturday, 4th Aug.]

When the bell was rung as usual on the beacon this morning, every one seemed as if he were at a loss what to make of himself. At this period the artificers at the rock consisted of eighteen masons, two joiners, one millwright, one smith, and one mortar-maker, besides Messrs. Peter Logan and Francis Watt, foremen, counting in all twenty-five; and matters were arranged for proceeding to Arbroath this afternoon with all hands. The SIR JOSEPH BANKS tender had by this time been afloat, with little intermission, for six months, during greater part of which the artificers had been almost constantly off at the rock, and were now much in want of necessaries of almost every description. Not a few had lost different articles of clothing, which had dropped into the sea from the beacon and building. Some wanted jackets; others, from want of hats, wore nightcaps; each was, in fact, more or less curtailed in his wardrobe, and it must be confessed that at best the party were but in a very tattered condition. This morning was occupied in removing the artificers and their bedding on board of the tender; and although their personal luggage was easily shifted, the boats had, nevertheless, many articles to remove from the beacon-house, and were consequently employed in this service till eleven a.m. All hands being collected and just ready to embark, as the water had nearly overflowed the rock, the writer, in taking leave, after alluding to the harmony which had ever marked the conduct of those employed on the Bell Rock, took occasion to compliment the great zeal, attention, and abilities of Mr. Peter Logan and Mr. Francis Watt, foremen; Captain James Wilson, landing-master; and Captain David Taylor, commander of the tender, who, in their several departments, had so faithfully discharged the duties assigned to them, often under circumstances the most difficult and trying. The health of these gentlemen was drunk with much warmth of feeling by the artificers and seamen, who severally expressed the satisfaction they had experienced in acting under them; after which the whole party left the rock.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 我的超级悬赏金系统

    我的超级悬赏金系统

    原来,那遥不可及的东西,就在我触手可及之处!——吉恩·克洛尔·蓝·J·诺金罗德-------------强者,能更自由的活着,这就是我要的!
  • 朝鲜战争:未曾透露的真相

    朝鲜战争:未曾透露的真相

    《朝鲜战争:未曾透露的真相》是一部研究朝鲜战争的全面又精彩的综合性著作。美国政论家约瑟夫·古尔登充分利用1970年代末开始解密的有关朝战的官方档案,收集到美国政府重要决策所依赖的原始情报数据,此后四年间采访众多当事者和知情人,经过精准梳理和敏锐把握,完成了这部内幕之作。而这批“五角大楼朝战文件”资料已经被小布什政府重新加密,这使得本书所揭示的真相更为难得可贵。
  • 王的西游记

    王的西游记

    唐僧去西天,取回真经渡众生;他去西天……西天亡国了……唐太宗:朕君主华夷,天竺为何不来朝觐?戒日王:我当东面朝之。太上老君:佛门可把经文取到东土,就不许我道门把经文传至西天?《旧唐书》:迦没路国献异物,并上地图,请老子像。天竺佛教日衰,为挽颓势,如来策划取经大计,神仙妖魔闻风而动。西行之路劫难重重,其根源为何?是教派斗争,或是中印两国君主的王权游戏?
  • 靠制度管人,不靠人管人

    靠制度管人,不靠人管人

    马云曾经说过,没有好的制度,这是公司的灾难。由此可见制度化管理对于一个团队是何等的重要。一个企业,应当依“规”管理,做到有“规”可依、有“规”必依。人管人,总是有漏洞可循,因为人是有弱点、有感情的。企业内部有一套运行得当的规章制度,是一个有生命力的团队的基本特征。若是没有一个健全的制度来规范人的行为,那么,这个团队便会成为缺乏凝聚力与执行力的一盘散沙。本书从如何选拔人才、培育人才、使用人才、留住人才、精细化管理等企业管理所面临的具体问题入手,提供了一套切实可行的方法,让读者明白了“为什么”之后,更懂得“怎么做”。极具实用性和操作性。
  • 上清太上元始耀光金虎凤文章宝经

    上清太上元始耀光金虎凤文章宝经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 狗保姆传奇

    狗保姆传奇

    靠海市城乡结合部,有一个叫大陈屯的村子。这几天,村中原支书陈感恩吃不下饭,睡不好觉,时常一个人站在村口,望着村东那个叫“小红岗”的地方发呆。原来“小红岗”上原有的四座烈士墓,连同当年栽下的十几棵松柏树,一夜之间被人铲平了!谁如此大胆敢对烈士墓下手?此人便是本村亿万富豪由金明!由金明铲平烈士墓的理由很简单:前些天由金明的老娘死了,风水先生说这片林墓阻挡了他爹娘的风水龙脉。
  • 斋戒箓

    斋戒箓

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 人生百态:小说系列(套装共4册)

    人生百态:小说系列(套装共4册)

    一个彝族年轻母亲向我们昭示的,信念在命运中的强大力量三个孩子,上万里的人生之旅。洞彻世相百态亦嗔亦笑,烛照民族性格画心画骨一部触及灵魂的人心史,一曲透彻心灵的世道歌《青春野蛮生长》以文笔幽默,语言诙谐,快节奏的叙述,流畅至酣然,塑造了一个经典的人物形象,草鱼身上带着一种讨人喜欢的坏。他的身上,凝聚了80后一代叛逆,自我的特征,以及青春期少年独有的青涩,懵懂,迷茫,自以为是,他的经历和心路历程引发一代人的共鸣。
  • 太古帝诀

    太古帝诀

    (三万字签约,大家放心收藏)没落的古家岭,就连护卫都想离去了。这天,古风终于炼化了体内的灵魂...古家岭如一颗新星,冉冉升起。(241920568本书交流群)
  • 入世花都

    入世花都

    欲修仙道,先修人道。廖煌从小跟着一位仙人师父在一处世外桃源中长大,道法符咒奇门炼丹样样精通,但是对外面的世界一无所知。于是当一个机缘降临时,他来到人间,去红尘之中修行人道。面对红尘的缭乱,繁华的世界,权力、金钱与美色的诱惑,这就是人道当中的修行。临行前,仙人师父留给廖煌一些宝贝以及三句话:一、无论世界如何变化,本质永远是拳头大的才是老大;二、打蛇打七寸,打人要打脸,尤其是遇到那种给脸不要脸的,更要狠狠的打,不然他不长记性;三、本门弟子,是容不得外人欺负的!…………欢迎进入二冰打造的都市幻想世界,这个世界当中,满足你的所有野心!