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provisions； and the ship being much infested with rats； the crew hunted
these vermin with great eagerness to help their scanty allowance。 By
such means Glen had the address to make his companions； in some
measure； satisfied； or at least passive； with regard to their miserable
prospects upon this half…tide rock in the middle of the ocean。 This incident
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is noticed； more particularly； to show the effects of such a happy turn of
mind； even under the most distressing and ill…fated circumstances。
＇Saturday； 17th June＇
At eight a。m。 the artificers and sailors； forty…five in number； landed on
the rock； and after four hours' work seven stones were laid。 The
remainder of this tide； from the threatening appearance of the weather； was
occupied in trenailing and making all things as secure as possible。 At
twelve noon the rock and building were again overflowed； when the
masons and seamen went on board of the tender； but Mr。 Watt； with his
squad of ten men； remained on the beacon throughout the day。 As it blew
fresh from the N。W。 in the evening； it was found impracticable either to
land the building artificers or to take the artificers off the beacon； and they
were accordingly left there all night； but in circumstances very different
from those of the 1st of this month。 The house； being now in a more
complete state； was provided with bedding； and they spent the night pretty
well； though they complained of having been much disturbed at the time
of high…water by the shaking and tremulous motion of their house and by
the plashing noise of the sea upon mortar gallery。 Here James Glen's
versatile powers were again at work in cheering up those who seemed to
be alarmed； and in securing everything as far as possible。 On this
occasion he had only to recall to the recollections of some of them the
former night which they had spent on the beacon； the wind and sea being
then much higher； and their habitation in a far less comfortable state。
The wind still continuing to blow fresh from the N。W。； at five p。m。 the
writer caused a signal to be made from the tender for the SMEATON AND
PATRIOT to slip their moorings； when they ran for Lunan Bay； an
anchorage on the east side of the Redhead。 Those on board of the tender
spent but a very rough night； and perhaps slept less soundly than their
companions on the beacon； especially as the wind was at N。W。； which
caused the vessel to ride with her stern towards the Bell Rock； so that； in
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