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RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
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； and Wishart expressed a hope that he might； at least； be
ultimately capable of keeping the light at the Bell Rock； as it was not now
likely that he would assist further in building the house。
＇Saturday； 8th July＇
It was remarked to…day； with no small demonstration of joy； that the
tide； being neap； did not； for the first time； overflow the building at high…
water。 Flags were accordingly hoisted on the beacon…house； and crane on
the top of the building； which were repeated from the floating light；
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RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
Lighthouse yacht； tender； SMEATON； PATRIOT； and the two praams。 A
salute of three guns was also fired from the yacht at high…water； when； all
the artificers being collected on the top of the building； three cheers were
given in testimony of this important circumstance。 A glass of rum was
then served out to all hands on the rock and on board of the respective
ships。
＇Sunday； 16th July＇
Besides laying； boring； trenailing； wedging； and grouting thirty…two
stones； several other operations were proceeded with on the rock at low…
water； when some of the artificers were employed at the railways； and at
high…water at the beacon…house。 The seamen having prepared a quantity
of tarpaulin； or cloth laid over with successive coats of hot tar； the joiners
had just completed the covering of the roof with it。 This sort of covering
was lighter and more easily managed than sheet…lead in such a situation。
As a further defence against the weather the whole exterior of this
temporary residence was painted with three coats of white…lead paint。
Between the timber framing of the habitable part of the beacon the
interstices were to be stuffed with moss； as a light substance that would
resist dampness and check sifting winds； the whole interior was then to be
lined with green baize cloth； so that both without and within the cabins
were to have a very comfortable appearance。
Although the building artificers generally remained on the rock
throughout the day； and the millwrights； joiners； and smiths； while their
number was considerable； remained also during the night； yet the tender
had hitherto been considered as their night quarters。 But the wind having
in the course of the day shifted to the N。W。； and as the passage to the
tender； in the boats； was likely to be attended with difficulty； the whole of
the artificers； with Mr。 Logan； the foreman； preferred remaining all night
on the beacon； which had of late become the solitary abode of George…
Forsyth； a jobbing upholsterer； who had been employed in lining the
beacon…house with cloth and in fitting up the bedding。 Forsyth was a tall；
thin； and rather loose…made man； who had an utter aversion at climbing
upon the trap…ladders of the beacon； but especially at the process of
boating； and the motion of the ship； which he said ‘was death itself。' He
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RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
therefore pertinaciously insisted with the landing…master in being left upon
the beacon； with a small black dog as his only companion。 The writer；
however； felt some delicacy in leaving a single individual upon the rock；
who must have been so very helpless in case of accident。 This fabric had；
from the beginning； been rather intended by the writer to guard against
accident from the loss or damage of a boat； and as a place for making
mortar； a smith's shop； and a store for tools during the working months；
than as permanent quarters； nor was it at all meant to be possessed until
tile joiner…work was completely finished； and his own cabin； and that for
the foreman； in readiness； when it was still to be left to the choice of the
artificers to occupy the tender or the beacon。 He； however； considered
Forsyth's partiality and confidence in the latter as rather a fortunate
occurrence。
＇Wednesday； 19th July＇
The whole of the artificers； twenty…three in number； now removed of
their own accord from the tender； to lodge in the beacon； together with
Peter Fortune； a person singularly adapted for a residence of this kind；
both from the urbanity of his manners and the versatility of his talents。
Fortune； in his person； was of small stature； and rather corpulent。 Besides
being a good Scots cook； he had acted both as groom and house…servant；
he had been a soldier； a sutler； a writer's clerk； and an apothecary； from
which he possessed the art of writing and suggesting recipes； and had
hence； also； perhaps； acquired a turn for making collections in natural
history。 But in his practice in surgery on the Bell Rock； for which he
received an annual fee of three guineas； he is supposed to have been rather
partial to the use of the lancet。 In short； Peter was the FACTOTUM of
the beacon…house； where he ostensibly acted in the several capacities of
cook； steward； surgeon； and barber； and kept a statement of the rations or
expenditure of the provisions with the strictest integrity。
In the present important state of the building； when it had just attained
the height of sixteen feet； and the upper courses； and especially the
imperfect one； were in the wash of the heaviest seas； an express boat
arrived at the rock with a letter from Mr。 Kennedy； of the workyard；
stating that in consequence of the intended expedition to Walcheren； an
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RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
embargo had been laid on shipping at all the ports of Great Britain： that
both the SMEATON and PATRIOT were detained at Arbroath； and that but
for the proper view which Mr。 Ramsey； the port officer； had taken of his
orders； neither the expr