eat
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,
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
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