APRIL 1904. 



A PERUSAL of Stevenson's "Bell Rock Lighthouse" reveals 

 many interesting episodes of that period in connection with 

 the undertaking. The following facts are from this source, 

 and may be of sufficient general interest to warrant repeating. 

 The facts mentioned have reference to another providential 

 escape from serious disaster recorded during the earlier stages 

 of the operations. The workmen at this period had their 

 quarters on board the lightship, anchored a mile from the 

 Rock, as the beacon-house, on which they were latterly 

 housed on the Rock, had not yet been erected. As was 

 customary, whenever the tide admitted of a footing on the 

 Rock, all hands were landed, and the boats retained in one of 

 the creeks till the rising tide suspended operations. On this 

 particular occasion, besides the usual two boats from the 

 lightship, they were reinforced by an additional boat from the 

 Smeaton, which had arrived from Arbroath with a fresh 

 consignment of workmen. The wind freshening in the course 

 of the work, the seamen of the Smeaton, fearing for their 

 vessel's moorings, left the Rock in their own boat with the 

 intention of taking some extra precautions, and returning. 

 Scarcely had they boarded her, however, when, to Mr Steven- 

 son's consternation, she was seen to break adrift and drive 

 helplessly away before the wind. The danger of the situation 

 at once flashed through his mind. Thirty-two men three 

 boat-loads on a rock which would shortly be fathoms under 

 water, with only two boats at their disposal ! What was to 

 be done? The workmen, engrossed in their labours, had 

 failed to notice the departure of the boat, and were as yet 

 ignorant of their dangerous position. The Smeaton, now far 

 to leeward, was seen to have made sail, and making every 



