£2 Jccount of the Erection of the Bell Rock lAghthonse. 
six in number, were about 50 feet in length, and formed a com° 
mon diameter at the rock of about 35 feet, while they met in a 
point at the top, and were strongly bolted and girded with hoops 
of iron. At their base, they were fixed to the rock with great 
iron stanchions, weighing about 1 40 lb. each, which were sunk 
into the rock about 20 inches, and were wedged with successive 
slips of fir, oak, and iron. As the works depended so entirely 
upon the state of the weather, and the condition of the tides, 
they were continued on Sundays, and at night by torch-light, 
during the ebb. Under such perilous circumstances, it may 
readily be supposed, that several hair-breadth escapes were ex- 
perienced. On one occasion, the tender broke adrift, carry- 
ing with her one of the artificers’ boats, and thereby leaving 
thirty-two persons upon the rock, liable to be overwhelmed up- 
on the return of flood-tide ; indeed, had not a boat accidentally 
come from Arbroath with letters to the engineer, they must in all 
probability have perished. Upon another occasion, the}^ expe- 
rienced a very severe gale on board of the tender, when the 
vessel again broke adrift. After this, great difficulty was found 
in procuring sailors to man this forlorn hope” of a vessel. 
Prior to the erection of the temporary beacon (or the hurri- 
cane-house,” as the sailors termed it), the smith’s forge was 
batted to the rock ; and his great bellows having to be removed 
every tide, formed no small charge to the landing-masters’ crew. 
In this state of things, it not unfrequently happened, that, Avhile 
the smith was busily employed in sharping the artificers’ tools, 
the tide would imperceptibly but rapidly rise, immerse himself 
in water, and effectually quench his fire in a moment. Such 
was the relief experienced in this particular by the erection of 
the beacon-house, that, when the smith’s apparatus w^as set a- 
going upon it, the seamen and artificers literally shouted with 
joy- 
In the progress of the works in summer 1808, a considerable 
shipping establishment was found indispensable. Besides the float- 
ing-light ship, which was permanently moored off the rock, a 
schooner of 80 tons was provided as the principal tender. Stone- 
lighters of 40 tons were also provided, for the conveyance of the 
materials ; and likewise three praam-boats, each capable of carry- 
ing about IQ tons upon deck. These last were employed for re- 
