CHAPTER IV

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OPERATIONS OF 1838.

Temporary Barrack on Rock -- Tools and machinery -- Steam Tender for the works -- Employment and wages of workmen -- Progress of the outfit for the season’s operations -- Embark for Skerryvore -- Lay down moorings, and try to land on the Rock -- Driven to Mull -- First day’s work on the Rock -- Shipment of materials at Glasgow and Greenock -- Reach Tyree -- Driven to Mull -- Return to Tyree -- First good day’s work on the Rock -- Sudden gale and great peril to the vessels -- Reach Hynish in safety -- Detained by bad weather four days at Hynish -- Return to the Rock and have six days of good weather -- Erection of the pyramid of the wooden barrack -- Mode of determining the length of the beams, and the sites for their fixtures -- Pyramid completed -- Mode of living while erecting the barrack -- Shoals of Medusæ seen -- Driven by a gale to Mull -- Return to Hynish and are driven to Coll -- Return to the Rock -- Driven to Tyree -- Return to the Rock -- Horizontal braces fixed -- Driven to Mull -- Heavy gale -- Timber cast on Tyree -- Return to Rock and further progress of barrack -- Last day’s work on Rock this season -- Precaution for the benefit of shipwrecked seamen -- View from top of pyramid -- Destruction of the barrack during a gale -- Letter from Mr Hogben -- Proceed to Skerryvore -- State in which the Rock was found -- Cause of the destruction of the barrack -- Preparations for a new barrack -- Works at Hynish -- Hynish quarries, 71

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