About two o'clock in the afternoon
During the course of the gale nearly the whole length of the hempen cable , of 120 fathoms , was veered out , besides the chain-moorings , and , for its preservation , the cable was carefully `` served '' , or wattled , with pieces of canvas round the windlass , and with leather well greased in the hawse-hole , where the chafing was most violent . As may readily be imagined , the gentleman on whom rested nearly all the responsibility connected with the work at the Bell Rock , passed an anxious and sleepless time in his darkened berth . During the morning he had made an attempt to reach the deck , but had been checked by the same sea that produced the disasters above described . About two o'clock in the afternoon great alarm was felt in consequence of a heavy sea that struck the ship , almost filling the waist , and pouring down into the berths below , through every chink and crevice of the hatches and skylights . From the motion being suddenly checked or deadened , and from the flowing in of the water above , every individual on board thought that the ship was foundering -- at least all the landsmen were fully impressed with that idea . Mr Stevenson could not remain below any longer . As soon as the ship again began to range up to the sea , he made another effort to get on deck .