three o'clock in the afternoon
-LSB- Illustration : `` THE BOAT WENT INTO MATCHWOOD . '' A sudden tempest breaking upon Smith 's Point Lighthouse in the early stages of its construction . Courtesy of McClure 's Magazine . -RSB- `` At three o'clock in the afternoon a low hissing was heard in the caisson , and with a quick flicker the candles first burned low , then flamed anew , the color of the flame a lambent green . For a few moments none of the men realized what had happened , and stood there , stupefied and staggering . An acrid burning sensation gripped the men by the throat and they were stricken blind . Suffering terrible agony , every man managed to climb the long ladder , each step of which seemed an eternity , and entered the air-lock .