P Y R O T E C II N Y. 



247 



".- compliahcd. Many may be made to fire at the tame 

 "Y- t mo in a different way, so as to produce n pleasing ef 

 N """" v ~"" 1 ' feet. In thia way a number are arranged above each 

 other on an upright post, at an angle of 50 or GO de- 

 grees, and a similar number is placed in thu same way 

 >n a post at some distance, so that their orifices are op- 

 posed to each other. Thus, when they are all lighted 

 at once, as they must be by a single leader, they ap- 

 pear to carry on an engagement, throwing stars at r 

 other, which, thus crossing, form beautiful curves in 

 the air. In these contrivances also, the disposition of 

 the stars should be dissimilar in the different cases, that 

 there may be always a few stars in the air at the same 

 time. We beg to caution pyrotechnists against suffer- 

 ing their stars to fall among the spectators, as they pe- 

 netrate like musket bulls, and as we have seen an in- 

 stance of death from this accident. 



As the Roman candle is not durable, and as it may 

 be often desirable to keep up this kind of fire for a long 

 time, this may be done indefinitely, even for a whole 

 night were it required, by means of a succession of 

 them placed together. For this purpose, they must be 

 connected in succession by leaders from the end of one 

 to the beginning of another, taking care that these may 

 be so well secured that no accidental fire from one may 

 discharge any of the chain out of its turn. 



Single Roman candles may also be varied in other 

 ways, independently of their combinations, with wheels 

 or complicated pieces. Thus, they may be caused to 

 discharge serpents as well as stars, by attaching these 

 outside of the cases, and causing them to communicate 

 with the composition at different periods of its burn- 

 ing, by means of a very small orifice. The serpent 

 must, in this attempt, be secured to the case by a piece 

 of quick match, which, by burning, will allow it easily 

 to disengage itself; and thus, by making these holes 

 in proper places, this firework may be caused to dis- 

 charge a serpent and a star alternately. Crackers may 

 also be attached to the sides of the cases in the same 

 manner, so as very much to increase the effect ; and it 

 is further easy to make this more amusing by adopting 

 the folded crackers which fly off, and continue their 

 successions of reports after they are disengaged. Last- 

 ly, As the greatest defect of a single Roman candle is 

 the quiet way in which it expires, it may be connected 

 at the bottom with a separate magazine of stars or ser- 

 pents, or crackers, or all united so as to terminate in a 

 lively and brilliant manner. 



Of Water Rockets. 



Of water Many kinds of complicated fireworks may be exhi- 

 rockets. bited in the water without difficulty ; a circumstance 

 always surprising to the populace, who imagine a ne- 

 cessary antipathy between fire and water. But we 

 shall only here describe the simpler water rocket, as 

 the complicated kinds will come m a more proper place 

 hereafter. 



The principle of these is exactly the same as that of 

 the sky rocket, or rather of the line rocket, as they re- 

 quire no sticks. The compositions may also be select- 

 ed in the same manner, so that we need not dwell on 

 this part of the subject. They should be furnished 

 with bounces or crackers at the end, as it is to no pur- 

 pose to provide stars or other ornaments, which would 

 immediately be extinguished by coming into contact 

 with the water. This cannot happen to the case, as 

 the current of air issuing from it prevents the air from 

 entering. But it is to no purpose to allow them to 



burn under the water, though they may be permitted Pyrouch. 

 to explode there with a good effect, as they only send n J- 

 up smoke, and appear to the spectators to be a failure S-P ~v*** 

 when this happens. Hence they must be made jubt 

 capable of floating on their sides, by means of a bit of 

 cork or wood, if that is necessary. Thu*, when fired, 

 they recoil, and as this cannot be done in a straight 

 line owing to the unequal resistance of the water, they 

 wander about in serpentine directions, sometimes even 

 sinking for a short space. It may happen that they 

 will Miik, and not rise again, by sticking in the mud, 

 which must be considered as a failure ; and as there is 

 no advantage in this, we do not recommend the u*e of 

 what is called a sinking charge. 



If the water is large enough to afford room for a di- 

 rect flight, this may be produced by means of a stick. 

 That bhould be fiat, so that at the extremity it may 

 take a good hold of the water, and thus direct the 

 steerage. If very long, the steerage will be so correct 

 that it will advance in a straight line ; but an irregu- 

 lar line, which : s perhaps more amusing, may be pro* 

 duced by making the stick not much longer than the 

 rocket itself. 



The simpler water rocket may be caused to perform 

 another motion, which is also entertaining. For this 

 purpose, it is also to be provided with a stick, so form- 

 ed, that when the whole is placed in the water, the 

 rocket may lie at an angle of from five to ten degrees. 

 In this case its mouth will be immersed ; but that is of 

 no moment, as a proper leader, well secured, to pre- 

 vent the entrance of the water, must be brought from 

 it towards the upper end of the case. When this 

 rocket is fired, it rises out of the water, and falls again 

 repeatedly so as to perform a ricochet-movement in its 

 flight, or what is commonly called duck and drake. 



It is possible also, and that without difficulty, if the 

 water is deep enough, to fire the water rocket as a sky 

 rocket, vertically. In this case, the stick must be 

 counterpoised at the bottom by a bit of lead, so that 

 the rocket may float erect, and as the mouth may be 

 immersed, a leader must also be conducted from it up- 

 wards. Rockets so disposed, ascend with great force 

 at first, owing to the great resistance offered by the 

 water to the issuing stream of air. 



Instead of single water rockets of a large size, many 

 may be fired together ; and in this case they are called 

 squibs. These differ in no respect in their construc- 

 tion from ordinary squibs or serpents ; only care must 

 be taken that they may always float. In discharging 

 them, some precautions are also required. The wnole 

 must be collected together on a piece of light- wood, by 

 means of two or three stands of quick match, which, 

 being burnt when they are lighted, they can easily dis- 

 engage themselves, and wander about on the water. 



If it is wished to fire large reports under water, these 

 must be made in maroon cases of unusual size, and so 

 heavy as to sink. A bit of squib or port-fire may then 

 be attached to each, which is lighted when they are 

 thrown in. This continues to burn under the water, 

 however imperceptibly, so that the explosion of the 

 cracker is somewhat unexpected and surprising, al- 

 though the report is hollow, and as if suffocated. If 

 very large, it produces a sensible shock on the surround- 

 ing ground. These crackers may also be floated, and 

 exploded upon the surface. 



We may lastly add, on the subject of the simpler 

 water rockets, that Roman candles, gerbes, cases of 

 serpents or of stars, or any kind of fixed cases that are 

 used on the ground, may also be fired from the surface 



