272 



PYROTECHNY. 



Pyrotech- piece is then fastened to it, so as to hang freely; after 

 which it is conducted down through the middle of 

 this piece to the next, and so on in succession, till 

 they are all strung upon it at such distances as to per- 

 mit each piece to fall, when detached, to the same 

 distance below the drum. As to do all this at once re- 

 quires a lofty room, the upper ones may be put away, 

 while the lower are fastened on. 



It is next necessary to prime the whole piece, that 

 it may continue to burn from one end to the other, 

 without more lighting, and that every firework in it 

 may take fire at the proper time. This is the part 

 which requires the principal ;C^g and attention on the 

 part of the artificer, as failure or success entirely de- 

 pends on it. The method of doing it is by a cotton 

 slow match, so calculated for length and rapidity of 

 burning, that the part which reaches from the bottom 

 of one piece to that of the next, may occupy just as 

 much time as the fireworks of that piece require to 

 burn out. This is a point which must be ascertained 

 by trial. The main leader of this cotton match runs 

 along the central string, which is filled and covered 

 with alum and paste to prevent it from burning. 



From this central conductor, branch off the various 

 matches which are to light the fires. Some of these 

 are made of quick match, as is the case for the illumi- 

 nation central lights. Where a line of crackers are to 

 be fired as guns, they are made of slow match, as they 

 also are for the wheels, which are generally lighted 

 towards the end of the piece. But all these are dis- 

 cretionary matters, about which the artist must follow 

 his own views, and which he may arrange in any 

 manner he thinks proper. It is only essential to re- 

 member, that all the conductors and priming must be 

 made sure, and to take care that the main conductor 

 continues to burn regularly. 



All these things then being satisfactorily arranged, the 

 pieces may be covered with their papers, and painted 

 and ornamented, as was before mentioned, when the 

 whole is ready to be packed up into the drum. To do 

 this, four strong strings are fixed to each hoop, at right 

 angles; each of them having a loop at the end, so that 

 when brought together they all meet in the centre. 

 Thus the case may be divided into as many compart- 

 ments as there are hoops or pieces to be fired. When 

 strings of this kind have thus been fixed to each hoop, 

 the case is placed on the floor with its head down- 

 wards, and the first piece is packed into its proper 

 compartment, taking care that it can be pulled out 

 again easily without disturbing any part, and so as 

 that it may easily resume its proper shape. This be- 

 ing done, the loops that belong to the first, or lowest 

 set of strings, are brought together, and tied firmly 

 with a piece of cotton quick match, which is also-con- 

 nected with the slow match of the main conductor. 

 The same operation being performed for each piece in 

 succession, the drum is completed and ready for co- 

 vering with cartridge paper, as formerly mentioned. 

 The bottom is also covered in the same manner ; but 

 this part must be cut out by a knife before the piece 

 is fired. It is evident that while any one piece is 

 down and burning, the cotton match is slowly con- 

 ducting fire to the next above. When it reaches the 

 quick match by which the strings that form each dia- 

 phragm are united, that gives way, and then another 

 piece descends, and so on in succession to the last. 

 We have no doubt that from these directions, an inge- 

 nious artist will find no difficulty in constructing the 

 Chinese drum. 



Tables of Compositions. 



We shall now subjoin the table of compositions so 

 often referred to, on which we have taken the liberty 

 of making several remarks. It is against our inclina- 

 tion that we have even introduced so many; as all 

 the requisite effects may be produced by fewer. But it 

 has been the fashion to enumerate so many more in all 

 the works on this subject, that we have felt it neces- 

 sary to put down more than we approved of, in con- 

 formity to the custom. 



Compositions for Sky Rockets. 

 No. I. Four ounce size. 



Mealed powder 



Saltpetre 



Charcoal 



1 Ib. 4 oz. dwt. 



040 



020 



No. 2. Eight ounce. 



Mealed powder - 1 



Saltpetre - - 4 



Sulphur - - 3 



Charcoal - - 1 



No. 3. One pound, with, a sparkling fire. 



Mealed powder - 



Saltpetre - 



Sulphur - - 



Charcoal - - - 



Steel filings - 



No. 4. Largest sizes. 



Saltpetre - 4 



Mealed powder - - 10 



Sulphur - 1 



No. 5. Two ounce size, not often used, except in great flights. 



Saltpetre 

 Sulphur 

 Mealed powder 

 Charcoal 



2 







12 



1 



No. 6. Pound signal rockets, used in the Navy. 



Saltpetre - - - 4 



Sulphur - 1 



Charcoal - - - 180 



No. 7 Another ordinary composition. 



Saltpetre - - 4 



Sulphur - - 1 8 



Charcoal - 1 12 



No. 8. Another, for middling sizes. 



Saltf re - - 8 



Sulphur - - 3 



Mealed powder - 300 



These are more than is necessary. Nos. 1, 2, and 6, 

 will answer almost all purposes, and they are equally 

 applicable to line rockets and water rockets, as also to 

 wheels, where force is required. 



Miscellaneous Compositions. 

 Port Fires for Lighting. 



Saltpetre 

 Sulphur 

 Mealed powder 



Ib. 8 oz. dwt. 



080 



100 



To be driven very hard. 



Red Fires from Mica. 



Saltpetre - - 8 



Sulphur - 400 



Mealed powder - - 6 



Mica - .-300 



