Of Aquatick Fireworks.
All works that shew themselves in the water, are much admired by most
people who are fond of fireworks, particularly water rockets; but as
these seem of a very extraordinary nature to those who are acquainted
with this art, I shall endeavour to explain the method of making them,
in as full and easy a manner as possible, as well as other devices for
the water.
Of Water Rockets.
Water rockets may be made from four ounces, to two pound, but if
larger they are too heavy, so that it will be difficult to make them
keep above waters without a cork float, which must be tied to the neck
of the case, but the rockets will not dive so well with, as without
floats.
Cases for water rockets, are made in the same manner and proportion as
sky rockets, only a little thicker of paper; when you fill these
rockets which are drove solid, put in first, one ladle full of slow
fire, then two of the proper charge, and on that one or two ladles of
sinking charge, then the proper charge, then the sinking charge again,
and so on, till you have filled the case within three diameters; then
drive on the composition, one ladle full of clay, through which make a
small hole to the charge, then fill the case, within half a diameter
with corn powder, on which turn down two or three rounds of the case
in the inside, then pinch and tie the end very tight; having filled
your rockets, (according to the above directions) dip their ends in
melted rosin, or sealing wax, or else secure them well with grease.
When you fire these rockets, throw in six, or eight at a time; but if
you would have them all sink, or swim, at the same time, you must
drive them with an equal quantity of composition, and fire them all
together.
To make Pipes of Communication, which may be used under Water.
Pipes for this purpose, must be a little thicker of paper, than those
for land works; having rolled a sufficient number of pipes, and kept
them till thoroughly dry, wash them over with drying oil, and set them
to dry; but when you oil them, leave about an inch and a half, at each
end dry, for joints; for if they were oiled all over, when you come to
join them, the paste would not stick, where the paper is greasy; after
the leaders are joined, and the paste dry, oil the joints. These sort
of pipes will lay many hours under water, without receiving any
damage.
Of Horizontal Wheels for the Water.
First get a large wooden bowl without a handle, then have an octogon
wheel made of a flat board, eighteen inches diameter, so that the
length of each side will be near seven inches; in all the sides cut a
groove for the cases to lie in, this wheel being made, nail it on the
top of the bowl, then take eight four ounce cases, filled with a
proper charge, each about six inches in length. Now to cloath the
wheel with these cases, get some whitish-brown paper, and cut it into
slips, four or five inches broad, and seven or eight long, these slips
being pasted all over on one side, take one of the cases, and roll one
of the slips of paper, about an inch and a half on its end, so that
there will remain about two inches and a half of the paper hollow from
the end of the case, this case tie on one of the sides of the wheel,
near the corners of which, must be holes bored, through which you put
the pack-thread to tie the cases; having tied on the first case at the
neck and end, put a little meal-powder in the hollow paper, then paste
a slip of paper on the end of another case, the head of which put into
the hollow paper on the first, allowing a sufficient distance from the
tail of one, to the head of the other, for the pasted paper, to bend
without tearing; the second case tie on as you did the first, and so
on with the rest, except the last, which must be closed at the end,
unless it is to communicate to any thing on top of the wheel; such as
fire-pumps or brilliant fires, fixed in holes, cut in the wheel, and
fired by the last or second case, as the fancy directs: six, eight, or
any number may be placed on the top of the wheel, so that they are not
too heavy for the bowl.
Before you tie on the cases cut the upper part of all their ends,
except the last, a little shelving, that the fire from one, may play
over the other, without being obstructed by the case. Wheel cases,
have no clay drove in their ends nor pinched, but are always left
open, only the last, or those which are not to lead fire, which must
be well secured.
Of Mines for the Water.
For these sort of mines you must have a bowl, with a wheel on it, made
in the same manner, as the water wheel, only in the middle of the
wheel must be a hole, of the same diameter you design to have the
mine; those mines are nothing more than a tin pot, with a strong
bottom, and a little more than two diameters in length; your mine must
be fixed in the hole in the wheel, with its bottom resting on the
bowl; then loaded with serpents, crackers, stars, small water rockets,
&c. In the same manner as pots des aigrettes, but in their center, fix
a case of Chinese fire, or a small gerbe, which must be lighted at the
beginning of the last case on the wheel. These sort of wheels are to
be cloathed as usual.
Of Fire Globes for the Water.
Bowls for water globes, must be very large, and the wheels on them of
a decagon form, on each side of which nail a piece of wood four inches
long, and on the outside of each piece cut a groove, wide enough to
receive about one fourth of the thickness of a four ounce case; these
pieces of wood must be nailed, in the middle of each face of the
wheel, and fixed in an oblique direction, so that the fire from the
cases may incline upwards; the wheel being thus prepared, tie in each
groove a four ounce case, fill’d with a grey charge, then carry a
leader from the tail of one case to the mouth of the other.
Globes for these wheels, are made of two tin hoops, with their edges
outwards, fixed one within the other, at right angles. The diameter of
these hoops must be somewhat less than that of the wheel. Having made
a globe, drive in the center of a wheel, an iron spindle, which must
stand perpendicular, and its length, four or six inches more than the
diameter of the globe.
This spindle serves for an axis, on which the globe is fixed, which,
when done, must stand four or six inches from the wheel; round one
side of each hoop, must be soldered, little bits of tin, two inches
and a half distance from each other, which pieces must be two inches
in length each, and only fastened at one end, the other ends being
left loose, to turn round the small port fires and hold them on: these
port fires must be made of such a length, as will last out the cases
on the wheel. You are to observe that there need not be any port
fires, at the bottom of the globe within four inches of the spindle,
for if there were, they would have no effect, but only burn the wheel;
all the port fires, must be placed perpendicular from the center of
the globe, with their mouths outwards; and must all be cloathed with
leaders, so as all to take fire with the second case of the wheel;
which cases must burn two at a time, one opposite the other. When two
cases of a wheel begin together, two will end together; therefore the
two opposite end cases, must have their ends pinched and secured from
fire. The method of firing wheels of this sort, is, by carrying a
leader from the mouth, of one of the first cases, to that of the
other, which leader being burnt through the middle, will give fire to
both at the same time.
Of Odoriferous Water Ballóóns.
These sort of Ballóóns, are made in the same manner, as air Ballóóns,
but very thin of paper, and in diameter one inch and three quarters,
with a vent of half an inch diameter. The shells being made, and quite
dry, fill them with any of the following compositions, which must be
rammed in tight: these sort of Ballóóns, must be fired at the vent,
and put into a bowl of water. Odoriferous works, are generally fired
in rooms.
Composition I.
Salt petre two ounces, flower of sulphur one ounce, camphor half an
ounce, yellow-amber half an ounce, charcoal-dust, three quarters of an
ounce, flower of benjamin, or assa odorata half an ounce, all powdered
very fine; and mixed well together.
Composition II.
Salt petre twelve ounces, meal powder three ounces, frankincense one
ounce, myrrh half an ounce, camphor half an ounce, charcoal three
ounces, all moistened with the oil of spike.
Composition III.
Salt petre two ounces, sulphur half an ounce, antimony half an ounce,
amber half an ounce, cedar raspings a quarter of an ounce, all mixed
with the oil of roses, and a few drops of bergamot.
Composition IV.
Salt petre four ounces, sulphur one ounce, saw-dust of juniper half an
ounce, saw-dust of cypress one ounce, camphor a quarter of an ounce,
myrrh two drams, dryed rosemary a quarter of an ounce, cortex-elaterii
half an ounce, all moistened a little with the oil of roses.
N. B. Water rockets, may be made with any of the above compositions,
with a little alteration, to make them weaker, or stronger, according
to the size of the cases.
Of Water Ballóóns.
Having made some thin paper shells, of what diameter you please, fill
some with the composition for water ballóóns, and some after this
manner. Having made the vent of the shells pretty large, fill them
almost full with water rockets, marrons, squibs, &c. Then put in some
blowing powder, sufficient to burst the shells, and afterwards fix in
the vent a water rocket, long enough to reach the bottom of the shell,
and its neck to project a little out of the vent; this rocket must be
open at the end, in order to fire the powder in the shell, which will
burst the shell, and disperse the small rockets, &c. in the water.
When you have well secured the large rocket, in the vent of the shell;
take a cork float, with a hole in its middle, which fit over the head
of the rocket, and fasten it to the shell: this float, must be large
enough to keep the ballóón above water.
Of water Squibs.
Water squibs, are generally made of one ounce serpent cases, seven or
eight inches long, filled two thirds with charge, and the remainder
bounced; the common method of firing them, is thus: Take a water
wheel, with a tin mortar in its center, which load with squibs, after
the usual method, but the powder in the mortar, must be no more than
will just throw the squibs out, (easily into the water), you may place
the cases on the wheel, either obliquely, or horizontally; and on the
top of the wheel, round the mortar, fix six cases of brilliant fire,
perpendicular to the wheel; these cases, must be fired, at the
beginning of the last case of the wheels and the mortar, at the
conclusion of the same.
To represent a sea fight with small ships, and to prepare a fire-ship
for the same.
Having procured four, or five, small ships, of two, or three feet in
lenghth, (or as many as you design to fight) make a number of small
reports, which are to serve for guns. Of these, range as many as you
please, on each side of the upper decks; then at the head and stern of
each ship, fix a two ounce case, eight inches long, filled with a slow
port-fire receipt, but take care to place it, in such a manner, that
the fire may fall in the water, and not burn the rigging; in these
cases, bore holes at unequal distances, from one another, but make as
many in each case, as half the number of reports, so that one case may
fire the guns, on one side, and the other those on the opposite. The
method of firing the guns, is, by carrying a leader, from the holes in
the cases, to the reports on the decks; you must make these leaders
very small, and be careful in calculating the burning of the slow
fire, in the regulating cases, that more than two guns, be not fired
at a time. When you would have a broad-side given, let a leader be
carried to a cracker, placed on the outside of the ship, which cracker
must be tied loose, or the reports will be too slow; in all the ships
put artificial guns, at the port holes.
Having filled, and bored holes, in two port fires, for regulating the
guns, in one ship; make all the rest exactly the same; then when you
begin the engagement, light one ship first, and set it a sailing, and
so on with the rest, sending them out singly, which will make them
fire regularly, at different times, without confusion, for the time
between the firing of each gun, will be equal to that of lighting the
slow fires.
The fire ship, may be of any size, and need not be very good, for it
is always lost in the action. To prepare a ship for this purpose, make
a port fire equal in size, with them in the other ships, and place it
at the stern; in every port, place a large port fire, filled with a
very strong composition, and painted in imitation of a gun, and let
them all be fired at once by a leader from the slow fire, within two,
or three diameters of its bottom; all along both sides, on the top of
the upper deck, lay star composition about half an inch in thickness,
and one in breadth, which must be wetted with thin size, then primed
with meal powder, and secured from fire, by pasting paper over it; in
the place where you lay this composition, drive some little tacks with
flat heads, in order to hold it fast to the deck, this must be fired
just after the sham guns, and when burning will shew a flame all round
the ship; at the head take up the decks, and put in a tin mortar
loaded with crackers, which mortar must be fired by a pipe, from the
end of the slow fire; the firing of this mortar will sink the ship,
and make a pretty conclusion. The regulating port fire of this ship,
must be lighted at the same time, with the first fighting ship.
Having prepared all the ships for fighting; we shall next proceed with
the management of them, when on the water. At one end of the pond,
just under the surface of the water, fix two running blocks, at what
distance you chuse the ships should fight; and at the other end of the
pond, opposite to each of these blocks, under the water, fix a double
block; then on the land, by each of the double blocks, place two small
windlass’s; round one of them, turn one end of a small cord, and the
other end, put through one of the blocks; then carry it through the
single one, at the opposite end of the pond, and bring it back through
the double block, again, and, round the other windlass; to this cord,
near the double block, tie as many small strings, as half the number
of the ships, at what distance you think proper, but these strings,
must not be more than two feet in length each; the loose end of each
of these cords, make fast, to a ship, just under her bow-sprit; but if
tied to the keel, or too near the water, it will overset the ship.
Half the ships, being thus prepared, near the other double block, fix
two more windlass’s, to which fasten a cord, and to it tie the other
half of the ships, as before directed: when you fire the ships, pull
in the cord, with one of the windlass’s, in order to get all the ships
together; and when you have set fire to the first, turn that windlass,
which draws them out, and so on with the rest, till they are all out,
in the middle of the pond; then by turning the other windlass, you
will draw them back again, by which method you may make them change
sides, and tack about, backwards and forwards, at pleasure. For the
fire-ship, fix the blocks and windlass’s, betwixt the others, so that
when she sails out, she will be between the other ships: you must not
let this ship, advance, till the guns, at her ports take fire.
To fire Sky Rockets under water.
To fire sky rockets, under water, you must have stands made as usual,
only the rails must be placed flat, instead of edge ways, and have
holes in them for the rocket sticks to go through; for if they were
hung upon hooks, the motion of the water, would throw them off; the
stands being made, if the pond is deep enough, sink them at the sides,
so deep, that when the rockets are in, their heads, may just appear
above the surface of the water; to the mouth of each rocket, fix a
leader, which put through the hole with the stick; then a little above
the water, must be a board, supported by the stand, and placed along
one side of the rockets, then the ends of the leaders, are turned up
through holes made in this board, exactly opposite the rockets. By
this means, you may fire them singly, or all at once. Rockets may be
fired by this method, in the middle of a pond, by a Neptune, a swan, a
water wheel, or any thing else you chuse.
To represent Neptune in his Chariot.
In order to represent this, to perfection, you must have a Neptune
made (of wood, or basket work), as big as life, fixed on a float,
large enough to bear his weight; on which must be two horses heads,
and necks, so as to seem swiming, as they are shown by Fig. 35. For
the wheels of the chariot, there must be two vertical wheels, of black
fire, and on Neptune’s head a horizontal wheel, of brilliant fire,
with all its cases to play upwards. When this wheel is made, cover it
with paper, or, paste board, cut and painted like Neptune’s coronet;
then let the trident be made without prongs, but instead of them, fix
three cases of a weak grey charge, and on each horse’s head, put an
eight ounce case of brilliant fire, and on the mouth of each, fix a
short case of the same diameter, filled with the white flame receipt,
enough to last out all the cases on the wheels; these short cases must
be open at bottom, that they may light the brilliant fires; for the
horses eyes, put small port fires, and in each nostril, put a small
case filled half with grey charge, and the rest with port fire
composition.
If Neptune is to give fire, to any building on the water; at his first
setting out, the wheels of the chariot, and that on his head, together
with the white flames on the horses head, and the port fires in their
eyes and nostrils, must all be lighted at once; then from the bottom
of the white flames, carry a leader, to the trident. As Neptune is to
advance by the help of a block and cord, you must manage it so as not
to let him turn about, till the brilliant fires on the horses, and the
trident, begins, for it is by the fire from the horses, (which plays
almost upright) that the building, or work, is lighted; which must be
thus prepared. From the mouth of the case, which is to be first fired,
hang some loose quick match, to receive the fire from the horses. When
Neptune, is only to be shewn by himself, without setting fire to any
other works; let the white flames on the horses, be very short, and
not to last longer than one case of each wheel, and let two cases of
each wheel burn at a time.
To represent Swans and Ducks in the water.
If you would have the swans, or ducks, discharge rockets into the
water, they must be made hollow, and of paper, and filled with small
water rockets, with some blowing powder, to throw them out; but if
this is not done, they may be made of wood, which will last many
times. Having made and painted some swans, fix them on floats, then in
the places where their eyes should be, bore holes, two inches deep,
inclining downwards, and wide enough to receive a small port fire; the
port fire cases for this purpose, must be made of brass, two inches in
length and filled with a slow bright charge; in the middle of one of
these cases, make a little hole, then put the port fire, in the eye
hole of the swan, leaving about half an inch to project out, and in
the other eye put another port fire, with a hole made in it; then in
the neck of the swan, within two inches of one of the eyes, bore a
hole slantways, to meet that in the port fire; in this hole put a
leader, and carry it to a water rocket, that must be fixed under the
tail with its mouth upwards; on the top of the head, place two one
ounce cases, four inches in length each, drove with brilliant fire;
one of these cases must incline forwards, and the other backwards;
these must be lighted at the same time as the water rocket; to do
which, bore a hole between them, in the top of the swans head, down to
the hole in the port fire, to which carry a leader; if the swan be
filled with rockets, they must be fired, by a pipe, from the end of
the water rocket under the tail. When you set the swan a swiming light
the two eyes.
Of fire Fountains for the Water.
To make a fire fountain, you must first have a float made of wood,
three feet diameter, then in the middle of it, fix a round
perpendicular post, four feet in height, and two inches diameter;
round this post, fix three circular wheels, made of thin wood, without
any spokes. The largest of these wheels must be placed, within two, or
three inches of the float, and must be nearly of the same diameter.
The second wheel must be two foot two inches diameter, and fixed at
two feet distance from the first wheel. The third wheel must be one
foot four inches diameter, and fixed within six inches of the top of
the post: the wheels being fixed, take eighteen four, or eight ounce
cases, of brilliant fire, and place them round the first wheel, with
their mouths outwards, and inclining downwards; on the second wheel
place, thirteen cases of the same sort, and in the same manner, as
those on the first wheel; on the third wheel, place eight more of this
sort of cases, in the same manner as before, and on the top of the
post, fix a gerbe, then cloath all the cases, with leaders, so that
both they and the gerbe may take fire at the same time. Before you
fire this work, try it in the water, to see if the float be properly
made, so as to keep the fountain upright.