OF AQUATIC FIRE-WORKS.
Fire-works, which are exhibited on water, have a very pleasing
effect. Water rockets, in particular, are much admired.
_Sec. I. Of Water Rockets._
Water rockets are generally small, from four ounces to two pounds.
When large, they are difficult to be kept above water without a cork
float. When this is used, it is tied to the neck of the case. They
will not dive as well with as without floats.
The cases for water rockets are made in the same proportion as for
sky-rockets, but the paper is thicker. For those which are driven
solid, put in at first a ladle full of slow-fire, and 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 the
case is filled within three diameters. Then drive on the composition
one ladleful of clay, through which make a small hole to the charge.
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 thus filled the rockets, dip their
ends in melted rosin or sealing wax, or secure them with grease. When
they are fired, six or eight may be thrown in at once; but if they
are all to swim or sink at the same time, they must all have an equal
quantity of composition and be fired together.
In the rockets which burn in the water, there must be a considerable
variation in the construction of the mould, and also in the materials
of which they are composed. The composition should consist of three
materials mixed together, _viz._ three ounces of meal-powder, one
pound of saltpetre, and eight ounces of sulphur. If the rocket is
to appear on the water with a beautiful tail, the composition must
consist of eight ounces of gunpowder, one pound of saltpetre, eight
ounces of sulphur, and two ounces of charcoal. When the composition
has been prepared according to these proportions, and the rocket
been filled, apply a saucisson to the end of it, and having covered
the rocket with wax, pitch, &c. as before mentioned, attach it to a
small rod of white willow, about two feet in length, that the rocket
may conveniently float. Cork may be used, as we observed, for the
same purpose. A certain quantity of meal-powder, without any mixture,
put at certain distances, must be used, if it is required that these
rockets should plunge down and again rise up.
_Sec. II. Of Pipes of Communication._
The pipes of communication which are used under water, must be made
of thick paper, and when dry covered with drying oil, which must
then be thoroughly dried. In oiling them leave about one and a half
inches dry for joints; as the parts would not adhere where the oil
was applied. The whole, however, is completely oiled after the
leaders are joined, and the paste dry. These pipes will remain under
water for some time without injury.
_Sec. III. Of Horizontal Wheels for Water._
An octagon wheel is to be provided, made of flat boards eighteen
inches in diameter, so that the length of each size will be near
seven inches. In all the sides, cut a groove for the cases to lie
in. Procure a wooden bowl without a handle, and on the top nail the
wheel; then take four eight-ounce cases, filled with a proper charge,
each about six inches in length. When the wheel is to be clothed with
these cases, get some whitish-brown paper, and cut it into slips of
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 one and a half inches on its end, so that
there will remain about two and a half inches of the paper hollow
from the end of the case. This case is to be tied on one of the
sides of the wheel, near the corners of which holes must be bored,
through which the pack thread is put 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 of 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 is to
be tied on in the same manner as 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 the top of the wheel, such as fire-pumps,
or brilliant fires, fixed in holes cut in the wheel, provided they be
not too heavy for the bowl.
Before the cases are tied on, the upper part of all their ends except
the last should be cut shelving, that the fire from one may play over
the other, without being obstructed by the case. Wheel cases have
no clay driven in their ends, nor are they pinched, but always left
open; only the last, or those which are not to lead fire, which must
be well secured.
_Sec. IV. Of Water Mines._
A bowl and wheel, as above described, are necessary for this
exhibition; but with this difference that in the wheel there must be
a hole large enough to receive the mine. These mines are tin pots,
with strong bottoms, and a little more than two diameters in length.
The 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 of aigrettes; but
in the centre 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
wheels are to be clothed as usual.
_Sec. V. 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 the wheels, nail a piece of wood four
inches long; and on the outside of each, 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, filled with a gray charge. Then carry a
leader from the tail of one case to the mouth of another.
Globes for these cases are made of two tin hoops, with thin 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 centre of the wheel, an iron spindle,
which must stand perpendicular, and be in length four or six inches
more than the diameter of the globe.
The spindle serves as an axis, on which the globe is fixed, which,
when done, must stand four or six inches from the wheel. Round, on
one side of each hoop, must be soldered small bits of tin, two and a
half inches distant from each other. These pieces must be two inches
in length each, and only fastened at one end, the other ends being
left loose, on which to turn round the small port-fires, to hold
them on: These port-fires must be made of such a length, as will
last out the cases on the wheel. 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-fire must be placed perpendicular from the centre of
the globe, with their mouths outwards; and must all be clothed with
leaders, so as all to take fire with the second case of the wheel;
which cases must burn two at a time opposite to each 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 such wheels 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.
_Sec. VI. Of Odoriferous Water Balloons._
Odoriferous works are generally fixed in rooms, and, when speaking
of scented fire, we noticed such compositions as would communicate
an agreeable odour to the air. Water balloons are made in the same
manner as air balloons, but very thin of paper, and in diameter 1-3/4
inches, with a vent, 1/2 an inch in diameter. The shells being made,
and quite dry, are filled with odoriferous composition, which must be
rammed in tight. These balloons are fired at the vent, and put into a
bowl of water.
Water rockets may also be made of any of the following compositions,
with a little alteration to make them weaker or stronger.
1. Saltpetre, 2 oz.
Sulphur, --
Camphor, ½ --
Yellow Amber, ½ --
Charcoal dust, ¾ --
Flowers of benzoin, ¼ --
2. Saltpetre, 2 oz.
Sulphur, ½ --
Antimony, ½ --
Amber, ½ --
Cedar-raspings, ¼ --
Oil of roses, 10 drops.
Oil of bergamot, 40 drops.
3. Saltpetre, 12 oz.
Meal-powder, 3 --
Frankincense, 1 --
Myrrh, ½ --
Camphor, ½ --
Charcoal, 3 --
Oil of Spike, a small quantity.
4. Saltpetre, 4 oz.
Sulphur, 1 --
Sawdust of Juniper, ½ --
Sawdust of Cypress, 1 --
Camphor, ¼ --
Myrrh, ¼ --
Dried rosemary, ¼ --
Cortex elaterii, ½ --
_Sec. VII. Of Water Balloons._
Having made some thin paper shells, fill some with the composition
for water balloons, 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 opened at the end,
to fire the powder in the shell, which will burst the shell, and
disperse the small rockets, &c. in the water. When the large rocket
is well secured in the vent of the shell, take a cork float with
a hole in its middle, which fits over the head of the rocket, and
fasten it to the shell. This float must be large enough to keep the
balloon above water.
_Composition for Water-Balloons._
1. Saltpetre, 4 lbs.
Sulphur, 2 --
Meal-powder, 2 --
Antimony, 4 oz.
Sawdust, 4 --
Glass-dust, 1¼ --
2. Saltpetre, 9 lbs.
Sulphur, 3 --
Meal-powder, 6 --
Rosin, 12 oz.
Antimony, 8 --
_The following composition is given for Water-Globes._
Grain, or Corn-powder, 1 lb.
Saltpetre, 32 --
Sulphur, 8 --
Scraped ivory, 1 oz.
Sawdust (previously soaked in saltpetre and dried) 8 lbs.
_Sec. VIII. Of Water Squibs._
These 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 this: Take a water-wheel, with
a tin mortar in its centre, which load with squibs after the usual
method; but the powder in the mortar must be no more than will throw
the squibs out easily into the water. The cases may be placed on the
wheel, either obliquely or horizontally, and on the top of the wheel,
round the mortar, fix two cases of brilliant fire perpendicularly to
the wheel. These cases must be fired at the beginning of the last
case of the wheel, and the mortar at the conclusion of the same.
_Sec. IX. Of the Water Fire-Fountain._
A float made of wood, three feet in diameter is to be provided. In
the middle, a perpendicular post, four feet high and two inches
wide must be inserted. Three circular wheels, made of thin wood,
but without spokes, are fixed round this post. 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 must be 2 feet 2
inches in diameter, and fixed at the distance of two feet from the
first. The third wheel must be 1 foot 4 inches in diameter, and fixed
within six inches of the top of the post.
The wheels being arranged, take 18 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, and in the same manner as those on the
first. On the third, place eight more of these cases, in the same
manner as before, and on the top of the post, fix a gerbe. Then
clothe all the cases with leaders, so that they and the gerbe may
take fire at the same time. The float should be tried first in the
water, to see if the fountain stands upright.
_Sec. X. Of Swans and Ducks, to discharge Rockets in Water._
This experiment may be made, by forming swans, or ducks of
paper, leaving a cavity within. They are to be filled with small
water-rockets, with some blowing powder to throw them out. Having
made and painted some swans, fix them on floats. Then in the place
where their eyes should be, bore holes two inches deep, inclining
downwards, and wide enough to receive a small port-fire. The
port-fire case for this purpose must be made of brass, two inches
long, 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 its eyes,
bore a hole slantwise, to meet that in the port-fire. In this hole,
put a leader, and carry it to a water-rocket, that must be fixed upon
its tail, with its mouth upwards. On the top of the head, place 2
one-ounce cases, four inches long each, driven with brilliant fire.
One of these cases must incline forwards, and the other backwards.
They must be lighted at the same time as the water-rocket; to do
which, bore a hole between them in the top of the swan's head, down
to the hole in the port fire, to which carry a leader. If the swan is
filled with rockets, they must be fired by a pipe from the end of the
water-rocket, under the tail. When the swan is put in the water, the
two eyes are to be lighted.
_Sec. XI. Of Discharging Rockets under Water._
Stands must be made as usual, only the rails must be placed flat
instead of edgewise, 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 must be 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; and
the ends of the leaders are to be turned up through holes made in
this board, exactly opposite the rockets. By this means, they may be
fired singly, or at once. Rockets may be fired by this method in the
middle of a pond, by a Neptune, a swan, or a water-wheel.
A rocket, which is fired in the water, and, after burning there half
the time of its duration, mounts into the air with great velocity,
may be thus constructed. Take a sky-rocket, furnished with a rod,
and, by means of a little glue, attach it to a water-rocket, but
only at the middle, in such a manner, that the latter will have
its neck uppermost. Adjust to their extremity, a small tube, to
communicate fire from the one to the other, and cover both with a
coating of wax, pitch, &c. that they may not be damaged by the water.
Then attach to the sky-rocket, after it has been thus cemented to the
aquatic rocket, a rod, and, by means of a string, support a musket
bullet, made fast to the rod by means of a needle or piece of iron.
When these arrangements have been made, set fire to the match after
the rocket is in the water, and, when the composition is in part
consumed, the fire will be communicated through the small tube to the
other rocket. The latter will then rise and leave the other, which
will not be able to follow it, on account of the weight adhering to
it.
_Sec. XII. Of the Representation of Neptune in his Chariot._
This representation is performed by procuring a figure made of wood,
or wicker wood, of the proper size, and supporting it on a float, on
which must be two horses' heads and necks, so as to appear swimming.
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 pasteboard, cut and painted like Neptune's
coronet; then let the trident be made without prongs; but, instead
of them, fix three cases of a very weak gray 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 composition, sufficient 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 gray 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, with the
white flames on the horses' heads, and the port-fires in their eyes
and nostrils, must be all lighted at once. Then, from the bottom of
the white flames, carry a leader to the trident. As the figure is to
advance by the help of a block and cord, it must be so managed as to
prevent its turning about, till the brilliant fires on the horses and
the trident begin. 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 shown by himself, without setting
fire to any other of the 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.
_Sec. XIII. Of the Representation of a Sea-Fight with Small Ships,
and the Preparation of a Fire-Ship._
Having procured a number of small ships of two or three feet in
length, prepare 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 slow port-fire composition; 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. These leaders must be made small, and
care must also be taken in calculating the burning of the slow-fire
in the regulating cases, that more than two guns be fired at a time.
To give a broadside, let the 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 the
engagement has commenced, 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. To prepare a ship for this purpose,
make a port-fire, equal in size to those in the other ships, and
place it at the stern. In any port, place a large port-fire, filled
with 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 thick
and one broad, 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 this composition is laid, some little tacks, with flat
heads, are to be driven, to secure it fast to the deck. This must
be fired just after the _sham_ guns, and, when burning, will show 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 the mortar will
sink the ship, and make a pretty conclusion.
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, under the surface of the water, fix two
running blocks, at the distance the ships are to fight apart, and at
the other end of the pond, opposite to each of these blocks, under
water, fix a double block. On the land, by each of the double blocks,
place two small windlasses. Round one of them, turn one end of a
small cord, the other end of which is to be 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 ships, at the distance required.
These strings, however, should not be more than two feet each. Make
fast the loose end of each to a ship, just under the bowsprit, 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 windlasses, to which fasten a cord, and to it, tie the
other half of the ships as above. When the ships are fired, 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, they will be drawn back again; by which method, they may
be made to change sides, and tack about backwards and forwards at
pleasure.
For the fire-ship, fix the blocks and windlass between the others; so
that, when she sails out, she will be between the other ships. She
must not advance, however, till the guns at her ports take fire.
In the exhibition of water fire-works, it is obvious, from the
observations we have made, and the different pieces prepared for that
purpose, that such exhibitions may be varied, and even new pieces got
up.