The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-09-25 00:00:00

FIREWORK MAKING at the CRYSTAL
PALACE.

The Times h9.s the following particulars of this somewhat
novel exhibition at the Crystal Palace :

When one remembers that the storage and carriage
of gunpowder and other explosive substances have
been the subject of recent legislation, preceded by a
prolonged inquiry by a Committee of the House of
Commons, one might be excused feeling some surprise
at an announcement that the making of all the
varieties of fireworks was to be practically demon-
strated in the nave of the Crystal Palace for the enter-
tainment of the visitors. How could the management
incur such risk? Would the provision of the Act of
last Session allow of the introduction into the nave of
the Palace of a sufficient quantity of gunpowder or
other explosives to render such a demonstration prao-
ticable? Might it not be the duty of Major Majendie,
the Inspector under the Act, to interfere for the pro-
tection of alike of the demonstrators and the public?
All these apprehensions were removed when one reached
the nave of the Palace on Monday, for conspicuous
notices, evidently designed to re-assure - those who
were concerned for their own safety, informed visitors
that the materials used in the demonstration were not
explosive nor in any way dangerous. The operators
were making fireworks without the very elements
which are essential to the most insignificant display.
There were paper and wood in abundance; but char-
coal and sand did duty for gunpowder. and other in-
gredients which are used by the pyrotechnist; and, of
all the wheels, rockets crackers, and squibs which were
produced by the dexterous hands of a hundred of the
men and young women in the employ of Mr. Brock,
not one would have gone off. All the cases that were so
filled with charcoal or sand were dummies, and dummies
are useful in the trade, because they oan be harmlessly
exhibited in shop windows by way of advertisement,
while the re al article is deposited in a safe and convenient
place until it is asked for by 9. customer. Therefore
the industry bestowed upon imitation fireworks for the
amusement of the visitors was not thrown away; and,
of course, all the paper cases that were made but not
filled in the Palace can be turned into real fireworks
at theNunhead factory. There the work is not con-
centrated as it was in the nave of the Palace ; but it is
carried on in a number of huts, scattered over eight
acres of ground, with a regulation distance between
them, so that an accidental explosion may be isolated;
whereas on the supposition that powder had been used
on Monday, even the debased powder of the trade,
with real fuses and real quick-match, the double row
of tables would have formed a train of combustibles,
the ignition of which would have produced the most
extraordinary, if not the most disastrous, results.

Considering the number and character of modern
pyrotechnic displays, Mr. Brock is probably correct in
assuming the existence of some curiosity as to the pro-
cesses by which such imposing results are obtained, and
it is a laudable desire on his part to wish to gratify such
curiosity in spite of the difficulties interposed by the
nature of the work and the materials used. It is
possible, however, to convey an idea of the magnitude
of this as of other industries, and of the extent to
which the labour employed has been divided and
organized. When made on a large scale at
.the
Nuehead factory, the halfpenny squib is sub-
jected to 14 operations at the hands of as many em-
ployes ; but, after all, it is a larger and more costly
article than a common pin, which goes through as
many stages. The fact that Mr. Brook's establish-
ment is producing the fireworks to be let off in India
in honour of the visit of the Prince of Wales, will help
to correct the delusion which lurks in the popular as-
sociation of fireworks with China and the East. The
error of this popular belief is mentioned in the historical
and descriptive sketch prepared for the guidance of
visitors, in which the processes carried on at forty
numbered benches are specified. They may be classi-
fied under fewer heads—viz., rolling paper cases, com-
pounding and forming stars and Roman candles, in-
serting these and otherwise filling up the paper cases,
elaborating and constructing designs, and regulating
with nicety in particular places the-force of explosion
or the rapidity of ignition. Paper cases, whether
for match pipes, squibs, crackers, lances, pill boxes, or
rockets, are rolled on rods, corresponding to stair rods,
rulers, and rolling pins, the operation being similar to
that in the making of round paper boxes. The
mixing of the ingredients for stars and Roman candles
—for bright stars, tail stars, and comet stars—their
varying proportions of saltpetre, sulphur, antimony,
meal powder, charcoal, and lampblack—the intro-
duction of filings to produce corruscations and of
chymicals for colouring—the determination of red by
nitrate of strontia, of green by nitrate of baryta,
of white by sulphuret of antimony, and of blue by
oxychloride, carbonate, and arseniate of copper—these
interesting and delicate processes had to be taken for
granted; and here WAS only the imitation paste or
mould out of which the stars were pumped, er punched.
in cakes the size of a fourpenny pier.° and a quarter of
an inch thick; and here were the Roman candles, of
similar size, but of distinctive colours. The insertion
of these in cases, and the filling up of cases with com-
position, are operations requiring !care, and precision,
particularly with reference to the final result,
where the symmetry and beauty depend upon nice
calculations. An interesting illustration of this is
furnished by the charging of the Roman candle
cases, for, as the candles are placed one upon the
other, equal charges ot'powder between them would
produce irregularity in their descent after discharFe,
and tbis is provided against by varying the successive
deposits of powder, which are measured by a series
of miniature spoons or ladles, which the operator must
carefully use in their correct order. The means by which
the silk parachute which floats the brilliant changing
light is preserved from injury in its explosive dis-
charge is another instance of the skill required in the
filling up of the paper cases. The construction of
globular shell cases in halves, the method of joining
them so as to secure their bursting properly, and the
pouch containing the charge of powder which sends
them out of the mortars—a row of which were exhi-
bited—were matters which could be more plainly ap-
prehended that the filling of the rocket upon a spindle)
so as to leave a hello* centre surrounded by the com-
pressed wall of powder. Pap, r balloons are cut out
in sections, with the aid of metal patterns; lathes are
largely used in turning woodwork; and a considerable
quantity of wood is cut up for rocket sticks. The im-
pression produced by what was shown and explained
was that there is more scientific knowledge and me-
chanical skill employed in producing fireworks than
the majority of those who adr_ire them are aware of.

WALKING EIGHT MILES IN AN HOUR.
Five or six thousand sporting folk mustered at the
Lillie.bridge Grounds, West Brompton, on Monday
evening, to witness an attempt by William Perkins to
perform the unprecedented feat of walking eight miles
in an hour. The, match was for a stake of £l5O, a bet
of £lOO to £5O having been made that the champion
would not cover the distance within the allotted time.
On a former occasion Perkins triel to accomplish
the task, but although he then failed the wagering
was now in his favour, it having been rumoured
that during his training with Herbert Boot he had
more than once done the eight miles under the
hour. When he appeared within the enclosure on
Monday evening he was received with encouraging
cheers, and the word to go being given a moment after-
wards, he started off at a tremendous pace. The track
was rather heavy, in consequence of the rain which had
fallen at intervals during the day; but the incon-
venience arising therefrom was reduced to a minimum
by well rolling the path. It was necessary that
Perkins should travel at the rate of a mile in seven and
a half minutes in order to win. He completed the first
mile in 6inin. 46sec., almost the fastest time on record.
He was attended by J. Riley and J. Boot, who alter-
nately led the pace. - He continued to speed along at
a magnificent pace, and with the most graceful action,
triding out with a fine determined step, and hold-
ing his head erect, and fairer heel and toe walking
could scarcely be conceived ; nor did the athlete in-
dulge in any of those contortions which so sadly mar
the walking of many professionalists. The second
mile was accomplished in 'min. 27secs., or

14min. 13sec. from the time of starting. The
third was done three seconds quicker—time from
beginning, 21min. 37sec. The fourth was walked two
seconds quicker still, thus half the distance was covered
in lmin. lsec. less than the half-hour. Seven minutes
33sec. was the period occupied by the fifth mile; while
the sixth was done in 7min. 52 sec., the slowest:of the
whole. Perkins now put on a splendid spurt and
covered the seventh mile in 7min. 27sec.—time from
the start 51min 51sec., leasing him just Bmin. 9sec.
to finish. He completed the eighth mile, however,
in 7min. 14sec.. thus winning the match in 59min.
ssec. It will be perceived that the first and the
last were the quickest miles of the whole journey.
The champion was almost as fresh at the end as he
was at the beginning, and he was proclaimed the
victor amid the uproarious applause of his admirers.