The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1826-05-18
GREEKFIRE sHIps-Tb. c,,lo,,i

"eEEk FIRE SHiPS.--The following
description Of these instrume nts Of de-
strpction, by the means of which, the sue
cess that has so frequently crowned the
bravery Of the Greeks, in their attacks up
on tho Turkish Fleets has been acco5
plished, will, without doubt, be read with
some interest,mofe especially by those who
feel tor the welfare Of that oppressed and
unfortunate people.
GREEK FIRrsHiPs. These are vessels
generally Of. about 800 to 400 tons burthen.
and mostly polske brig-rigged; they were
Formerly merchaTtmen before the reyoln-
uon ;are strong vessels and mostly sail fast.
They have chain slings for all their yards,
and at the yard-arns, gfsppte, or FIRE. hooks.
and box on the lower yard-arms contain
ing combustible matter, which burns for
some considerable time. Thechain slinps
are for the purpose. Of keeping the Yards
from falling as long as possible after the
rigging and sails are on fire. They have
other fire-hooks on the bow-sprit with box
es OF combustibles; there is train which
leads to these boSes in the yard-arms and
bowsprit, which communicates with them
and sets them on fire before the rigging
takes fire they are filled with grenades and
flre balls. Along the deck within about
two feet Of the water ways, they have from
twelve to fourteen hatches, these matches
are kept closely shut when they are ap-
proachfng an enemy, SO that any fire from
them may not communicate with their hold;
they have also ports along the outside,
which they also keep close shut until they
are about firing the train, when they heave
off the hatches on deck and open the ports,
which fall down The flame then has
far opportunity Of rising out Of the hatches
and bursting from the sides.
They have a between deck fore and aft,
on which they nave large cribs, built like
double births, which are filed with light
pine, dipped in tar sr turpentiHe, mixed
with this is quantity ofturbush, dipped in
the same. substance they also put on old
tarpaulins and other combustbles, taking
care not 10 have it lay too close together.
Abreast Of every deck hatch they have n
barrel of fire. balls, and chose to it hatch
Ecut through the between decks, so as to
make draft from the hold, where they
have nothing but ballast. !. -,s..
The trains are laid fore and aft in
uo-shs OF two inches wide and three deep,
running in every direction along the deck.
which is covered with tar and turpentlnc !
as well as all the beamss earrings. The
train il generally fixed from the cabin win
dows, but in case it should be required,
they can set fire to it from shy of the ports
along side. Just before they intend going
aiong side ofan enemy, they wet all the
sails with spirits Of tirpentine, and fill the
train troughs with powder; all bonds with
the exception Of the icaptsin get into the
boats astern, which are very fast rowing
boats, and pull with from twelve to fourteen
oars, which is all the crew Of the fire-ship /;
the boat carries two small guns. When
every thing is ready, the captain being the
only one on board, steers direct for the
yesselbe intends laying on board, which
he tries to strike about the forecrlains and
does not leave the helm until she is fairly
grappled with tho eneiny:' he then jumps
into the boat astelrt, and fires pistol into
the, train, when thevessel is instantly in
blaze, which it would be impossible to ex-
tinguish. l. am told they burn from ono
half to three quarters Of an hour, before
they sink they do not blow upias it has
been generally stated. Philad. Aurora.
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