Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-05-15
GREEK FIRE SHIP.

The success which has so frequently crown
ed the bravery OF the Greeks in their attacks
upon the Turkish fleets by means OF ire ships,
will render Of some interest the following de-
Scrption Of these instruments CT destrucuon
While lying in the harbor Of Mylo, there
came into that port Spzzote division OF the
Greek fleet, amongst thtsn were number OF
fire ships. Several of the officers of the Onta-
rio with myself visited them, and were much
gratEed by having an opportunity OF eXamin-
ing these wonderful eng ines Of destructlon.--
We were much astonished at The simplicity 81
their construction, and pleased to see, that II
once fired it would be impossible to eXtinguish
them The commanders took great deal OF
pains 10 explain every thing TO us one Of them
stated that he had destroyed two frigates, and
feels very confident of always being successful,
provided they can attack The enemy at anchor.
They are vessels generally OF about 500 to
TOO TONS hnrthna and ninsily Polakc brig-rig-
ged they were formerly merchaif51vn, =, - W
the revolution; are strong vessels and mostly
sail fast They have chain sings for all their
yards, and at the yard arms, grapple, or fire
hooks, and box on the lower yard arms con-
tanning com5ustible matter, which burns for
some considerable time The chain sings are
for the purpose Of keeping the yards from fall
ing as long as possible alter the rigging and
sails are on fire. They have other fire hooks
on the bowsDrit with boxes Of combustibles;
there is a train which leads 10 these boxes III
the yard arms and bowsprit, which communl-
Gates with them and sets them on fire; before
the rigging takes fire they are filed with gre
nades and fire balls. Along the deck within
about feet of the water WAYS, they have from
Il to Il hatches these matches are kept close
iy shut when they are approaching an enemy,
SO that any fire from them may not cYmmuni-
cate with their hold they have also ports along
the outside which they also keep close shut un-
til they are about firing the train; when they
heave oft matches on deck and open the pc.ts
which fall down. The fame then has fair
opportunity of rising cut Of the hatchcs and
bursting from the sides
They have between deck fore and aft, or
which they have large cribs, built like double
births, which are filled with light pine, dipped
in tar or turpentine mixed with this is quap-
NY Of fusbush, dipped in the same substance;
they also pc, old tarpaulins and other COM
bustibles, taking care nO> have it lay too close
| together Abreast Of every de.h hatch thew
have barrel Of fire balls, and close TO ii hatch
cut through the between decks, so as 10 make
draft from the hod where they have nothing
but ballast.
The trains are aid fore and aft in troughs Of
inches wide and 8 deep, running in every di
reCtion along the teck, which is covered with
tar and turpentine, as well as all the beams and
earnings. The tran is generally fired from the
cabin windows, Blu in case it should be requir
ed, they Can set fir to it from any Of the ports
along side. Just ,efore they intend going "a
ongside Of an y,they wet all The sails with
spirits Of turpentim, and ELL the train troughs
with powder; all hnds with the exception Of
the captain, get int the boat astern, which are
very fast rowing bots, and pull With from Il
to IA oars, which ial the crew Of The freship;
the boat carries small guns. When every
thing is ready, the aptain being the only one
on board, steers dirct for the vessel he intends
laying Oh board, which he tries to strike about
the forechains, and GOES not leave the helm un-
til she is fairly gra,pled with the enemy; he
then jumps into tfeboat astern, and fires pis-
tol into the train, when The vessel is Instantly
in blaze, which it would be impossible TO ex-
tinguish an told they burn from one half
TO three quarters of an hour, before they sink;
they do not bow up as il has been generally
stated. Phfkad. aurora.
The Duke Of SAKE Weimar, and MIR. Hugens,
| son of the Minister from tn. Netherlands to the
! United States. arrived at New-Harmony, lndi-
ana, ON the 18th utimo.
/ Messrs. Carey s Lea, of Philadelphia, have
in the press the new Waverly Novel entitled
Woodstock.