The Nevada Democrat., 1862-04-29
GREEK FIRE.

The history OF the "Greek Fire" is inter-
esting on several accounts. The hre was
invented in the seventh century, while the
human mind was lapsing inio DarDarism. IL
saved the Eastern Empire repeatedly from
destruction, by burning ships aud driving
back armies from before thelcapitai. Amidst
q hundred revolutions it remained close
secret ia possession of the Government at
Constanlnople, for four hundred years, af-
ter which Knowledge OF its preparation
passed over TO the Mahommedans Of Asia,
who used it with powerful effect upon the
Western nations during the Crusade. FL
naly the Invention was lost, aud so contin-
ued for several hundred years; and whether
the parties now institutiug the experiment
have reproduced the genuine article, or
only a good imitation Oft, is simply mat
ter of conjecture.
We are indebted 10 Gibbon for our infor-
nation concerning this destructive agent.
About the year G7O the Saracens sat down
before Cons.autnople their large naval ex.
pedilion, having found the Hellespont un-
guarded. The city appeared as if it would
fall an easy prey. But whole summer
spent in besieging it, only resulted in disas-
ter to those fanatical children of the desert.
n
assented in bis dolage, was followed by q
renewal of the war by bis successor. A
second expedition, comprising, it is said,
eighteen hundred vessels with one hundred
aud twenty thousand men, appeared before
the place. Again the Grecian fire vessels
were launched against them; aud with such
terrible effect was this fire used, that the
immense fleet was nearly annihilated. Nor
were the land forces more successful when
brought to face the supposed supernatural
agent. After desperate exertions, prolong-
ed to period OF thirteen months, the army
received orders to retire; and Constantine
pie was saved from the sign OF the crescent,
up to the middle of the fifteenth century.
Callnicus, a native of HeOpolis, in Syria
or Egypt is aledged to be the dscoverer
of this great secret. He deserted from the
service of the Caliph TO that of the Emper-
or, probably from religious motives. The
historian of the Decline and Fail supposes
that naptha, or liquid bitumen. was the
principal ingredient of the Greek fire. In
places this resinOus substance is found to
spring from the earth, and catch fire on eX-
posure to the atmosphere. With it were
mingled some other substances, probably
sulphur and pitch or rosin. The compound
produced a thick smoke and loud explosion
accompanied by fierce aud obstinate flame
which burned in every direction. Sand, vim
egar and urine were the only known reme-
dies against its ravages. 1t was poured
from ramparts In large bodies, or launched
in red hot balls of stone or iron, or
darted in arrows, or javalins, twisted round
with flax aud tow, which had deeply i'm
bibed the inhammable oil. Sometimes it
was deposited in fire ships, the victims and
Instruments of more ample revenge, and
was most commonly blown thro' long tubes
of copper, which were planted on the prov
ofa galley. and faneifully shaped into the
moutds OF savage monsters, that see med to
vomt stream of liqnid and consuming
FIRE.
at came aying through the air." says
Joinvile, "like winged, long-tailed dra-
gon, about the thickness Of h0gshead,
with the report of thunder and the velocity
of lightning; and the darkness of night was
dispelled by this deadly Illumination"
That a composition of this sort should be
kept profound secret for ages, is surprising
yet there can be no reasonable doubt re-
garding it, The Empero:s would often cue.
cor other nations with galleys and weapons
prepared with ii; but the mystery Of its
manufacture they would never impart.
Asking assistance from foreigners, they
were inexOrable in preserving monopoly
Of the art Sometimes they would instruct
ambassadors TO pretend that it had been
miracuousy made known to the great Con-
stantine. and the boon would be withdrawn
IL communicated to others. BY some means
Il was preserved to the end of the eleventh
century, when at length 1t was discovered
or stolen by the MahOmmedans. But it con.
tinued ia use up tG the invention OF gun
powder. Considering that the Arabans had
made extensive researches in alchemy at an
early date In the history of their empire, it
seems the more strange that the cOnstitu.l
ents of the famous Greek fire should have
so long baflled every attempt to their dis
covery.