The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-09-12
Greek Fire.

From the y. I. Journal .. Commerce.
The Greek fire of history was probably
a coml ound Of bitume, sulphur, and pitch
There has leeu considerable romance 10
the accounts Of it. But 1t was weapon
Of great importance to the Romans for
four centuries, during which they pre-
served the secret Of lis composition as a
national possession. 1t was thrown n
balls, or on arrows or spears, aud 1t was
poured from walls of cities upon the tow
ers and heads Of the beeiegers. Its most
terrible use was on shipboard, where II
was pumped out OF tubes, IN tie prov OF Il
galley, upon the decks OF an enemy, set
ting tire TO all that touched. The Mohani-
medane learned the art of making 1t, and
used it in the crusades with deadly effect j;
and the Knights Of St john, while al
Rhodes, made it a grand weapon OF their
naval comba,s. The common idea that
Greek fire was auid, which ignited on the
surface of the sea, may be dismissed. II
sometimes burned on the water but ouiy
when falling in large quantities. = prepa-
ration of benzoie was recently made IL
France, TO burn on The surface Of the
water. i, was found that glass giobe
full Of benzoie, with small particle Ci
potassium in il, when broken Oh the sur
face OF the water would spread owe: .
large space and at once spring into Hanle.
This has not been made practically use
iui though England aud France are ready
to adopt any such invention 80 soon as Il
is perfected II would seem desirable TO
continue experiments of this kind with
reference to defence against or offensive
attacks on iron clads II is toy no means
certain that men may not invent liquid
fire to pour over iron ciads which VII ue>
s,rey them or make then unteoable 10y
me-.
The generic name OF Greek fre has be,
given to ali kinds OF InceuGiary compounds
iuclosed IL shells sud thycan into cite
for the purpose OF firing them. There arr
several Il, thods of mi king and using
them known Only - 'he inventors
But the basis Of them ~! Is sad 10 b.
phosphorus dissolved IN bisuiptlioe 0. car
Don The latter is q very curious liquid,
having all the apparent purity OF distilled
| water, and a very high retI active power
but evolving, on evaporation or conDrs
ton, the foulest stencil known tcchemlcai
| scieuce-a science which positively reve!s
| in nauseous doors II has the ex,raordl-
| nary property of diselvins phophorus free
ly, and preserving it IN huId state Tor any
length OF time when kept from the ALI
The compound kindles at hea. as low a.
that of phosphorus alone. When the shel
charged with this "yillainous mixture
| expIodes by percussion or otherwise, th'
Dissolved phosphorus is set on FIRE ane
scattered far and wide. Wherever i
strikes, it burns for long time with an al
most iuex,inguishable flame, and ignite:
| all combustIbIe materials that /; touches
At the same time, the bi sulpha,e OF car,
| bon throws out its abcminable odor, ano
assists IN keeping medlers a. respectful
distance! IL Gilmore is injecting thI:
stuff into Charleston, the people OF tha
city might as well leave for the country bl
the shortest road, taking their fire engsae:
with them, for the latter will be Of LITTLE
account in putting out the contiagratioi
which has been started and can be kept
| going for an unlimited period.