Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-07-26
HOW ROCKETS ARE MADE.

ed with the magnificent display of
fireworks on July 4th, very few have
even the remotest idea of the manner
in which even the simplest forms of
them are prepared. Yesterday after
noon after the procession, Blade
reporter had an interesting chat with |
Mr.. j. II. Dement,, who now repre-
sents large New York manufacture
er, and who at one time was an as
sistant to Paine, the celebrated Lon
don pyrotechnist, Mr.. Dement, has
spent his life, almost, in the manu-
facture and sale of fireworks, and
has had many startling experiences.
In reply to aquestion a as to the risks
of life and limb incurred in their
manufacture, Mr.. Dement, said that
it was an exceedingly ticklish busl-
ness, requiring the greatest possible
care.
81 may safely say" continued Mr..
Dement,, ''that you carry your life in
your hand, and must all the time have
your mind on your business, for the
least carelessness or neglect may
prove fatal. In the first place facto-
ries take every precaution to guard
against explosions. They keep no
more explosive material on hand than
is absolutely essential for the days
work. CELEBRATES and nitrates are
kept in sheds at respectful distances
from sulphur. Each shed is carpet
ed with kamptulicon, and the filters
either work in their stocking feet or
wear woolen slippers to prevent any
jarring. Long lists of rules are post
ed in every room and they are oh
served with the greatest of care. It's
a matter of mutual safety. Smoking
or even carrying matches is strictly
for hidden. All doors are kept un-
fastened except by thin string or
| latch when the workmen are inside,
and then there are lots of rules about
| the care of colored fire."
"Is it necessary to be just as care
| full in the manufacture of sky-rock-
ets?"
"You not only have to be very
careful, but you must be exact in all
your doings. You see, sky-rocket
has three parts, the cap, shaft and
stick. The latter is like the tail of
kite, but the cap and shaft fulfill ex-
actly opposite conditions. The shaft
case is strong and solid to hold the
contents for a certain time. There
is where you have to pay great atten-
ton to proportion, and if carefully
filled with the right mixture, the
shaft should have complete tail
from the starting point until the
stars are shown by the bursting of
the cap
''How is this cap bursted, so as to
show the shower of stars?"
"Why, the shaft having been roll
ed and dried, it is filled with special
composition, like ordinary gunpow-
der, only it has more charcoal, and is
in powder instead of grain. Eight
parts of saltpeter,two of sulphur, 3A
of charcoal is good rocket mixture.
The charging of the rocket is pecu-
liar process. To secure the rapid
evolution of gas, by which alone a
high velocity can be attained, it is
necessary to expose large surface
TO combustion. To do this the sock
ct shaft instead of being cylinder
full of composition is, by the inser-
ton of spindle during the opera
ton of charging, provided with a
I hollow chamber which tapers upward
: from the base for about three-quar.
ters of the entire length. The work
man seated on a stool made of Sec
ton of tree, perfectly certain that
neither iron or matches are about
proceeds with the ticklish operation
: of charging. Scoopful by scoopfu
the composition is filled in and ram.
med down into a firm mass with box
wood rammers or draft tools driven
home by a mallet, the hollow cham
ber being preserved by the presence
of spindle. The top of the rocke
is closed by little powdered clay
;. with the exception of small aper
: ture. to allow the ignition of the con
: tents of the cap. This is made of {
e much lighter material than the shaft
and is filled with bright and coloret
stars, and charge sufficient to ig
i mite them and burst the cone. Thes
: processes are conducted with grea
p care, else the least mistake might re
e suit in failure.
"How high do rockets go?'
"It depends upon the quality 0
! the rocket. Some of the best soa
upwards one-third of a mile, an,
a their amazing power of flight IS Sc
n cured by ramming in very tight.
into the rocket case a composition
n which burns fercely and generate
d gas very rapidly when once ignited
: but which only has small vent 70
its fury at the lower end of the case
o The gas generated inside rushes ou
It with such violence against the al
/ outside that the rocket is driven up
ward by it, the tail of the comet con
n sisting of the sparks of the fire burn
l ing inside"
ssAnd how about these shells, tina
: explode so beautifully, showerin!
+. | d;Goront nolorod Iiubtc and STARS an,