The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-03
FIRE CRACKERS
FORUNCLE SAN.
By Yotu Haitu, Formerly Designer of Pyro-
technics to the Emperor Of Japan.

: flower pot, and is 10 be used principally
| in lawn exhibitions. 1t starts out by
pouring out a Geyser OF fire and Winds
up with an explosion that sends a. Ium-
, Der Of flying pigeons into the air 800
feet. The gyrations of the pigeons and
the beauties OF the circle Of FIRE with
which they surround themselves is re-
markable.
In the same class IS the Devil Among
the Tailors." which IS a fountain OF
beautiful lights; Jack in the Box" that
! pours forth a glory of coloTs. and the
"Colored Saucissons." which go kissing
and SQulrming over the ground like a
pac kof enraged serpents. These. are
| tloated out to sea upon a board or raft.
DAY SHELLS.
The day shell is used in daylight OK
hibitiOns. and is probably the most in
genious contrivance Of its kind that ever
came across the water. for IL is Of Chi
nese origin 1t is a cylinder about four
inches in diameter covered at both cx
tremiuCs. 1t is thrown from a mortar 10
a height OF about four hundred feet. At
that altitude the cylinder explodcs re-
, leasing a large figure made of light IA
brio that is inflated with hot air rising
from the powder that burns in small
cups suspended from the under side OF
it. When expanded. these small wads
take the forms of various animals, and
1
never falling until the hot air IL ex-
hausted
II may be interesting to know the Sc
cret of the fre-cracker and the mystery
of its beauty. The colors are simple It
IS in the brilliancy and the arrangement
that the superiority lies.
Rockets are made in two parts, the
head and the body. The latter is a cylin-
der Of paper, which is pasted IN layers
until It Becomes strong enough 10 with
stand the explosion of the contents. The
cylinder is choked at the lower end. so
as TO present only a narrow opening for
the escape OF fire a central conical
hollow bore extends from this opening
upward for three-quarters the length Of
the body. This serves by means Of
heated gases which form after the fuse
Is lighted. 10 Dropel the rocket "pw7rd
The head IS filed with stars or Jther
devices. which are scattered by burst
ing fire whes the rocket reaches its alti
tude. The stock is an important par
and must nc carefully grad to allow
the rocket to teach the height Intended.
MAKING COLORS.
Roman candles are simply long tubes
OF stout paper. In which a preparation
IS poured by means of a funnel. Then
hammer and punch Is used to fasten II
down. Upon this a colored ball is placed.
moro compound IS poured in and ram
med down until the desired number OF
stars are placed in the tube. care being
taken to see that the fuse runs through
properly.
The colored balls are composed Of the
following materials:
Green-Copper filings and salts Of COP
per.
Rlue--Zlnc filings.
YelIow--.AmbeT rosfn, anthony and
common salt
Red-Lampblack. salts Of stontian. zinc
and nitre.
The common blue light IL composed OF
a stout paper tube. which is filed with
n composition Of seven parts Of nitre,
two Of sulphsr and one OF anthony.
Among the most expensive fireworks
are set pieces, some of which cost hun
dreds OF dollars The design Is first
chalhed on n fat surface. Then light
frame is made, following tho lines of the
design. TO this flame are attached
tubes. which form the outline. When
the fuse Is lighted the compound In the
tubes is ignited and the head Of Liberty
or some other intricate design appears
I'm flaming beauty.
The manufacture OF fireworks in this
country IS scarcely more than half
century old. There were only three man
ufacturers OF fireworks here in 1870 ana
they confined themselves merely to max
inc colored fires, or what Is now better
known as "tableau powder"
Gradually there was a demand for
more variety and greater novelty. SO
important was the subject deemed that
IN Si5 the American Institute offered a
prize for the best exhibition Of fireworks.
This served 10 stimulate tne manufac-
turers, and new designs were invented.