Sparks.
5. Sparks.—It is only as it regards magnitude that Sparks differ from stars above described, they being generally made of very small size, and consequently of short duration in their exhibition. The method of preparing them is as follows: put into an earthen vessel one ounce of mealed gunpowder, three ounces of powdered salt-petre, and four ounces of camphor, reduced to powder by rubbing it in a mortar with a small quantity of spirit of wine; pour over this mixture some weak gum-water, in which some gum-adraganth has been dissolved, till the composition is brought to a state of thin paste; then take some lint, prepared by boiling it in vinegar or salt-petre, and afterwards dried and unravelled, and put into the composition enough of it to absorb the whole, at the same time take care to stir it well. This matter is to be formed into small balls, of about the size of a pea, which being dried by a moderate heat are to be sprinkled with mealed gunpowder, for the purpose that they may readily catch fire.
Another method.
Another method of making Sparks.—Take some saw-dust made from fir, or any kind of wood that burns readily, and boil it in water in which salt-petre has been dissolved; after boiling about a quarter of an hour, the vessel must be removed from the fire, and the liquid poured off so as to leave the saw-dust at the bottom of the vessel, then place the saw-dust by itself upon a flat board or table, and while in a moist state sprinkle it with sulphur, sifted through a fine hair sieve, the sifting powder (sulphur) will be improved if to it be added a small portion of bruised gunpowder. When the whole has been well mixed and of proper consistence, it is to be made up into Sparks, as described in the other method.
Marroons.
6. Marroons.—Marroons are of very easy construction, being nothing more than small cubical boxes, filled with a composition proper for making them burst, and thence producing a loud report, which, and the suddenness of it, is their chief property. They are used principally in combination with other pieces, or to form a battery, in which, by different lengths of quick-match, they are caused to explode at distinct intervals.
Construction.
Construction.—Cut a piece of pasteboard into the form represented in [fig. 18], which will fold up into a cubical case, the angles must be well secured by pasting paper over them, the top being left till it is filled: when this is done the box is to be filled with grained powder, then cement strong paper over the top, and again in various directions over the body; and to increase the strength of the box (which will produce a louder report) wrap round two or three rows of packthread dipped in some strong glue, then make a hole in one of the corners, and introduce into it a piece of quick-match, and your Marroon is ready for action.
Marroons may be rendered luminous, or caused to emit a brilliant appearance previous to their explosion.