A Manual of Pyrotechny; or, A Familiar System of Recreative Fire-works

by G. W. Mortimer

The composition may be that of Serpents, or the brilliant fire; when either are used it should be prepared strong.

Courantines, or Line Rockets.

8. COURANTINS,[14] OR LINE ROCKETS.

Among the various modes of exhibiting Rockets, none are more pleasing than the present.

Rockets proper for this purpose are those of about half, and three-quarter pounds; they are made after the manner of sky-rockets of the common kind. Any number, from one to eight or ten, may be used; but five or six will be found to answer the best. According to the number of cases used, the Courantins are said to be of so many changes. When one, two, or three are only used, they may conveniently be fixed to a small empty cartridge, (of the same length as the cases,) made on a wire former, a little larger than the line on which it is to run, and of considerable substance; but when more than this number are to be used, or a greater change is to be produced, a small perforated cylinder must be procured, of dimensions suitable to the purpose; this cylinder should be of some light wood, such as fine deal, or willow; the perforations must be made exactly through the centre lengthways. In the same direction, on its circumference, are to be made as many grooves as there are Rockets to be employed; in which they must be well secured by tying the whole with string.

The diameter of this cylinder should be such, that when laid into the groove, the cases may nearly touch each other.

The Rockets being all prepared, (and their apertures, or mouths, besprinkled a little with meal powder and spirits of wine,) they are to be laid into the groove, and in such a manner, that the head or mouth of the second lays at the same end of the cylinder as the tail of the first; the head of the third the same as the tail of the second; and so on with all the others; they must all be bound tight round with string.

Being thus fixed to the cylinder, you must from the tail of the first Rocket carry a leader to the mouth of the second; from the tail of the second, to the mouth of the third; and so with the whole number, taking care to fix every leader quite secure; and at the same time, that the quick-match does not enter but a very little way into the bore of the Rockets, or it will be liable to fire the charge or composition of the Rockets, and thereby destroy all your arrangements.

Your runner being now ready for action, a line is to be fixed in an horizontal direction between two posts, or other convenient objects, whose distance from each other (for half-pound Rockets) should be about 100 yards long; this line should be of some strong twine, or (which will answer much better) small brass or iron wire, stretched quite tight between its supports; remembering to put on the runner before you fasten both ends. Then (the mouth being next the end of the line) fire the first Rocket, which by its force will carry the whole to the end of the line, or nearly, for it will be best to have the line too long rather than too short, for if the latter is the case, it will of course make a stand at its extremity, till the remainder of the charge is consumed, which does not look well. But if on the contrary the line is a little too long there will be no such stoppage, not even during the communication of the fire to the next Rocket, for the force acquired in its first flight will be sufficient to continue it till such communication is effected; after which it will return in the same manner to the other extremity, and back again in the same order, and so on to the end of the charges arranged on the cylinder.