Strung Stars, so named from having a cotton quick match run through them, are formed by taking some thin paper, and cutting it into pieces of about one and a half inches square, and laying on each piece, as much dry star composition as the paper, when folded, will easily contain. The paper, with its contents, is then twisted up as hard as possible. When done, rub some paste between the hands, and roll the stars between them, and afterwards dry them. They are then covered with tow, and primed with a paste composed of meal powder, and brandy, in which they may be rolled in the same manner as described when treating of stars. They are then dried and strung on cotton quickmatch, by piercing a hole through them, taking care to put but ten or twelve on each match, and placing them at the distance of three or four inches apart.
Tailed stars are those which produce a great many sparks, representing a tail like that of a comet. Of these, there are two kinds, the rolled and the drove. The operation for the rolling of stars, we have sufficiently explained; it consists in mixing the composition with brandy, or, if it can be had, with spirit of wine, and either weak gum water, or isinglass size, sufficient to make a thick paste; and then rolling it.
When tailed stars are to be driven, the composition must be moistened with spirit of wine, or if it cannot be had, with fourth proof brandy, without the gum, or gelatin, and not made so wet as for rolling. One or two-ounce cases, rolled dry, are best for this purpose; and when they are filled, unroll the cases within three or four rounds of the charge, and all that is unrolled must be cut off. Then paste down the loose edge; and in two or three days afterwards, cut them in pieces of five or six-eighths of an inch in length; then melt some wax, and dip one end of each piece into it, so as to cover the composition. The other end must be covered with priming paste.
Drove stars are so designated, because the composition is always drove, and used in cases. They are seldom put in rockets, but are chiefly used for air-balloons. They are put in cases, to prevent the composition from being broken, by the force of the blowing powder in the shell. See [Air-Balloons.]
With respect to rolling stars, we gave, in our chapter on star compositions, not only the proportion of their constituent parts, but ample instructions for preparing them for use. They are usually about the size of a musket ball; but sometimes they are made an inch in diameter. When very small, they are called sparks. See [Stars.]
Sec. X. Of Line-Rockets and their Decorations.
Line-rockets are the same as the courantines of the French, or rockets that fly along a rope. If a rocket be attached to an empty case, and a rope passed through the latter, and stretched horizontally; and if the rocket be then set on fire, it will run along the rope, without stopping till the matter it contains is exhausted.
Line-rockets do not differ materially from sky-rockets, as they are made and driven like them; but they are without heads, and the cases are cut close to the clay. They are sometimes made with six or seven changes. Four or five, however, are the most common. We must first have a piece of light wood, turned round, about two and a half inches in diameter, with a hole through the middle, lengthwise, and sufficiently large for a wire to go easily through. If four changes are required, four grooves must be cut in the swivel, one opposite the other, to lay the rockets in.
Having rubbed the mouths of the rockets with wet meal powder, lay them in the grooves, head to tail, and tie them fast. From the tail of the first rocket, carry a leader to the mouth of the second, and from the second to the third, and so on to as many as there are on the swivel, making every leader very secure; but in fixing these pipes, care must be taken, that the quick match does not enter the calibers of the rockets. The rockets being fixed on the swivel and ready to be fired, have a line, 100 yards long, stretched, and fixed up tight, at any height from the ground, but placed perfectly horizontal. This length of line will answer for half-pound rockets, but, if larger, the line must be longer. One end of the line, before it is put up, is to be put through the swivel; and when the line-rocket is fired, let the mouth of that rocket, which is set off first, face that end of the line where the operator stands, and the effect will follow in succession, viz: the first rocket will carry the rest to the other end of the line, the second will bring them back, and they will continue running out and in, according to the number of rockets. At each end of the line, there must be a piece of wood for the rocket to strike against, to prevent injury to the line. Let the line be well soaped, and the hole in the swivel very smooth.
In order to vary the appearance, different decorations may be used with the line-rockets; of these, flying dragons, Mercuries, &c. are the most conspicuous. Another motion may be given to them, that of revolving, in the following manner: Have a flat swivel, made very exact, and tie on it two rockets obliquely, one on each side; which will make it turn the whole length of the line, and form a circle of fire. The charge for these rockets, should be a little weaker than that usually employed.