When three wheels are each furnished with two rounds of white and coloured fire, and are so arranged, that the periphery of each should pass over in succession at the distance of ninety degrees of the perimeter, this piece is then called by the whimsical name of the love-knot.
Sec. XV. Of Galleries of Fire, and Batteries of Roman and Mosaic Candles.
Galleries of fire are formed by attaching, to long strips of wood, at convenient distances from each other, cases of Chinese fire, which go off together. At the end of each case, is put a marron, which, when the case is burnt, ends with an explosion.
To form batteries with marrons, in connection with Roman candles, they are tied at two feet distance from each other, on long sticks, leaders being attached. These batteries, like the fire gallery, usually accompany other fire-works.
We may here remark, that thunder is imitated by marrons, which are fixed in the same way two feet apart. To produce the effect, and increase the report, it is necessary to use them of different sizes, from a quarter of an inch to three inches caliber. They should be preceded by flashes of lightning, which is imitated either with powdered rosin, or lycopodium, in the manner described in our chapter on Theatrical Fire-Works.
Sec. XVI. Of Girandoles, and their Modifications.
Girandoles, for the purpose here noticed, are nothing more than wheels which turn on a pivot. They are made of light wood, with a rim similar to that of a sieve, and are clothed with cases. Two cases are fired at a time, which burn in an opposite direction.
Girandoles may be made to imitate a parasol, by placing, horizontally, cases charged with the blue-fire composition, or with that of the Chinese fire. Cascades may be formed, by arranging them vertically, horizontally, and some at an angle of ten or fifteen degrees from the horizon. The bunch of flowers is represented by using, at the same time, cases of 10/12ths, 11/12ths, and one inch, charged with Chinese composition, as given in the table for calibers of that diameter. See [Chinese Fire.] Crackers are formed by attaching Roman candles and Mosaic simples, and the sheaf is shown by fixing in the centre some empty cases, on which are strung small rockets, which are fired by the last case.
There are different modes of varying the effect of the girandole. They may imitate the fire-rain, by employing cases charged with that composition, which is given in the chapter on [Theatrical Fire-Works.]
Sec. XVII. Of Cracking Caprices.