To Fix Several Rockets To The Same Stick Two Three Or Six

sky-rockets, fixed on one stick, and fired together, make a grand and

beautiful appearance; for the tails of all will seem but as one of an

immense size, and the breaking of so many heads at once will resemble

the bursting of an air-balloon. The management of this device requires

a skilful hand; but if the following instructions be well observed,

even by those who have not made a great progress in this art, there

will e no doubt of the rockets having the desired effect.



Rockets for this purpose must be made with the greatest exactness, all

rammed by the same hand, in the same mould, and filled with the same

proportion of composition: and after they are filled and headed, must

all be of the same weight. The stick must also be well made (and

proportioned) to the following directions; first, supposing the

rockets to be half-pounders, whose sticks are six feet six inches

long, then if two, three, or six of these are to be fixed on one

stick, let the length of it be nine feet nine inches; then cut the top

of it into as many sides as there are rockets, and let the length of

each side be equal to the length of one of the rockets without its

head; and in each side cut a groove (as usual;) then from the grooves

plane it round, down to the bottom, where its thickness must be equal

to half the top of the round part. As their thickness cannot be

exactly ascertained, we shall give a rule, which generally answers for

any number of rockets above two; the rule is this: that the stick at

top must be thick enough, when the grooves are cut, for all the

rockets to lie, without pressing each other, though as near as

possible.



When only two rockets are to be fixed on one stick, let the length of

the stick be the last given proportion, but shaped after the common

method, and the breadth and thickness double the usual dimensions. The

point of poise must be in the usual place (let the number of rockets

be what it will;) if sticks made by the above directions should be too

heavy, plane them thinner; and if too light, make them thicker; but

always make them of the same length.



When more than two rockets are tied on one stick, there will be some

danger of their flying up without the stick, unless the following

precaution is taken: For cases being placed on all sides, there can be

no notches for the cord which ties on the rockets to lie in:

therefore, instead of notches, drive a small nail in each side of the

stick, between the necks of the cases, and let the cord, which goes

round their necks, be brought close under the nails; by this means the

rockets will be as secure as when tied on singly. The rockets being

thus fixed, carry a quick-match, without a pipe, from the mouth of one

rocket to the other; this match being lighted will give fire to all at

once.



Though the directions already given may be sufficient for these

rockets, we shall here add an improvement on a very essential part of

this device, which is, that of hanging the rockets to be fired; for

before the following method was contrived, many attempts proved

unsuccessful. Instead, therefore, of the old and common manner of

hanging them on nails or hooks, make use of the following contrivance:

Have a ring made of strong iron wire, large enough for the stick to go

in as far as the mouths of the rockets; then have another ring

supported by a small iron, at some distance from the post or stand to

which it is fixed; then have another ring fit to receive and guide the

small end of the stick. Rockets thus suspended will have nothing to

obstruct their fire; but when they are hung on nails or hooks, in such

a manner that some of their mouths or against or upon a rail, there

can be no certainty of their rising in a vertical direction.