The Chemistry of Powder and Explosives - Sciencemadness Dot Org

104 PYROTECHNICS
back upon itself, and tied in this position. Before it is tied, a
small hole is made in the match pipe at the point where it passes
the end of the Roman fuse, and a piece of flat black match is
inserted. The two inner layers of the kraft paper wrapper are
now pleated around the base of the fuse and tied close to the
shell. The two outer layers are pleated and tied above the top
of the fuse, a 3-foot length of piped match extending from the
upper end of the package. A few inches of black match is now
bared at the end and an extra piece of black match is inserted
and tied in place by a string about 1 inch back from the end of
the pipe. The black match, for safety's sake, is then covered
with a piece of lance tube, closed at the end, which is to be
removed after the shell has been placed in the mortar and is
ready for firing.
Maroons
Bombs which explode with a loud report, whether they are
intended for use on the ground or in the air, are known as
maroons. They are called marrons in French, a name which also
means large chestnuts in that language—and chestnuts sometimes
explode while being roasted.
Maroons arc used for military purposes to disconcert the
enemy by imitating the sounds of gunfire and shell bursts, and
have at times been part of the standard equipment of various
armies. A cubical pasteboard box rilled with gunpowder is
wound in three directions with heavy twine, the successive turns
being laid close to one another; an end of miner's fuse is inserted
through a hole made by an awl, and the container, already very
strong, is made still stronger by dipping it into liquid glue and
allowing to dry.
For sharper reports, more closely resembling those of a highexplosive
shell, fulminating compositions containing chlorate are
used. With these, the necessity for a strong container is not so
great; the winding may be done with lighter twine, and the successive
turns of twine need not make the closest possible contact.
Faber reports two compositions, as follows:
Potassium chlorate. ... 4 1
Sulfur 1
Soft wood charcoal.... I
Antimony sulfide..... .. 1