Rockets

Rockets are probably of all the forms of fireworks the most popular and beautiful. In the details of their construction they may vary, but are all alike in their general form. They consist of a body, usually of stiff paper, which contains the composition to be fired. As this body is only open to the air by a small aperture below, the rapid outrush of the gases produced by the firing causes the rocket to rapidly ascend, leaving behind it the stream of sparks, etc. When the composition has burnt out, touch-paper ignited carries the combustion to the head of the rocket, usually conical, made of paper, and containing a quantity of fireworks, which are thus ignited and scattered as brilliant and fiery rain, etc. Besides their use for firework displays, rockets are largely employed in signalling in war, at sea, and for life-saving apparatus. By far the greater quantity of rockets manufactured are indeed used for this purpose. The firework head is in this case omitted; otherwise their form is essentially similar. The rocket is attached to a rope and is fired from the land over the masts or rigging of the wrecked ship, and this rope then affords the means of fixing between the vessel and the shore a thicker rope, and the basket, "breeches buoy," etc., by which the sailors can be brought to land.