Important: Safety Warning
This page contains instructions involving gunpowder or other explosive or pyrotechnic compositions. Preparing explosives as described has caused severe injuries and deaths, and is illegal in most places.
In addition, this page contains a formula or preparation using substances now known to be dangerously toxic, such as arsenic, mercury, lead, or cyanide compounds. Exposure to these substances can cause severe poisoning, permanent injury, or death.
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Indian White Fire Signal
ed; it must be fresh, and be powdered imme- Dry (see No. 2065) nitre, 24 parts; sulphur, diately before use. All other mixtures for 7 parts; powdered charcoal, 1; or instead of white fires have either a bluish tinge or conthe charcoal, 2 parts red sulphuret of arsenic. tain deleterious ingredients, which render Of Mix them intimately in an iron vessel, and them at least unsuitable for indoor use. ram the mixture into thick paper cylinders of the latter class we will mention only one: about 3 inches in length by 1 in diameter. Saltpetre, 12 parts; sulphur, 4 parts; sul- These are kept in a dry place, and when one phite of tin, 1 part. Two other mixtures deis required to be used, it is set on end, and a piece of red-hot charcoal placed upon it. serve mention, though not equal to the last:
I. Saltpetre, 48 parts; sulphur, 131 parts; sulphide of sodium, 74 parts; and II. Saltpetre, 64 parts; sulphur, 21 parts; gunpowder, 15 parts.