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Greek Fire

Greek Fire image
Parent Issue
Day
11
Month
September
Year
1863
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

People read in the telegraphic d3patches of the "Greok Fire" whioh Ganeral Gilmore is now pouring into Charleston and whieh Beauregard prtmouneea a most vilianous cowpound unworthy of civilized nations," and they have a very indefinito idea what it is. They, however, generally imagine that it is some Yankee invention which is beiug experimentod with and which is calculatod to change the wholo aspect of warfare, as did the invention of gunpowder. They believe it to be ono of the inventïons of fruitful modern brain, as are iron-clads, and the thousand and one queer projeetiles which aro being tried. It is by no means a new thing in the operations of warfare. It first began to be used in the seventh century, and since that time it his been used more or less in all important Kuropean wars down to the present time. The name Greek Fire is taken i'rom the G reeks, who used it mostly in their naval contests in the way of fire ship3, to destroy the enemy's fleet For a long time after its introduction in Europe, it was a sourco of great terror to all against whom it was used. - The historian informs us that the delive ranee of Constantinople was chiefly effected by the novelty, the terror and real efficacy of the Greek Fire. In the Netherland wars the panic which invaribly siezed the Spauish soldiery at the appearance of the Dutch "Fire Devils," will be remembered as one of the prominent causes, which centributed to secure religious liberty in the low countries. - Gibbon, in The Decline and Fall of the liomau Empire, describes this compound as a mixturo of Naptha, or liquid bitumen, which springs from the earth, mingled with sulphur and pitch. Recently, however, it has been modified and improved, and the principal ingrediënt now is petroleum. In speaking of its effects, Gibbon says: From, this mixture, which produced a thick smoke and largo explosión, proceeded a fierce and obstinate flame, whieh not only rose in perpendicular ascent, but likewise burnt with equal vehemence in descent or lateral progress ; instcad of being extinguished it was noui'ished and quickened by the element of water ; and sand or vinegar were the ouly remedies that could damp the fury cf this powerful agent, whieh was justly denominated by the Greeks the liquid or mariiime fire. For the annojance of the enemy it was employed with equal effect by sea and land, in battles or in siegcs It was either poured from the rampart iu large boilers or launehed iu red hot balls of stone and iron, or darted in arrows and javalins, twisted round with flax and tow, which had deeply imbibed the inflammable oil. Soinctimes it was deposited in fire ships, the victima and instrumenta of a more ampie revenge, and was most commonly blown through long tubes of coppcr which were plantod on the prow of a galley, and fancifully shaped into the mouths of savage monsters, that seemed to vomit a streain of liquid and consuming fire." Such is the material which is now being raiued down upou the doomed city The shells which are charged with this fearful mixture are known aa Birney's invention, and the rebel commander des ignates them as the "most' destructive projectiles ever used in war." The greatest distance ever thrown before this war was about three miles, and the consternation of the rebels mny well be imagined at receiving these fiery messengers from the 'Swamp Angel's' in the heart of their city, a distanee of five miles fïum the

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus