On July 4, 1999 2:14 PM, Mike Devonshire [SMTP:[log in to unmask]] wrote

> We just used to ram the heads of "barn-burner" matches into CO2
> cartridges,
> then stuff afuse in light and run. Lots of fun until Roger Hurka blew
two
> of
> his fingers off trying to overstuff. Put the kaibosch on that activity.

I had a friend that was in Sea Scouts.  They used to assist in hauling the
4th of July fireworks out to the island in the Maumee River from which
Toledo shot off its celebration.  He somehow ended up with a brown paper
wrapped 3" diameter 'firecracker' with a 6" paper tail tied off with a bit
of string at the end.

After months of storing it in his basement, late one night of skulking
around, the four of us decided to find out what it was.  We wedged it into
the curve of somebody's wrought iron stair rail end -- the ones where the
handrail extends over the top of the end post, then curves back downward
to the post and finishes off with a little curvy flourish.  Pete put the
fireplace match to the paper tail, and we turned and ran for it.

This was my first real personal experience with the visual effects of
strobe lighting.  I have a vivid image still in my mind of everyone
garishly illuminated while frozen in full stride.  Turns out that this
firecracker was one of the "big boomers," the ones that the little 4 year
old kids get scared of at the fireworks show: bright white flash with a
percussive effect you can feel in your chest.

They're quite loud up close and personal.  And it straightened that
handrail curve right out.

I'm glad I still have all my fingers AND my head.
_____________________________________________________
Dan Becker,  Executive Director         "What's this? Fan mail
Raleigh Historic                                  from some Cod?"
Districts Commission                          - With apologies to
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