The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-04-11
A REMARKABLE COAT.
Successful Test Of Tailor Dowe's
Great Invention,
wITHsTooD A STORM OF BULLETS.

Che Inventor, Glad In His Mysterious
New German Army Rifle, That Had
Pierced n Block of Solid Oak.
BERLIN, April 11.-Experts In military
Affairs, not only in this city, but through
out Europe, are discussing the recent eN-
periments made with the bullet proof
coat Invented by Herr Dove, the Man
helm tailor There seems to be no longer
any doubt that Dowe's invention is most
valuable one. The Russian ambassador
fred two shots at the tailor while he was
encased in his bullet proof coat, and Dove
sustained absolutely no injury.
The experiments before Count Won
echouvoloff were not confined to simply
firing two shots at Dove. They began
with thorough test of the new rife in
use In the German army. From a box of
cartridges one was selected at random,
the rife was loaded and was then fired at
block of solid oak, which was pierced
by the small, steel like bullet. This
showed that the rifle and cartridges were
OF the regulation pattern and well cal
culated to test the value of the most efiici-
ent steel cuirasses ever manufactured,
much less u bullet proof coat. In fact
II was stated before the experiments COM
menCed Tint no armur was ever mauufac-
tured which could withstand shot from
the rife now in use iu the army of Ger
many.
After the shot at the block of oak Dove
dressed himself in his bullet proof coat
and offered himself as a target. While the
rifle was being aimed at the tailor the
spectators were strung to an extreme state
of nervousness, aud instinctivcly closed
thpir In ripatipn nf gafipU npNpa
killed on the spot. But after the report
of the rifle rang out and the tailor was
seen standing, apparently uuhurt, there
was a feeling Of Immense relief among
every one present. Dove Immediately no.
tieed the state of excitement produced by
the experiment, for he smiled much to
the relief of the onlookers, and said: II
feel nothing" A second shot was then
fired directly at the taior's heart, but it
had the same effect AS the irst. The tailor
was absolutely unhurt, aud both bullets
were found imbeddcd in the bullet proof
coat which covered his breast and body.
The military officers who were present
expressed themselves as thoroughly con-
vinced of the effectiveness of the bullet
proof coat, which seems likely to make an
entirely new departure in the history of
modern warfare.
Then commenced second series of ex-
perimci!is which were even more interest
ing than the first. A horse was covered
with "A bullet proof coat, for it is proposed
that the cavalry of the future Is 10 be pro
tected by this wonderful material. In this
case number of shots were fired i'll quick
succession at the animal, Willie il was
quietly eating oats from manger. The
horse, well trained cavalry mount,
started slightly ut the first shot, appnr-
emily, however, only disturbed by the un-
expected report of the riiis. Then other
shots were fired as quickly AZ possible,
some Of them striking almost in the same
place as previous bullets, but the horse
continued eating Ms ii nothing eXtraordi-
mary was happening.
As in the case Of the bullet proof coat
worn by Herr Dawo himself all the bull
lets iirrd at the coat covering the horse
were found TO be imbedded In the material,
BOY the animal Itself was unhurt.
raVal officer W no was present ct the
experiments asked Ter. Dove II his bullet
proof nrmor couldsie hIss'lted to war ships,
and he was assured by the inventor that
ship protected by his bullet proof material
could stand puun,ilnR from all the war
ships in the world without sustaining any
considerable damage. VI course this Is
only Herr Doves theory, but as he seems
30 have carried out his theory in regard to
She bullet proof coat for soldiers 1t does
not seem unlikely that he may be able to
esrry out his theory In regard 10 protect
Ing war ships.
Dove has been Mt work on his new In
vention for long time past. The first ex-
perinents of any Importance took place
near Mannheim shortly before Christmas.
The targets were covered with the new
material, and at range of abeut llo