Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-04-13
BULLET PROOF COATS.
Tests of the Remarkable Invention of
a German Tailor.
Inventor Twice Fired at by Russian kmbassa-
dor But Was uninj njared.

BERLIN, April l2.-Experts in military
affairs throughout Europe are discussing
the recent experiments made with the bull
let proof coat invented by Herr Dove, the
Mannheim taller. There seems to be no
longer any doubt that Doves invention is a
most valuable one.
The Russian ambassador, Count Won
Schouvalotf, at the Russian embassy on
Sunday last, fired two shots at the tailor
while the latter was incased in his bullet
proof coat. DOVE sustained no injury.
The police until the experiment referred
to, had issued an order prohibiting any fur
ther experiments such as firing at DOVE or
any other man with the coat as a protection,
claiming that it as a dangerous proceeding
But it now seems likely that the police will
no longer interfere, as the value of the in
vention has been so clearly demonstrated
that there no longer remains any ground
for doubt that the tailor has invented bull
let proof material.
The experiment before Count Won Schou-
valoff were not cor fined to simply firing two
shots at Dove. They began with thor,
ough test OF the new rifle in use in the
German army. From box of cartridges
one was selected at random, the rife
loaded and fired at block of solid oak
which was pierced by the small steellike
bullet. This showed that the rifle and car
trilges were of the regulation pattern, well
calculated to test the value of the most
.fficient steel tuirasses ever manufactured.
! In fact, it WAS st-ted ih,t no knightly armor
was ever manufactured which could v it'll
stand shot from the rifle now in use in
the army of Germany.
After the shot ut the block of oak Dove
dressed himself in his bullet proof coat and
| offered hmself as a target. While the
riff , was being aim ID at the tailor the spec
tstors were strung to an extreme state of
nervousness, AMI instinctively closed their
eyes in anticipation of seeing Dove killed
upon the spot. After the report of the rife
rang out the tail was seen standing, un-
hurt. Dove noticed the state of excite
mert produced by the experiment, for he
smiled and said, II feel nothing"
A second shot was then fred directly at
the tsilor's heart, but the tailor was abso-
lutely unhurt. Both bullets were found
imbedded in the bullet proof coat which
covered bi. breast and BODY, in the manner
viii h it is prop )sed to adopt for sold ers
leaving the arms snd legs, as well MS the
head without protection.
Then comm.r ced second series of ex.
periments which were even more interest.
ing than the first. A horse was covered
with bullet proof coat, for it is proposed
that the cavalry of the future is to be pro-
tf cted by the material invented by the tailor
of Mannheim. A number of shots were
fired in quick succe ssion at the anima
VIII lie it was quietly eating oats from g
marger. The horse, a well-trained cavalry
mount, started slightly at the first shot
app realty, however, only disturbed by the
unexpected report of the riff. Then other
shots were fired, as quickly as possible
some of them striking almost in the same
place as previous bullets, but the horse con
tinued eating as if nothing extraordinary
was happening.
As in the case of the bullet proof coa'
worn by Herr Dove himself. all the bullets
fred at the coat covering the horse were
found to be imbedded in the material.
The new garment looks like ordinary
army clotbiog material, the rt sisting secret
substance being placed beneath the ou'sid,
cloth. The garment is in the nature of 9
breasspl ,te, and is fastened to the siie but
tons of the soldiers uniform. 1t is only tC
be used in actnal warfare, and weigh,
about six pounds.
A large firm of army contractors offered
Dove an enormous sum for his invention
but the tsilor refused. Representatives of
several foieign governments have been
making strong efforts to obtain Herr DOVE
secret, but it is said that all these effort.
have fsiled and pltriotic Germans have ex
pressed the desire that the German govern.
ment should secure Herr Doves secret 90
that the bullet proof coats may be used BY
the Germsn army alone. II is said that
9 ,OOo, 900 marks have been offered to Herr
Dove by the German government for his
invention, or, as an alternative 100 years
guarantee of the monopoly of suppl, ing the
G-Yman government With the Necessary
cuirasses at the rate of II marks apiece.