The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-05-24
BULLEf-FROOP CLOTHING
Tests Of a Remarkable Invention Of q
German Tailor.
RIFLE BALLS FAIL TO PIERCE IT,
The Inventor Fired Upon while
Thus Clothed without Being In
the Least Injured - The United
states Government Investigating.

The latest sensation in all military cir
cles Of Europe is the bullet-proof coat
which has recently been tested by q num-
Der Of army experts. The inventor. Helm
rich Dove, is being talked about more
than any man in the old world at present.
The United States government is also
much interested In the developments Of
these experiments, and the war Office will
receive full reports from their representa-
tives OF the v-rious tests made.
Herr Dove has spent several years in
perfecting this new armor, and now seems
to have brought it to the highest periec-
ton. He caused some tests TO be made
last fall, but these lid not prove very sue
cessful, and the German government did
not pay much attention to the matter.
Though very poor, Dove was not TO be
discouraged, but kept on alternately max
ing his improvements ON his invention
and working at his trade as tailor. In
the earlier part OF March this year he had
his bullet-proof Coat tested on a semi
private shooting range near Berlin. A
large number of people were present,
chiefly newspaper men, military officers
and representatives from the various
German gun clubs. In order to
thoroughly demonstrate the resisting
power of the coat. the same rifles were
used on three-inch planks and steel
plates. The targets we're placed at dis
lance Of $50 feet. Several OF the
best makes OF rifles were used,
among them the Mauser, Martini and
Winchester, though the small caliber in
fsntry rife known as "model IS" was
used the most. The targets, made OF
steel and wire plates two-fifths OF an inch
in thickness, backed by three inches of
wood, were perforated with ease. After
this had been proved wooden dummy
covered with the bullet-proof coat was
put up, and after receiving not less than
fifteen shots was found to be without a
mark, all the bullets having hurled them.
selves in the composition Of the coat
without penetrating it once. All present
were highly pleased with the result, and
Herr Dove was warmly congratulated on
his success.
But it was two weeks ago that the in
ventor achieved his greatest success. He
had interested Count Schouvalof, Of the
Russian embassy, in his invention, and
| 30 - l.. L.. A..
make a test, provided the tailor would
wear the coat while being shot at. To
this Dove unhesitatingly consented and
the test was made before brilliant gath.
ering of military men. The experiments
were OF the most searching and severe
order, and after REVIEWERS had been used
on the invulnerable tailor, rifles were
brought into action. As preliminary
experiment few shots we're fired at a
block OF solid oak, which was pierced by
the bullets, and the best made steel
cuirasses were shot through as il they
had been made of paper. After this had
been done DOVE again donned his bullet
proof coat and invited the count and his
friends to blaze away. 1t was indeed
very exciting while the rifle Zone OF the
most approved patterns used in the Ger
man army was being aimed at the tail
or. The spectators were strung to an ex-
IRENE state of nervousness and instinc-
lively closed their eyes in anticipation of
seeing Dove killed. But after the report
OF the rifle rang out and the tailor was
seen standing, apparently unhurt, there
was feeling Of relief among all present.
Dove keenly enjoyed their anxiety and
fairly beamed with satisfaction as he
shouted: "Fire again, you cannot hurt
me-" A bullet was taen fired from a
Winchester rifle directly over his heart,
but did no more harm than If it had been
q spitball. The festive tailor was abso-
lutely unhurt and all the bullets were
found imbedded in the bullet-proof coat.
A second series of experiments was
then commenced, which was proved fully
as interesting as the first. 1t is proposed
that the cavalry of the future shall be
protected by the wonderful material in
vented by the tailor OF Mannheim, so
horse was equipped with a bullet-proof
coat. A number of shots were fired at
the animal, but they did not seem to an
noy the equine half 80 much as an equal
number of seli-resp citing horse flies
would. The beast kept munching his
oats in blissful serenity while the rifle
balls "plunked" themselves harmlessly
in the wonderful coat.
Herr Dove is oyerjoyed with the re-
suits of these many experiments and re-
ceived the congratulations OF Count
Shouvaloff, the army officers and others
who had witnessed these conclusive
proofs OF the merits OF his invention. To
question from a naval officer present If
this armour could be successfully applied
to war vessels DOVE replied that any ves-
sci provided with sheeting OF his bullet
proof material would become impenetra-
BILE to the heaviest guns of the modern
ironclads. This may sound little bonn
bastic, but seeing that he has carried out
his theory is regard to bullet-proof coat
for soldiers, he might evolve something
equally successful for covering warships. |
DOVE has placed the coat he wore while
being fired upon on exhibition, as well as
the solid pieces Of oak which were pene-
trated by bullets that were harmless
against his coat. The new garment |
looks somewhat like ordinary army
cloth. It is shaped like breast plate
and can be fastened to the side buttons of
a soldiers uniform. 1t is only to be used