The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-30
A BULLET.RESISTING DRESS.
Miss Manard's Smart Gown Makes Her In
different to Rife Projectiles.
From tu-2all Mall Budget. !

Ao@0Al W As'Ao = AoJSStAACos
From tne2all Mall Budget
Has the,German inventor Of the bul
let proof coat already been relegated tc
a back seat? At the London Pavilion
lest week, a private exhibition was
given by Mr.. Manard Hubner and 'he
Misses Julie and Rose Msnard, who
constitute the Manard team of rifle ex.
perts, in the course of which was tested
the bullet-resisting dress which they
claim to have discovered. 1t is no ex-
aggeration to say that the half dozen
gentlemen who were present were as
founded by the experiments. Mr.. Hub
ner did the shooting and one of the
young ladies played the trying role Of
target.
Mr.. Hubner commenced operations
by puttinga few bullets through several
ten-gauge rolled plates to show the
velocity of the bullets. Then Miss
Manard, wearing apparently fashion
able tailor-made tweed walking dress,
placed herself opposite the man with
the gun ten yards away. He fired, and
the ball struck her in the chest. She
smiled unconcernedly. There was no
doubt about the rifle being charged.
One heard the dull thud of the bullet
as it struck, just as one. had heard the
sharp ring of the iron plate. Nor was
there any trickery in the firing.
Mr.. G. A. Payne, who was looking
on, was invited by Mr.. Hubner to take
shots at the lady, and the lady pleaded
as if asking Mr.. Payne to take her out
to lunch. "Yes, DOE" Mr.. Payne had
misgivings about his nerves, and de-
clined to shoot, but be suggested good
test to prove the presence Of bullet in
the gun when fired at the lady. he
would, he said, bold q card in front OF
her. Certainly" said Mr.. Hubner.
So Mr.. Payne, who has had experience
of the deadliness Of Mr.. Hubner's aim
before this. held the ace Of hearts foot
or two in front of Miss Manard, and
the next bullet which struck her-in
| the back this time-went first through
the ace of hearts, as Mr.. Payne held it
by its extreme corner. In fact, Miss
Manard was peppered with bullets on
back and chest without a momentary
disturbance of her serenity.
Our reporter had chat with Mr..
Rubner before he left the hall. It had
occurred to this miserably skeptical
journalist that the lady might have
steel plates underneath the dress, al
though certainly there had, whether
through the presence of the cloth COW
ering or the absence of such plates, been
no ringing as of metal upon metal. Mr..
Hubner denied point blank that this
was the secret Of his surprising exhibi.
ton,
"But is it a scientific matter or 6
tshow?" asked the reporter insinuat.
ingly. 49, ~
ut is genuine scientific discovery
said Mr.. Hubner, land I am going tc
submit it to any test the military au
thorities think proper, if they will lei
me conduct the experiments, AS az
Englishman I should not like to see
our Government having yet another
article made in Germany with which
to equip our soldiers. The German
inventor wants hundreds of thousands
for bis coat. On the other band, shall
present my secret to my country fret
of all charge, if the War Office vii
accept it. I should propose that they
| try it. on horse with the ordinary
military rifle. 1t would not matte
much about killing the horse, although
! l should have no fear for the animal:
safety.
but until I so give it freely to tht
Government, I allow no touching o.
examination Of the material. No, it il
not flexible unless well soaked. It il
manufactured from a material which
at present lies rotting in India ane
Africa without use. Unlike the Ger
mans coat it is extremely light. Yol
must have observed how easily Mis-
| Manard moved about while wearing it
This is an extremely light specimen
certainly, because the tests are no
severe, but. made g little, heavier j
would stand the riddling of a Gatlinl
gun.
II have not patented it. If hat
$1,000 or so to spare with which to de
veiop the thing I might do so; but
have not, and that's why I should lik
our Government to have it and to de
velop it for all it's worth. The simpli
city of the einvention will surprise ever,
one when it becomes known. Yol
would laugh if I were to tell you th
material, but that must remain secre
until I have heard from the Wa
i Office