The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-04-11
4 REMARKABLE COAT.
Successful Test Of Tailor Doves
Great Invention,
wITHsTooD A STORM OF BULLETS.
Tho Inventor Glad in His Mysterious
Garment, Reslsted Bullets, Fired by the
New German Army Ride. That Had
Pierced Block of Solid Oak.

New German Army Ride. That Had
Pierced a Block of Solid Oak.
BERLIN, April 11.-Experts in military
affairs, not only in this city, but through
out Europe, are discussing the recent eX-
periments made with the bullet proof |
coat invented by Herr Dove, the Man
helm tailor. There seems to be no longer
any doubt that Doves invention is a 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 |
SchouvolofT were not confined to simply |
firing two shots at DOVE. They began |
with a thorough test of the new rifle in |
use in the German army. From a box of |
cartridges one was selected at random, |
the rifle 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 etfici-
ent steel cuirasses ever manufactured, |
much less bullet proof coat. In fact
it was stated before the experiments com
menced that no armor was ever manufac-
tured which could Withstand a shot from
the rifle now in use in 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, and instinctively closed
their eyes in anticipation of seeing Dove
| killed on the spot. But after the report
of the rifle rang out and the tailor was
seen standing, apparently unhurt, there
was q feeling of immense relief among
every one present. Dove Immediately mo-
| ticed the state of excitement produced by
the experiment. for he smiled, much to
| the relief of the onlookers and said: "
feel nothing" A second shot was then
| fired directly at the tailor's heart, but it
had the same effect as the first The tailor
w as absolutely unhurt, and both bullets
were found imbedded in the bullet proof
| coat which covered his breast and body.
The military officers who were present
| expressed themselves as thoroughly con-
| yinced 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 a 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-
tected by this wonderful material. In this
case number of shots were fired in quick
succession at the animal. while 1t was
| quietly eating oats from a manger. The
horse, well trained cavalry mount,
started slightly at the first shot, appar-
emily, however, only disturbed by the un-
expected report of the rifle. Then other
( shots were fired as quickly as possible,
some of them striking almost in the same
place as previous bullets, but the horse
continued eating as If nothing extraordi
nary was happening.
AS in the case of the bullet proof coat
worn by Herr Dove himself all the bull
lets fired at the coat covering the horst
were found to be i1nbedded in the material
| but the animal itself was unhurt.
A naval officer W no was present at the
| experiments asked Herr Dove if his bulle
proof armor could be applied to war ships
and he was assured by the inventor that
ship protected by his bullet proof materia
could stand pounding from all the wa
ships In the world without sustaining an!
considerable damage OF course this i
/ | only Herr Doves theory, but as he seem
\ to have carried out his theory in regard t.
the bullet proof coat for soldiers it doe
not seem unlikely that he may be able +
4 carry out his theory in regard to protect
ing war ships.
Dove has been at work on his new in
Il vention for long time past. The first e1
y periments of any Importance took plac
near Mannheim shortly before Christmas
The targets were covered with the neN
material and at range Of about IL
yards bullets from the new army riff
went through the targets and fell hat
tened to the ground just behind them.
sr The new garment is described as lookjn
= like ordinary army clothing material, tn
! resisting secret substance being placed b
meath the outside cloth. The garment
In the nature of breast plate, and is IA
tened to the side buttons of the soldier
uniform. II is only 30 be used in actul
warfare, and weighs about six pounds.
Previous to the experiments of Sunda
last Doves bullet proof coat had been e!
perimented ON before q military commi
, sion, all styles of rifles used in the Ge
man army within the last fifteen years b
lie ing tested against it with the most sati
oi factory results.
5, A large firm of army contractors offere
~ DOVE an enormous sum for his invention
no but the tailor refused Representative
y I of several foreign governments have bee
m making strong efforts to obtain He
le Doves secret, but IL is said that all thei
IL efforts have failed, and patriotic German
express the desire that the German go
O ernment should secure Herr Doves secre
that the bullet proof coats may be used
- the German army alone. 1t is said thu
5000 900 marks have been offered to Hei
Dove by the German government for b
invention.