The morning call., 1894-04-12
HE STOOD AND WAS SHOT.
Having Sublime Confidence in
His Invention.
TWO OF THE BALLS STRUCK HIM.
But Neither Pierced the Armor, and
the Plucky inventor Escaped
Without Injury.

BERLIN, April 11.-EXperts In military
affaIS throughout Europe are discussing
the recent experiments made with the
bullet-proof coal invented by Herr Dowe.
the Mannheim tailor. There seems to be
no longer any room for doubt that the
armor is all the inventor claims for it and
that be was justified in refusing the
princey offer made to him by army con-
tractors and others who are desirous OF
purchasing his secret.
Al the Russian Embassy Count Schouval-
of fired two shots at The tailor while the
latter was encased in his bulet-proof coat.
and as Dove sustained absolutely no In
jurieS the Russian Em bassador pronounced
himself satisfied. The experiments before
Sch ouyaloff began with thorough test OF
the new rife in use in the German army.
From box of cartridges one was selected
at random, The rifle was loaded and 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 we'll
calculated to test the value of the most
efficient steel cuirass ever made. After the
shot at the block of oak Dove dressed him.
self in his bullet-proof coat and offered him.
self as target. While the rife was being
aimed at the tailor the spectators were
strung 10 an extreme state OF nervousness
and instinctively closed their eyes In au-
ticipation of seeing Dove killed upon the
spot. But after the report Of the rifle
rang out and the tailor was seen standing,
apparently unhuTt, there was feeling OF
immense relief among all present. DOVE
evidently noticed The state Of excitement
produced by the experiment, for be smiled
much TO The relief OF the onlookers and
said, II feel nothing"
A second shot was then fired directly at
the ailor's heart, but it had as little effect
as the first. The tailor was absolutely un-
hurt, and both bullets were found embedd-
ed in the bullet-proof coat.
Then commenced a second series of ex-
perinents which were even more interest
ing than the first A horse was covered
with bullct-proof coat, for 1t is proposed
that the cavalry of the future shall be pro-
teeted by the wonderful material invented
by the tail OF Mannheim. In this case
numb Der of shots were fired in quick sue
cession at the animal while it was stand
ing. The horse, well-trained cavalry
mount, started slightly at the first shot,
apparently, however. scarcely disturbed
by the report of the rifle. Then other shots
were fired as quickly as possible, some Of
them striking almost in the same place as
previously, but the horse continued eating
as if nothing extraordinary was happen
Ing. AS in the case of Dove himself, all
the bullets fired al the coat covering the
horse were found embedded in the ma
terial. but the animal itself was unharmed.
Herr Dove was enthusiastic over the re-
suits OF the experiment and received the
congratulations of the army officers and
others who witnessed the conclusive ex-
periments.
A naval officer who was present at the
experiments asked Herr DOVE if his
bullet-proof armor could be applied TO war
ships, and he was assured by the inventor
that ship protected by his material could
stand pounding from all the warships in
the world without sustaining any consid-
erable damage. OF course this Is only
Herr Doves theory. but as he seems to
carry out bis theory in regard to the
bullet-proof coat for soldiers it does not
seem unlikely that he may be able to
carry out his theory in regard TO protecting
warships.
Dove has been at work on his invention
for long time. The first experiments of
any importance took place near Mannheim
shortly before Christmas. The targets
were covered with the new material, and
at a range Of about 110 yards the bullet
from the new army rifle went through the
targets and fell flattened to the ground
just behind them. This caused Herr
Dove to resume work upon his coat with
the object of making the material abso-
luely bulet-proof and he now seems to
have succeeded. The new garment is
described as looking like ordinary army
armor material, the resisting secret sub
stance being placed beneath the outside
cloth. The garment is in the nature of
breast plate and is fastened to the side
buttons of the soldiers uniform. 1t is
only to be used in actual warfare and
weighs about six pounds.