Arizona republican., 1897-10-08
HIS BULLET-PROOF VEST.
Father Zeglen Escapes Unharmed
 From a 41-Caliber Bullet.

New York, Oct. 1.-The Rev. Father Casimer Zeglen of the Redemptionist Brotherhood in Chicago, has invented bullet-proof cloth, in which he has 50 much confidence that he stands as a target for bullets with only a small piece Of his armor fabric as a shield.
 An informal exhibition of Father Zeglen's invention was witnessed by several military men, consuls of for elgn nations and newspaper men on the stage of a local music hall today.
 The inventor was introduced by Dr. Moor of the United States immigra- tiqn service. Dr. Moor said the as- sassination of Garter Harrison in Chi cago four years ago suggested the idea to Father Zeglen of a bullet-proof cloth that could be worn in ordinary every day attire by men of promi- hence and persons whose occupations brought them into contact with cranks and desperadoes. The priests fabric has stood some severe tests in the west with the rife and revolver.
 A piece of the fabric foCt square was passed around for inspection. It was nearly half an inch thick and looked like tangle of silken threads The inventor said it was pure white silk and there was no chemical so- lution in it.
 A thick screen wa 1laced at the back Of the stage Ap aperture six to eight inches was cut foot above the middle. Over this aperture the armor cloth was hung when it was fired at. A young man with a very steady hand picked out 32-caliber revolver, put a regulation cartridge in it, measured of eight paces. and fired at the square of white cloth on the screen. The mark of the bullet was found on the arnor cloth. 1t had punctured the linen envelope, but had not cut into the silken mat The bull let rebounded and struck a woman in the third row of seats from the stage on the shoulder, doing no damage. however. The bullet was fattened slightly
 The second shot was from a 3S-cal- iber revolver. The bullet rebounded and struck the footlfghts screen with l thud.
 Next came a test with 41-caliber Colt revolver. The bullet struck the cloth and drove it's center into the aperture like a shallow teacup, but did not puncture the fibre. Another shot was fired from a 41-caliber re- volver. The bullet imbedded itself in ! the cloth, penetrating two-thirds of its thickness.
 The priests manager then an | nounced that the clergyman would place a piece of the armor cloth over his heart and receive upon it a bullet from 41-caliber revolver The ar mor cloth was nailed over the aper- ture at the back Of the screen and Father Zeglen pressed his breast tight ly against it. While in that position | the shot was fired. The bullet struck | the cloth and rebounded slightly and the inventor stepped from behind the screen unharmed. He said he felt a slight tap on his breast, but nothing more. The bullet was fattened to about one-half of its normal thick ness.
 The inventor claims that the cloth will withstand a steel bullet from a rifle, as well as a leaden bullet from a revolver The fabric, although bulky in appearance, is light in weight. A vest weighing one and a half pounds
 it is said, will protect the wearer from bullets fired from any revolver and vest weighing five pounds will act as an effective shield against rifle bullets.
 THANKSGIVING BUSINESS.