The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-23
tborties in adopting safeguards of the


kind.
Already several such fabrics have been
patented, one of the most notable being
The invention of Casimir Zcglen Of Chica-
go. Zegl@n's shot-proof cloth has already
beer somewhat widely advertised. It's
outside layer is composed OF linen canvas,
Immediately beneath which is a stratum
Of hair from the Apgora goat This kind
of hair is particularly suitable being
straight and fine Next come a series Of
layers Of silk cords laid parallel, each lay
err crossing the next. Finally, the several
layers are sswed together, and the stuff
thus prepared may be cut into jackets or
shields as desired.
Edward c. Gerstenherger OF Brooklyn
ia the inventor Of bunel-proof and wat
er-proof aFmor, which can be cut IN any
desired form for garments of soldiers. 1t
is composed Of alternate layers OF hair
cloth and gutta-percha sllesia, with ground
glass between the sheets. The haircloth
is saturated with alum and the silesia is
coated with guttapercha. Heat is applied,
ana the sheets are pressed together by
hydraulic power so as to become COM
pact mass Of haircloth, gutta-percha, alum
and glass
A Philadelphia man, named Harry
Gross, is responsible for a heart shield
which is designed TO protect the most VI
tai part of The soldiers anatomy II IL
is attached TO a band that passes around
the chest being held in the proper place
bp another band that goes over the Aloul-
der Possibly an Improvement on thls IS
metallic vest" devised by G. Grabe or
De witt, Neb It Is secured by straps ana
affords protection both in front and be-
hind Very much lighter and more con-
venient. however, IS the wastcoat Of
aluminium, patented by Robert i. steven
son of Siverton, Tex.
During the civil war many inventors
offered suggestions to the wari depart
ment for various kinds OF armor to be
worn by the Federal troops one man
came to Washington for the purpose OF
making to Secretary Cameron PROPOSE
ton to supply breastplates al SO much
thousand After he had used up much
valuable time in expatiatng on the merits
of his device, the secretary said;
you will guarantee it bullet-prootY'
absolutely so,' replied The inventor.
every well. then" said Mr. Cameron.
Just put on The sample you have been
showing me and stand on the other side
of the room while | try few shots at you
with this pistol If you remain unhurt
shall be convinced OF the usefulness Of
your breastp.ate.
Strange 10 say the inventor refused to
try The experiment.
IN an out-of-the-way corn6r of the army
medical museum is rusty and diiapi-
dated sheet of metal once upon time
it was a steel breastplate, and It's history,
related on an accompanying label, IS that
il was worn by a Confederate officer az
The battle of Autietam. He was found
dead on the fed after the conflict, and
small round hole through the metal shows
that a rife ball must have pierced his
heart. Ali The same, II seems odd chat, as
weapons used in war have become more
deadly men have abandoned the use OF
means for protecting the body
DR. Walter Hough Of the National mu-
scum recently made an exhaustive study
of the armor that was worn In battle by
various peoples Of the New World before
Columbus landed.
Reeds. grass or hides, coated with india
rubber. served to protect the Aztec com
mon soldier. The body armor Of the war
rors of rank consisted Of a breastpldte
made Of quilted cotton, over which was
worn a thick cotton coat. This cotton ar
NOR was completely arrow proof. Guards
for the legs and arms were made Of wood,
covered with leather or with gold plate,
and trimmed with feathers. Among the
Toltecs private sodiers painted the upper
parts Of their bodies to represent armor
Along the Malayan coast the shells Of
great sea tortoises, inlaid with gold and
silver. were employed as shields.
According TO Or. IIough, the ancient
PeruVi9ns protected their heads with he'll
NETS made either OF wood or the skins Of
wild. animals, and sometimes richly deco
rated with metals or precious stones, ana
surmounted by brilliant athers OF trop-
ical birds. They wore close tunics Of quilt
ed cotton Ike the Mexicans The Mos
quito Indians Of Honduras used armOr
that was made Of plated reeds, covered
with tiger skins and ornamented with fea-
Tiers To this day the Patagonians are
clad for war in "A coat Of mall made Of
several folds Of hide. with a helmet and
shield Of like material.
In the collection Of aboriginal armor AR
ranged by DR. Hough IS a c6at Of mail
from Sitka. Alaska il Is made IN the form
Of a waistcoat, and fastened with brass
buttons OF English make. The entire front
Of II IS plated with Chinese coins. The
Esauinau IN former days used armOr that
was made Of plates Of walrus ivory. The
Tlingils and Haidas OF the Northwest
coast lncased almost their entire bodies IN
arnor OF wood or leather. They wore
helmets with curlousiy carved yisors. and
made breastplates OF wood, and arrow
proof coats Of thin, flexible strips bound
with strings, ike a wOman's stays
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