The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-11
The Prince of Coniurer,


bic. The k-performing priests OF Al
gers had 10 be outdone by the French %
prove the French superiority even in
magic. So Robert-Houdin was sent IN
1S-s.
To witness Houdin's first performance IN
AlsierS the neighboring tribes were IN
vited- The theatre was speedily nlled
with them and the French officials who
attended in all their pomp and glory. In
terpreters were scattered through the
house in order to repeat Houdin's re
marks 10 the natives in their own Ian
suaSe. With true Oriental dignity and
gravity. the Arabs witnessed The first few
tricks in stOlid silence. but the taking
of a huge cannon-ban from borrowed
hat aroused great excitement. The Arabs,
being Mohammedans. do not drink wine.
SO for his inexhaustible bottle Houdin sub
stituted an inexhaustible bowl. from
which he poured out steaming-hot coffee.
The Arabs tasted the first cups timidly.
but all fears as 10 its evil origin vanish
ed, and coffee was in great request.
Then came the great tricks Of the even
ing-especially prepared TO astonish tne
Arabs.
BY a wonderful power which 1 pos
sess," said Houdin, Il can deprive any
man OF his strength. 1 invite any one 10
prove my words
On this being interpreted to the Arabs,
tail, strong man stepped forward on the
stage. HOudin held in his hand a little
iron box, and balancing it carelssSly on
his little finger, he asked the Arab:
Are you strong?"
Yes" replied the man. care.essiy.
Are you sure of always remaining
Sc
Always"
Lift that box"
The Arab did so. and asked contemptu-
ously:
rs that alp"
Wait said Houdin. making a solemn
gesture. Now. you are weaker than
woman. Try to lift that box again"
The Arab seized the handle and tugged
again. He could not raise the box an
inch from the floor. After many attempts
he paused for a moment TO brace himself
fer a final effort, He seized the handle
again. but shrieked aloud with pain. drop
ped on his knees. then rising, threw his
cloak round his face TO conceal his shame.
and rushed from the theatre. leaving his
compatriots stricken with fear.
The trick was as simple the result
was startling. The box was placed on a
powerful electro-niagnet, and the current
being complete. no man on earth could
have lifted it. An electric shock, sent at
d signal by Houdin from behind the stage.
hurriedly retreat.
Before the excitement caused by this
trick had subsidized. Houdln announced
that he had a talisman which rendered
him dnvulnerable. and he defed the best
shot in Algiers to kill him.
A marabout Immediately sprang on the
stage. eXclaiming:
Il want TO kill YOU
Houdin handed him pistol, which the
,f,~4r.
1T is a good pistol, and l will kill you"
VERY we'll" said Houdin; ito make
sure, put in double charge OF powder.
Here's "A wad. Take a bullet from this
tray, and mark il so you Will know it
again. Ram it into the pistol We'll"
1T is done"
Now" said Houdin, you say the pis-
tol is a good one, and you've loaded 1T
we'll, so kill me-
YES" replied the marabout, II Will do
that"
Houdin took pear. stuck Il on a knife
and walked a few PAGES in front OF the
Arab. and told him to aim at his heart.
He fired, and the marked bullet was seen
on the pear.
After the powder and rod were rammed
home, and while the Arab was marking
the bullet, Houdin slipped little tube
into the pistol. This tube was closed at
the lower end, and into this the Arab
dropped the bullet. AS he thrust the wai
down with the ramrod, the tube fitted
snugly on TO it, and was Withdrawn with
it, being polished to resemble II. Houdin
thus got possession of the marked ball.
and all was then plain sailing.
Then came the third and last OF Hou-
dins special tricks. A young man was
asked to step on a small table, and was
then covered with q huge eXtinguisher
When this was removed the young man
had vanished. This feat succeeding the
others terrified the Arabs. who. in fear
and trembling of the wonderful sorcerer.
rushed out Of the theatre. At the door
they met their vanished coQntryman. who
was quite unable or unwilling 20 ex-
pain what had happened 20 him. How this
trick was done Houdin never explained.
on one occasion, during his visit 10
Algiers, Houdin was placed in very
awkward position, from which he only
cxtricated himself by his quick-witted-
ness He was the guest OF an Arab chief.
Abou Allen, and entertained his host and
friends by a few tricks. One Of the COM
pany was q marabout. who asserted that
the spectators in Algiers had been merely
duped by a vision. Houdin, however, pro-
dUced the marabouts watch in his hand.
and on feeling his sash the marabOut
found there a five-franc piece. Convinced
By this and other feat5 that Houdin was
really a sorcerer. he challenged him 10
repeat his performance in the theatre, and
produced two pistols. You need not
fear" said the Arab since you know
how to ward of bullets"
Withou losing his self-possession. Hou.
din explained that his invulnera bility lay
in a talisman which was with his posses
sions in Aigiers. BY six hours prayer.
however, I can do without that talsman.
and al eight o'clock tomorrow morning
you can fire at me-"
At the appointed time there was a large
cOncourse Of Arabs. which the news had
attracted. The pistols were brought and
carefully examined. The marabout drop
ped IN the powder. Houdin handed MIN
a bullet from the tray. and he Tammed IL
down. HOudin then loaded his own p.s-
toll. and walking about fifteen PAGES
away, turned and faced the msrabOut
The shot was fred and the Frenchman
opened his mouth and showed the bullet
between his teeth.
You could not XII ne" he sad ~snd
now you shan see what ny shots can
Go"
He fred az the narsbout. and immefi-
ately q red splash was seen on me white
washed wall before which he was stand
ing The Arab was untouched; Stepping up
20 the wall. he dipped his finger IN the
red splash, tasted 81. and realizing that
s. was blood collapsed il araszemsnt-
Though the trek was simple. oulT
Houdn could have devised and carried
4 out success fully During ths night be
Rad melted come wax. blackeued u 70
took Ike lead. and run ir into ho.loEs
clobe of wax exactly resembling bullet
in appearance. Il Vas vlra thls bu.ist
;he Erarabout loaded his pistol. and 10
raulmirg l. down crushed & - powder.