The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-06-09
HOUDIN AND THE ARABS
How the Famous Magician Extrl-
cated Himself from an Ayvk-
lA 5 ward Position.

S0ScO A1eASAA 4EO1N 01A "a W. - 5.yI5
@ ward Position.
To witness HouLin's first perform
ance in Algiers the neighboring tribes
We're invited. The theatef was speedily
filed with them and the French off,
Gals, who attended in all their pomp
and glory. Interpreters were scat
tered through the house in order to re-
peat Houdin's remarks to the natives
in their own language. With true ORR
entail dignity and gravity, the Arabs
witnessed the first tricks in stolid ST.
lence, but the taking of a huge cannon
ball from borrowed hat caused great
excitement. ..,sysg -s&s u 49,. ,ts4E /.
Then came the great tricks of the
evening, especially prepared to aston
ish the Arabs. -
''By a wonderful power which I pos
sess," said Houdin, Il can deprive any
man of his strength. I invite anyone
to prove my Words .ss.. .. -
On this being interpreted to the
Arabs, a tall, strong man stepped for
ward on the stage. Houdin held in his
hand little iron box, and, balancing it
carelessly on his finger, he asked the
Arab:
"Are you strong?"
'"Yes," replied the man, carelessly.
"Are you always sure of remaining
so?' %'-
'Always."
Lift that box
The Arab did so and asked contemptu-
ously:
''Is that all?"
''Wait," said Houdin, making a SOL
emn gesture. ''Now you are weaker
that a 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 moment tc
brace himself for final effort. He
seized the handle again, but shrieked
aloud with pain, dropped on his knees
then, rising, threw his cloak round his
face to conceal his shame, and rushed
from the theater, leaving his compatri
OTIS stricken with fear. The trick was
as simple as the result was startling
The box was placed on powerful cleo
tro-magnet, and, the current being
complete, no man on earth could have
lifted it. An electric shock sent at {
signal by Houdin from behind the
stage was what caused the Arab tt
shrek and hurriedly retreat.
Before the excitement caused by thi:
trick had subsidized, Houdin announced
that he had ta1isman which rendered
him invulnerable, and he defied thu
best shot in Algiers to kill him.
marabout Immediately sprang on thu
stage, exclaiming: II want to xii
YOU" Houdin handed him a pistol
which the Arab, examining, pronounced
good one. ''It is good pistol, and
will kill you"
every well,'' said HQudin; ''to max,
sure, put in double charge of powder
| Here's a wad Take a bullet from thi:
tray, and mark it so you will know i
again. Ram it into the pistol WE'LL"
1T is DONE"
"Now," said Houdin, ''you say tn
| pistol is good one, and you loaded i
we'll, so kill me-"
eyes," replied the marabout, II will
do that"
| Houdin took a pear, stuck it on :;
knife, and walked a few PAGES in from
| of the Arab and told him to aim at hi:
heart. He fired, and the marked bulle
was seen on the pear. After the pow
der and wad were rammed home ant
while the Arab was marking the bulle
| Houdin slipped a little tube into tn
pistol. This tube was closed at thu
lower end, and into this the Aral
dropped the bullet. AS he thrust thu
wad into the ramrod, the tube fittet
snugly on to it, and was withdraw
with it, being polished to resemble it
Houdin thus got possession of thu
marked ball and all was then plain sail
ing.
On one occasion during his visit tt
Algiers Houdin was placed in very
| awkward position, from which he onl,
extricated himself by his quick-witted
ness. He was the guest of an Aral
chief, Abou Allen, and entertained hi!
host and friends by few tricks. On
of the company was marabout who as
serted that the spectators in Algier'
had been merely duped by. a vision
Houdin, however, produced the mara
bouts watch in his hand, and on feeling
his sash the marabout found there :
five-franc piece. Convinced by this ant
other feats that Houdin was really -:
sorcerer, he challenged him; to repea
his performance in the theatera and pro
duced two pistols. "'You need not fear,
said the Arab, "since you know how t.
ward off bullets" Without losing hi.
self-possession Houdin explained, tina
his invulnerabiity lay in a talisma1
| which was with his possessions in AL
giers. "By six hours prayer, however
| I can do without that talisman, and by
eight o'clock tomorrow morning you
can fire at me-"
At the appointed time there was .
large concourse of Arabs, which tn
news had attracted. The pistols wer'
brought and carefully examined. TIL
marabout dropped in the powder. Hou
din handed him bullet from the tray
and he rammed it down. Houdin the,
loaded his own pistol, and, walking
about IS PAGES away, turned and facet
the marabout. The shot was fired ant
the Frenchman opened his mouth ant
showed the bullet between his teeth
"You cannot kill me-" he said, ''ant
now you shall see what my shots cal
| d." He fred at the marab01t and i'm
mediately a red splash was seen on til,
whitewashed wall before which he wa
standing. The Arab was untouched