The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1899-06-24
HOUDIN AND THE ARABS.
Extracted Himself From an Aw
HEaHd RnaifiAn .hY Hia Quick WI

|
Household World: To witness Houdin's first
| performance in Alsiers the neighboring tribes
| were invited. The theater was speedily filled
| with them and the French officials, who at
tended in all their ponp and glory Inter-
prefers were scattered through the house in
order to repeat Houdin's remarks to the ma
entail dignity and gravity, the Arabs witnessed
| the first few tricks in stolid silence, but the
| taking Of a huge cannon ball from borrowed
| hat aroused great excitement.
| Then came the great tricks Of the evening,
| especially prepared to astonish the Arabs.
| by a wonderful power which 1 possess -
/ said Houdin, II can deprive any man of his
strength I invite any one to prove my words"
| On this being interpreted to the Arabs. a
1 tall. strong man stepped forward on the stage.
Houdin held in his hand a little iron box,
and, balancing it carelessy on his little fin
| ger, he asked the Arab:
| Are you strong"
| Yes" replied the man carelessly.
! Are you sure Of always remaining so?''
| Always"
| Lift that box" 49,.
! The Arab did so, and asked contemptuous-
Wait said Houdin, making solemn ges-
/ ture. 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 inch from the
floor. After many attempts he paused for a
| moment to brace himself for a final effort. He
| seized the handle again, but shrieksd aloud
| with PAIN dropped on his knees, then, rising,
threw his cloak around his face to conceal his
| shame and rushed from the theater leaving
his compatrfots stricken with fear. The trick
was as simple as the result was startling The
| box was placed on a powerful electro-magnet,
| and, the current being complete. no man on
earth could have lifted 1t. An electric shock,
sent at a signal by Houdin from behind the
| stage, was what caused the Arab to shrek and
! hurriedly retreat
Before the excitement caused by this trick
I had snbsided. Houdin announced that he had a.
talisman which rendered him inYulnerable, and
he 5defed the best shot in Algiers to kill him.
INN o<oI1y
| exclaiming, Il want to kill you" Houdin
| handed him pistol, which the Arab, examin-
ing, pronounced 9. good one 1T is a good pis-
/ tol and will kill YOU.
| Very WELL" said Houdin; ito make sure
| put in q double charge Of powder. Here's a
| wad. Take bullet from this tray and mark
| 1t SO you Will know 1t again. Ram it into the
| pistol WE'LL
1T is done."
Now" said Houdin, ''you say the pistol is a
good one, and you've loaded it well, SO kill
me-
Yes replied the marabout II will do
that" ~
walked a few PAGES in front of the Arab and
told him to aim at his heart. He fred and the
marked bullet was seen on the pear. After the
powder and wad were rammed home and while
the Arab was marking the bullet Houdin
slipped little tube into the pistol. This tube
was clSeed at the lower end, and into this the
Arab dropped the bullet. AS he thrust the wad
down with the ramrod the tube fitted snugly
on to it and was withdrawn with it, being pol
tshed to resemble it. Houdin thus got Dos
session OF the marked ball. and all was then
plain sailing. . ....
On one occasion during his visit to Algiers
Houdin was placed in a very awkward posi-
ton, from which he only extricated himself by
his quick-wittedness He was the guest of an
Arab chief, Abou Allen, and entertained his
host and friends. by a few tricks. One OF the
company was q marabout, who, asserted that
the spectators in Algiers had been merely
duped by a vision. Houdin, however produced
the marabout's watch in his hand, and on feel
ing his sash the .marabout found there a g.
franc piece. Convinced by this and other feats
that Houdin was really a sorcerer, he chaI-
lenged him to repeat his performances in the
theater, and produced two pistols '.'You need
toward off bullets Without losing his self
possession Hondin explained that his inyuI-
nerability lay in a talisman which was with
prayer. however, can do without that tails
man, and at o'clock tomorrow morning you
can IRE at me- ,- s...
concourse Of Arabs, which the news had at
tracted The pistols were brought and care
ro!ly examined The marabout dropped In the
powder, Houdin handed, him a bullet from tho
tray, and he rammed it down. Houd1n then
loaded his own pistol, and walking about az
teen PAGES away, turned and faced the mara
n.,a,.d me me sno. was nred and the Frenchman
opened his mouth and showed the bullet BE-
tween his teeth. ''You could not kill me-" he
said and now you shall see what my shots
can do He fred at the marabout. and i'm
mediately a red splash was seen on the white
washed wall before which he was standing
Inc. Inc ARAB was untouched; stepping up to the
wall, he dipped his finger in the red splash
tasted it, and. realizing that it was blood
collapsed in amazement zrssr-- 81. 80
Though the trick simple, only a Houdin
could have devised and carried it out sue
cessfuIly During the night he had melted
some wax, blackened it to look like lead, and
run 1t into bullet mould. thus obtaining a
hollow globe OF wax exactly resembling bull
let In appearance 1t was with this bullet the
marabout loaded his pistol. and in ramming
it down crushed it to powder A second bui
let, similarly made. Houdin filled with blood
obtained from mis- own body. This he dropped
INTO his pistol. and ranmed it down very
gently, SO as not to crush it, AS it struck
the wall it was broken. leaving red splash