The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-08-03
7AouDln.s MAGIC AND THE ARAa

invited. The theater was speedily I'LL.
I'd with them and the French officials
who attended in all their pomp and glo.
~. Interpreters were scattered thro
the house in order to repeat Houdin'a
remarks to the natives in their own
language. With true oriental dignity
and gravity, the Arabs witnessed the
irst few tricks in silence, but the taxi
'ng of huge cannon ball from bor-
cowed hat aroused great excitement.
Then came the great tricks OF the
avening-especially prepared to aston,
tsh the Arabs.
by wonderful power which pos
sess," said Houdin, Il can deprive any
man of his strength. invite any one
ito prove my words"
On this being interpreted to the Ar
abs, a tall, strong man stepped for
ward on the stage. Houdin held In his
hand little iron box, and balancing
It carelessly on his little finger, he
asked in Arabic:
Are you strong"
eyes," replied the man, carelessly.
"Are you sure of always remaining
so?"
Always"
Lift that box"
The Arab did SO, and asked contemp-
tuously:
"Is that all?"
wait" said Houdin. making SOL
emn gesture. Nov you are weaker
than a woman. Try to lift that boz
|again."
The Arab seized the handle and tug
ged again and again. He could not
raise the box an inch from the floor.
After many attempts he paused for .
moment to brace himself for q final
effort. He seized the handle again. but
shrieked 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 compatriots 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 the
earth could have lifted it. An electric
shock, sent at signal from Houdin
from behind the stage was what caused
the Arab to Shrek and huriedly retreat.
Before the excitement caused by this
trick had subsidized. Houdin announced
that he had a talisman which rendered
him invulnerable. and he defied the best
shot in Algiers to kill him.
A marabout Immediately sprang on
the stage, exclaiming: II want to kill
you"
Houdin handed him pistol, which
The Arab. examining, pronounced
good one.
1T is a good pistol" and will kill
you"
Very WELL" said Houdin; ito make
sure. put in double charge Of powder.
Here's wad. Take bullet from this
ray. and mark It 10 you VIII know it
lgain. Ram It into the pistol well.''
1t is DONE"
Now" said Houdin, "you gay the
pistol is good ore. and you've loaded
It well. SO kill me-"
Yes replied the marabout, II will
10 that"
Houdin took pear, stuck it on
tnife. and walked few PAGES to the
front Of the Arab, and told him to aim
1t his heart. He fired, and the marked
sullet was seen on the pear.
After the powder and wad were ram
ned 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
ne thrust the wad down with the RAM
rod. the tube fitted snugly onto 1t. and
was withdrawn with it. being polished
TO resemble it. Houdin thus got pos
session of the marked ball, and all was
then plain sailing. ~
Algiers, Houdin was placed very awk-
ward position, from which he only ex-
tricated himself by his quick-witted-
hess. He was the guest Of an Arab
chief. Abou Allen, and entertained his
aost and friends by a few tricks. Ona
of the company was marabout, who
asserted that the spectators in Algiers
eoA 0SSA AAASASAy NuQSu ny q Vl6lOu{
Houdin, however, produced the mara
bouts watch in his hand. and on feel.
Ing his sash the marabout found there
q f1ve-franc piece. Convinced by this
Ind other feats that Houdin was really
I sorcerer. he challenged him to repeat
MS performance in the theater, and
produced two pistols. ''You need not
fear" said the Arab, since you know
how to ward off bullets.
Without losing his self-possession,
Houdin explained that his invulnerabil-
tty lay In talisman, which was with
his possessions in Algiers. by six
hours prayer. however, can do with.
out that talisman, and at o'clock to.
morrow morning you can fire at me-
At the appointed time there was q
large concourse of Arabs, which the
news had attracted. The pistols were
brought and carefully examined. The
marabout dropped in the powder, Hou-
din handed him bullet from the tray.
and he rammed 1t down. Houdin then
loaded his own pistol. and walking
about fifteen PAGES away, turned and
faced the marabout.
The shot was fired and the French
man opened his mouth and showed the
bullet between his teeth.
You could not kill me-" he said,
''and now you shall see what my shots
can do" 81
He fired at the marabout, ana imme-
diately . red splash was seen on the