The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-01
HOW DOES he DO IT?
HoudIni Continues 10 Create Wonder
and Amazement.


pffH NllntSTti ~ AT iNflln ntN Att-
atre last evening. when Houdlni, the
king Of Handouts. was ON the stage
When the young Hungarian magi-
clan. with the pleasant smile and easy
confidence that mark his stage appear
ance walked out 90 the footlights, the
audience. which overfiowed the seats
and occupied every inch Of standing
room, gave him so hearty welcome as
10 demonstrate the popularity he has
won, as well as the confidence In his
sincerity and stralghtforwardness
that he has inspired IN the popular
mind. In few simple words. he
called for those who wished 10 test his
powers 20 come on the stage and place
their shackles upon his wrists on legs:
and Officer Andrew l.. Martin. Fore
man Tierney OF the Narrag0nsett Elec-
tric Lighting company, Il gentleman
from the Weybosset Loan company.
and two other gentlemen. whose names
were unknown, responded.
After hastily inspecting the cuffs Of
fered by them. he closed pair pro-
duced by one of the unknown men. ana
then asked Tor the kay. which the gen
tleman said nc did not have. - Viii
open them for you" said Houdini. ana
stepped into his cabinet, fr IN s. hich he
emerged ia about four seconds, saying
These cufs have been tampered with.
one Of them has had plug driven into
"a ana then broken on. Then, seeing
Detective Parker stanaing near the
box, he asked that officer GO cCrrob-
orate his statement which, after a
thorough examination, Mr. Parker did
most emphatically and unequivocally.
II claim" said HOudini, returning 10
The stage that there is no handCun
made and approved and adopted by
the police departments from which 4
cannot release myself IL IL IL in good
working order; but / cannot, nor can
any other human being, do IL from
cuff that has been tampsred with and
plugged, as has been done with this.
Had 1 permitted the gentleman TO shut
these on my wrists, they must nave
been sawed OFF before / could have been
released. OF course, | expect this sort
of thing. / intend To be absolutely hon
est and fair with the public. and 10 do
precisely what | claim 10 do;and only
ask TO be treated as any honest man
will treat another" He then handed
the cuffs TO the gentleman who had Of
fered them; and the audience broke out
in vigorous applause, while the gentle
man who had bUought the cuffs retired
from the stage and few Kisses were
heard.
The performance then proceeded i'm
the regular way until the other stran-
ger was reached. Houdini releasing
himself from all the GUNS put on up 10
this time with almost lightning-like
uuickness. When he asked the second
stranger TO place the cuffs on his
wrists, the gentleman stepped 10 the
footlights and said: Last Saturday
night I'm Boston, l subjected Houdlni
10 a severe test, I'm which ] carefully
sealed the cuffs | placed upon him. He
got out OF them in s minutes and Al
seconds. but | was not satisfied that
the seals had not been tampered with.
AS he gives an open invitation TO eY-
erybody | have come down from Bos-
ton tonight TO satisfy myself on tbls
matter; and | purpose 70 seal these
cuffs i'm such a way by the use OF chem
icals and other absolutely sure meth
DDS SO that By no possibility can the
seal be tampered with or the lock be
picked through the keyhole without It's
being plainly and easily discovered.
This gentleman, whom ! now recog-
nizen said Houdini (and who was al
ter-Ward learned to be DIR. j. r.. watt
of ss Huntington avenue, Boston,
we'll known practising physician and
scientific investigator OF thar cltyD
states the matter just as was in Bos-
ton. The test he proposes Is extremely
severe; but | am quite willing 10 SUD
1nit II he audience will be patient ana
allow me as much aime as is required
TO put on and seal the cuffs" The lit
tie speech was greeted with applause;
and then Houdlni seeing Detective
Parker and Supt. Thornehill OF the
Pinkerton agency in Boston, VINO had
come down expressly 10 see his per-
formance again. asked those gentlemen
TO step upon the stage as protection
to him and TO ensure absolute fairness
on all sides.
The cuffs were placed on Houdini's
wrists. and then another pair OF hand
cuffs was placed upon his ankles, hold
ing his feet so closely together that ne
could not walk and that IL hurt him
severely to stand. Then. they We're care
fully sealed i'm the presence or all those
on the stage and the HaaeieI+tttf-ttas tstr=
rIed into his cabinet and seated upon a
chair.
During the operation OF sealing, the
smile had vanished from his face and
a more serious look had taken ite place,
while the face of his pretty and tiny
little Wife told only too plainly of the
no ATTEMPT 20 pick the lock- through
the kayhole he made the slightest
touch or severe iiar TO any part OF the
cuff must have broken the delicate seal.
While Houdni was I'm the cabinet. al
though the nimble piano player did
his best 10 divert he thoughts of the
audience. and almost brenthless silence
reigned ann the excitement became in
tense as t~e minutes sped by until nine
and half had passed when suddenly.
amid q tumult of applause Houdini
stepped forth with the open cuffs dan
cling from his wrists.
" woe some time hefore the applause
suhsidcd. md then Dr Watt. Detective
Parker and Supt. Thornehpl pronourc-
ed The seals absolutely untampered
with. and ~ Wait. stenpinr TO 'he
said."The seals are absolute
" nerfect intact ana urfr nuered with
rhiq ,r,o, bafiee me and am satisfe1
7 ssnlcH those cuffs w this naruer. ~
ta~ snudnaporirr the cuffs 7 appuod
nci1 ther tv~o coats 90 thin
rointine then ranrnese lsinEIass plaster
~ the pioT dianh10ous nature and
r~olly u,v own private tag"
Dr Wapt then aeked Houdini to a'-
low him 20 faater hts hands behind hts
back With n nalr ~ Rem cune Tor
,.,,tU Nr.r.Ff,tffs 81 Fraavt IA, ne.