The Detroit times., 1912-08-09
Escapes From a Box Under Water

In His Latest Trick, HoudlnI IL
Heavy ManaeIed, Placed In a
Packing Box Securely Fastened
W and Puched Into New
York Bay.
Among the widely known yaude-
Vile entertainers must be mentioned
Mr.. Harry Houdini, whose celebrated
feats with handcuffs, straight-jackets
and various restraints used 10 confine
the insane and fractions are recalled
by almost every one. The public al
ways seems TO be interested In seeing
the "other fellow" get away from
tight place, SO that Il Is little wonder
that Houdinis audiences are always
large.
Our attention has recently been al
tracted TO number OF feats which
he has been performing In New YORK
and other cities, the elimination OF
which perhaps is the aquatic box trick
which we will now describe.
The Box Trick.
Sunday, July Z, Mr.. Houdini invited
party OF newspaper men and those
interested In magic, TO witness
very remarkable box trick on New
York Bay. This event was scheduled
to take place at pier on the East
river, but owing to police interference
the scene OF operations was transfer.
red to the deck OF a large lighter
which was towed TO the dock OF the
quartermaster's department at Gov
ernors Island. As this was federal
property the police could not inter-
fere with this act.
A large wooden box. forty inches
long, twenty-five inches wide and
twenty-four inches high, was provid-
ed. This box was carefully examined
and no indication OF panels. bolts or
epringR was detected.
After removing his outer clothing,
and after q committee had seen that
he did not have any concealed keys
or devices for picking the locks OF the
handouts, he submitted cheerfully TO
be manacled with leg irons, two pairs
OF handouts and elbow irons. Any Of
the spectators had the privilege OF
bringing their own handcuffs II they
SO desired, as Houdini does not care
about furnishing articles OF this kind
when he is making his more import
ant tests.
Escape Apparently Impossible.
The cover OF the box was removed
and Houdini crouched in II In a stoop-
ed position somewhat resembling the
doubling up OF jackknife. The cover
was then nailed In place with thirty
six wire nails and the entire box was
banded with band iron, or, as II is
technically known, packed for ex
port" On each side a length or iron
ca ri GnQb
weights were introduced into the pipe
thus affording convenient method OF
weighing down the box SO as to cause
II to sink to the level OF the water.
Two hundred pounds OF iron was
used. Holes had been bored In 1t to
permit the entrance of the water so
that the box. itself could be readily
submerged.
The box was then carefully roped
so that no escape from II could have
been possible had the nails and band
irons been non-existent or have given
away.
Some Of the planks from the lighter
were removed and the box was showed
out on them and was finally dumped
In the water. In exactly q minute
and ten seconds Houdini emerged
from the water, swimming toward the
lifeboat which had been provided. The
act was witnessed by thousands OF
spectators who crowded the decks OF
three ferryboats.
The Manacles In the Box.
The box was hauled onto the deck
with the aid OF one OF the spars OF the
lighter and the box was carefully cx-
amined. Nothing was found In II ex-
cept the useless manacles which had
failed to bind Houdini under the most
adverse conditions. Considering the
DANGER OF this feat and the entire alb
sence OF any paraphernalia such as
traps, ETC., 1t appears to be all the
more wonderful This may be regard
ed as one OF the most remarkable
tricks ever performed, and II is only
regretable that a feat OF this magni-
tude cannot be tried before larger
gathering OF spectators.
Houdini's box tricks, his milk can
trick and similar entertaining feats
will not appeal to the average person
as much as his bridge dives which