The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-08
ALLOWS M'DUFF TO NAIL
 HIM UP IN BOX
Battle Of Wits Today To Determine w h e ther
 Magician Can Escape
Houdini has accepted the challenge

Houdlnl has accepted the challenge. The dean of mystic marvels Friday afternoon showed little concern when he strolled by the show window of the Louis Saks Clothing company and viewed the huge, reinforced, strongly roped and specially constructed box from which he has promised to escape at the Masonic auditorium at S:15 o'clock Saturday night, after being tied with stout ropes by Fred H. McDuff, chief of police of Birmingham.
 That Houdini contemplates little trou- ble in his great escape act was amply demonstrated when he was shown the first box from which the chief was sure he could never emerge.
 Why that box?" he said to members of his party. Il would like to have it removed from public display and one much more secure exhibited in its place"
 The box about which the act centers, one of the most formidable looking pieces of baggage ever constructed in Birmingham, resembles an ancient treas ure chest with it's multitude of enor- mons nails and yards sof z<s0A.
 EiIt6 if fzSsi sIiai N Ill ize d4ed, sliid6E the personal supervision of Chief Mc-
 
 only McDuff knows how to tie man.
 All the partly driven nails will then be made secure, the ropes wound and rewound about the box and tied, and Houdihi, who laughed at the chiefs first idea of an escape-proof contriv- ance, will be left to his wits. Will he come out?
 That's the question that's occupying the minds of hundreds of Birmingham citizens who saw the big box Friday afternoon.
 All Are Puzzled Whether Houdini will come out or whether he won't is exactly the big question that sold hundreds of tickets to the Masonic auditorium, and which will sell hundreds more Saturday.
 How will he come out?
 Houdini might even divulge that. It is whispered that he will. And Saturday nights performance is only part of Houdini's program for the day. His first appearance will be at the auditorium at 2 80 o'clock, when he will expose to his audience many of the so-called tricks of magicians, with actual demonstrations of how they are accomplished.
 The great magician was the center of interest in Birmingham Friday, and he good-naturedly answered many of the questions which his eager question CTS forgot have been put to him time after time again in every city he visits. Whats the hardest escape you ever made?" someone chimed in.
 Il cannot answer that question" H6udini snapped back. T have been put into every conceivable contrivance and have always come out, but think the time they put me into hollow sea- turtle shell in Boston was the worst ex- perienee l have ever had. You can just bet I came out of that and remem- bered it distinctly for two years or more."
 HOudini has a standing offer of $5,000 to any person who can produce an act of magic or a mystic act which he can- not explain, and even reproduce If al- lowed couple of days to study the proposition.
 His five thousand iron men have never left home.
 McDuff's Challenge Chief McDuff's letter to HOudini, out lining his proposition and asking for an acceptance of his challenge, is given below:
 "Department of Police, City of Birmingham, Ala,
 "March z, 1924. ''HOudini, Masonic Auditorium, City:
 Dear Sir-This being your first visit to Birmingham, and knowing that vari- ous friends, chiefs of police ill other cities, have tested you, am really anx- ious to challenge you to escape from an ordinary but strongly built packing case which l have had constructed by w. D. Wood Lumber company, and is now on display in Louis Saks clothing window. If you accept this challenge will send it along for your examination, but demand the right, with my committee, to renail all the boards to prevent any prepara- t1on on your part.
 Trusting you will see fit to accept the above challenge, beg to remain. Yours very truly,
 FIRED H. McDUFF,
 Chief of Police"
 Henry Porter, Jr., Friday afternoon announced that a limited number of good seats were yet available for both performances Saturday. Indications were that two capacity houses would witness what is expected to be Birming- hams most sensational exhibit of many years.
 GREW IS CONFIRMED
 WASHINGTON, March 7.+The nomination of Joseph c. Grew of New Hampshire to be Secretary of State, was confirmed today by the Senate.