Would he do it? Hundreds in the crowd undoubtedly were asking that
question. From above came an inarticulate shout. The muffled arms
writhed one after another over Houdini's head. His hand, still encased
in the sleeves of the strait-jacket, fumbled quickly and effectively
with the buckles at his back. Another contortion and the strait-jacket
slipped down over his chest, over his head, and was flung from his arms
to the street, in a crumpled heap.
Houdini was free.
The arms waved. Houdini had triumphed--as he always triumphs.
Less than a minute later, while the crowd's cheers still rang against
the grey walls of surrounding buildings, he slipped down the face
of the building to the platform. The attendants received him in a
twinkling, and he stood erect, unconsciously throwing back his broad
shoulders.
The little man with the touch of grey at his temples bowed quietly,
still with that imperturbable smile. And the crowd cheered him again,
before it began slowly to dissolve.
Houdini duplicated this feat at the Boston Post, Boston, Mass.,
December 22, 1921, drawing the biggest crowd that ever crushed into
Tremont Street.
[Illustration: decorative]
[Illustration: Trophy won by Houdini.]
The accompanying illustration is the prize offered by the Australian
Aerial League for the first successful flight on a heavier than air
machine. Won by Houdini March 16, 1910, Digger's Rest, near Melbourne
Australia. Houdini piloted his own machine--a Voision Biplane equipped
with a E.N.V. 60.80 H.P. Motor. During his Australian Tour Houdini made
18 successful flights.
_LONDON, ENGLAND_
HOLBORN EMPIRE BESIEGED BY CROWD INSIDE AND OUTSIDE--UNPARALLELED
SCENES WITNESSED IN HIGH HOLBORN--POLICE RESERVES CALLED OUT
A packed house, to show its disapproval of the management's action,
remains at the Holborn Empire, from 2:00 to 9:00 P. M., waiting for
Houdini's appearance as advertised. Police forces were called out as
the matinee crowd, refusing to leave the theatre, the evening crowd
blockaded traffic, being unable to gain admittance. Unparalleled scenes
witnessed in High Holborn.
_"THE PERFORMER" LONDON ENGLAND,
DECEMBER 15, 1910._