Popxlttr Science MontJiIi/ 



61 



Escaping from a Straight Jacket 

 in Mid-Air 



HARRY HOUDINI, self-styled 

 "haiuicutf king," recently escaped 

 from a straight jacket, while suspended 

 by the heels, head downward, in mid- 

 air, over Broadway, in New York City. 

 How did he do it? 



In order to escape from a straight 

 jacket, it is necessary, first of all, to insure 

 as large a play as possible for the arms. 

 Hence the arms must be pressed out as 

 forcibly as possible, while the straps 

 attached to the hands are being pulled 

 and buckled behind the back. Suppose 

 that the performer is on solid ground. 

 He first places the elbow of the arm 

 passing under the other arm upon the 

 floor, or upon some solid substance, and, 

 by sheer strength, forces it over to one 

 side — an upward pull being exerted at the 

 same time. The position is then changed 

 and the pressure applied to the opposite 

 elbow — an upward pull 



again being exercised. | 



The arm is thrust back 

 across the front of the 

 body, and upward to- 

 ward the neck. This 

 alternate movement is 

 carried on until enough 

 play is obtained to 

 wrench the arms from 

 side to side and to work 

 them nearer the neck. 

 Thus "slack" is obtained 

 to pass the strap con- 

 necting the wrists, over 

 the head. The buckle, 

 by which the hands are 

 strapped together is 

 brought to the front, 

 and unfastened by the 

 teeth. The sleeves are 

 then pulled down. Next, 

 placing h;-" hands behind 

 his head, the performer 

 can undo the buckles. 

 He can then remove the 

 straight jacket. In mid- 

 air the method is the 

 same, but more difficult. 

 There is no leverage to 

 brace against. There- 

 fore, hisescape is nothing 

 short of marvelous. 



r^/s Srf>E£T ^V/LL Be Paveo 

 ill UnOergrouna Structures Gas o/td \ 

 Water Pi pes etc: Must' t^e put In uf once. 

 After Cornpl^ion no permit to Cut 

 wW b« granted for Five Yeors. 



HAftffy l.OAV/S. Mi>yC» 



To save a newly paved street from ruin, 

 Cleveland, Ohio, posts a timely warning 



Warning the Public 

 to Leave a Newly 

 Paved Street Alone 



TO prevent the tear- 

 ing up of newly- 

 paved streets, Cleve- 

 land, Ohio, has set an 

 example which is wor- 

 thy of serious consid- 

 eration. Before a street 

 is ready to receive its 

 new covering, warnings 

 are posted, calling the 

 attention of the public 

 to the fact that all un- 

 derground pipes should 

 be put in at once, be- 

 cause no permits for 

 cutting the pavement 

 will be allowed for five 

 years. The signs have 



Houdini, hanging over space, 

 ready to make his spectacular 

 escape from a straight jacket 



preventing excavating 

 work in newly-paved 

 streets. The people 

 have learned that if 

 they will use a little 

 forethought, the streets 

 of their city need not 

 so constantly be broken 

 up. 



