TODAY IN MAGIC HISTORY :: HOUDINI & THE LOW BLOW

The Fullerton College Hornet reminds us that October 22nd marks the day that Harry Houdini took the blow that would eventually lead to his death. As mentioned by David Blaine during his most recent television special, his hero often bragged that he could take any punch delivered to his abdomen, a feat that he demonstrated on many occasions. On the evening of the 22nd,  Houdini was resting in his dressing room after a performance, having an art student sketch him. When Gordon Whitehead entered and asked if it was true that Houdini could take any blow to the stomach, Houdini replied in the affirmative. In this instance, he was hit three times by Whitehead, before Houdini could prepare himself or protest. Reportedly, Whitehead continued hitting Houdini even after Houdini acted as though he was in distress.  One witness said that the magician then said that if he had had time to prepare himself properly, he would have been in a better position to take the blows.  Houdini apparently ignored the pain and continued to travel without seeking medical attention. Unbeknownst to Harry, he was suffering from appendicitis and the blows had ruptured the organ leading to peritonitis. It is likely that his appendix would have eventually burst on its own without the trauma caused by he blows. Houdini died nine days later on Halloween.