Since it was 111 years ago today that Harry Houdini was presented with the Solid Silver Manacle, I thought I would share the text from an article that appeared in the Yorkshire Evening Post the day after he released himself from the Mirror Cuff that makes reference to this triumph and being presented with a solid silver model as well as another challenge of this kind where he was presented with a silver bowl.  Enjoy!

THE TRIUMPH OF HOUDINI.

As already mentioned in the “Gossip of the Day,” Houdini the “handcuff king” was challenged in London to free himself from pair of handcuffs forged by a Birmingham blacksmith, and which took five years in the making. Though Houdini confines himself in public exhibitions to  ” regulation ” patterns, he accepted the challenge, and the contest took place at the London Hippodrome yesterday afternoon. After being duly manacled, he was shut up in a cabinet in the arena. Alter about half an hour he came out “for change of air.” Another half-hour passed. and then he came forth to say that could not work with his coat on. Holding a knife between his teeth, he cut his coat away, and then, amid great applause, he emerged free, and was borne in triumph round the arena.

OVERCOME BY THE STRAIN.

But the strain had been too much for the “handcuff king,” and he sobbed as though his heart would break. With a mighty effort, however, he regained his composure, and received the congratulations in the true sportsmanlike spirit he has shown throughout the contest. It was intimated to the audience that beautiful solid silver model of the handcuffs would be made, and presented to Houdini.

A FORMER CHALLENGER.

This is not the first challenge of the kind Houdini has accepted and won. The students at Krupp’s works at Essen forged him a bracelet, from which they said it would take him a week to free himself. He was free within the hour, and was afterwards presented by the students and his admirers with a silver bowl in celebration of his feat.

Silver Bowl aka Silver Loving Cup (Mahatma October 1901)

Note: One of his finest feats was this undoing of a handcuff specially forged in May 1901, by Herr Krupp’s workmen at Essen.  These cuffs took twenty minutes to lock.  They gave, and could be narrowed by screws to squeeze the wrist and the Krupp man screwed it down until it touched the bone of Houdini. It took him 35 minutes to get free, and years later he still bore the marks of that struggle on his right wrist. As an acknowledgment of that wonderful effort he was presented with a silver bowl and a check according to Yorkshire Evening Post dated December 06, 1902.

BONUS:

On March 20, three days after the challenge, Houdini offered a challenge to the Mirror:

“London Hippodrome, March 20, 1904

To Whom It May Concern!

Since my success in mastering the celebrated Daily Mirror Handcuff it has come to my knowledge that certain disappointed, skeptical persons have made use of most unjust remarks against the result of last Thursday’s contest.

In particular, one person has had the brazen audacity to proclaim himself able to open the Mirror Handcuff in two minutes.

Such being the case, I hereby challenge any mortal being to open the Mirror Handcuff in the same space of time that I did. I will allow him the full use of both hands; also any instrument or instruments, barring the actual key. The cuff must not be broken or spoilt. Should he succeed, I will forfeit 100 guineas.

Furthermore, it has reached my ears that people are saying that at the contest I slipped one hand before undoing the Mirror Handcuff. I now agree to forfeit a further sum of 25 guineas to anyone who can pick the handcuff within twenty-four consecutive hours with one hand locked in the manacle.

Should anyone accept these challenges, with above simple conditions, they must agree to make the test in my presence.

Harry Houdini “

Thoughts?