Six years ago, I did a post, titled: First Suspended Straitjacket Escape Not 98 Years Ago Today (September 29). The Minneapolis escape was the second public suspended straitjacket escape, after the September 8, 1915 escape from the Kansas City Post building in Kansas City, MO.

At the time of the September 29 post, I didn’t have a photograph for this Minneapolis escape, nor much information, but that changed when I visited the McCord Museum last year. The very first scrapbook, I looked at had a lot of newspaper clippings that included straightjacket escapes, like the one that took place 104 years ago on September 30, 1915. That’s right, the escape actually took place on September 30, 1915, not September 29, 2015 as previously documented by others.

As evidence, I share the photo and text from the following two newspaper ads:

• Star Tribune, Thu, Sep 30, 1915

At 12:05 today, Harry Houdini, to whom padlocks and cells present no more difficulty than that offered to the ordinary person by an open door, will essay to make his escape from a straight-jacket while suspended by his heels from the sign in from of the Tribune. This is a feat similar to one he accomplished upon a previous occasion, and unless Minneapolitans succeed in fastening the straight-jacket more securely that Houdini supposes he promises to extract himself with a few moments. The jacket will be adjusted by entirely disinterested parties so that there is no chance for any suspicion of collusion, and the jacket used is of a regulations type.

Houdini, who is appearing at the Orpheum, is said to enjoy an international reputation for the case with which he escapes from handcuffs, prison cells and other impediments. He has appeared in almost every large city of the civilized world and in each metropolis had baffled the police by his dexterity. He is said to be the only man ever to escape from one of the famous Siberian convict wagons, a conveyance far more dreaded and more formidable than the Black Marias familiar to citizens of American towns.

 

• Minneapolis Journal, Fri Oct 1, 1915

Before a crowd which thronged Fourth street from Nicollet to Marquette avenue, Harry Houdini, the “worlds champion self-liberator,” freed himself from a straitjacket while suspended by the feet—which were bound—from the electric sign in front of The Tribune building at noon yesterday. When the jacket had been adjusted by Minneapolis detectives and policemen and his feet securely bound, Houdini was swung high over the heads of the crowd. The immense throng was unexpectantly quiet as Houdini began his work.

A few convulsive , serpentine wriggles, a few movements of his powerful shoulders, and Houdini’s arms, which a moment before had been securely held by leather and canvas jacket were free. As he unfastened the straps which had defied all comers, he smiled down at the officers who had adjusted the straitjacket and remarked that he would join them in a moment. He slipped the apparatus over his head and allowed it to fall into the arms of the officers below and gave the signal to “lower away.”

The straight-jacket was furnished by the police and was the most powerful they have. It was put on by several plain clothes men under the direction of Thomas P. Gleason, who tested each strap and said he was satisfied it was “according to Hoyle.”

Tonight on the Orpheum stage, Houdini did attempt to escape from a packing case which has been prepared by the employees in the shipping room of the New England Furniture & Carpet company. The packers have made a box which they believe will defy all the powers of the wizard.

“I do not promise to get out the box,” declares Houdini. “However, I have never failed yet, and certainly will try.”

This feature will be presented instead of the regular act which Houdini offers.

Bonus:

Also, courtesy of the McCord Museum, here is a newspaper image not previously posted for Houdini’s December 4^th, 1915 suspended straightjacket escape from the Express Tribune building.

For details of this escape and other images, see John Cox excellent post:

• Uncovering Houdini’s 1915 Los Angeles straitjacket escape (at last!)