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Monday night settled conclusively the interesting question whether Harry Houdini would prove the same sort of success! before a very sophisticated metropolitan audience that he has been on the road. A capacity house at Hammerstein's was held in at the tail end of the show as they seldom are by a closing act, and substantial applause at the finish clinched a real hit for the handcuff expert.
This unusual demonstration of interest
was due to Houdini's startling new feat, an escape from a padlocked water tank, which takes the place of the old straightjacket release. The feat is a real mystery. A tank of iron just big enough to hold a body in a cramped position is filled to overflowing with water. Houdini places a pair of handcuffs on his wrists and squeezes himself inside. More water is poured in until it runs over the sides, and attendants clamp the top (like the cap of a milk can) on, locking it with six padlocks. A curtained cabinet conceals the tank for about two minutes, when Houdini makes a sudden appearance.
The feat is splendidly worked up. Houdini says just enough in his announcements without overdoing it to arouse the imagination of his spectators to the dangers of the escape.
Source:
Variety 10:4 (04/04/1908)