On July 7, 1912, iconic illusionist Harry Houdini took a daring leap into illusion history by stepping into a heavy wooden crate to be lowered directly into the murky waters of New York Harbor. Captured beautifully by photographer Carl Dietz, this terrifying stunt marked the very first time Houdini attempted his famous underwater box escape.
The press was utterly convinced Houdini would drown, especially because the crate was heavily weighted with 200 pounds of lead and nailed completely shut before being submerged. To ensure the box didn’t break apart under pressure, Houdini secretly invented a hidden latch mechanism that allowed him to slip a panel out of place, escape through the bottom gap, and surface safely while the crate remained completely intact.
By Carl Dietz via Library of Congress, no known restrictions
