Page 26 - All About History 48 - 2017 UK

DAREDEVILS

CRANE
HANGING AROUND
Performing the escape while hanging upside
down meant the escapologist got a little help
from gravity, as the arms could be pulled
over the head more easily. It also looked more
daring, and when performed above the city
streets, drew enormous crowds and media
attention to help promote the act.

ACCOMPLICE

THESNEAKYASSISTANT
Iftheescapologistthoughttheymightneeda BUCKLES AND STRAPS
littleextrahelpwiththeirescape,anaccomplice
would secretly ‘palm’ them a cutting tool as they ALLTIEDUP
shook their hand before the jacket was secured. The straightjacket, made from
The tool could then be concealed and used to heavycanvasandtoughleather,
discreetly sever the straps and buckles. hadstrapsthatloopedaroundthe
escapologist’s neck and chest and
were fastened behind their back.
Oncethearmshadbeenpulled
over the head, the buckles could be
undone with the hands and teeth.

SLACK STRAIGHTJACKET

ADDEDWIGGLEROOM RESTRICTIVE CLOTHING
As the jacket was being fastened, the When escaping from a straightjacket
escapologist would pinch and pull the supplied by someone else, a little more
materialandtakeadeepbreathtoexpand time, and a concealed cutting tool, were
theirchest.Thishelpedtocreatemoreroom usually required. However if the jacket
insideoncetheyhadexhaled.Theythen was the escapologist’s own, it often had
simply used their strength, stamina and a longer sleeves and simpler straps to
few clever manoeuvres to wriggle free.

AWORKPLACEINJURY
When a straightjacket was
HIDDENHELP proving particularly difficult to
escape from, escapologists would
THE PERFECT HIDING PLACE sometimes dislocate one or both
shoulders to create more slack.
Any cutting tools or keys needed to
This was typically only used as a
help with the escape could be hidden
last resort, but did make it easier
in several ingenious places without the
to break free.
audience’s knowledge. For example,
© Kevin McGivern finger, concealed in the escapologist’s
they might be placed inside a false
hair, or stuck inside a hollowed-out
compartment in their shoe.
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