Leodis - Escape

The Bitter Escapee

The great illusionist Harry Houdini was due to appear at the Empire Theatre, Briggate, on February 6, 1911. He issued a challenge to local companies to devise a means of securing him so that he could not escape.
His confidence was justified since nobody had ever succeeded; prison cells, specially made handcuffs, a solder-sealed metal coffin submerged in water, straitjackets, and burglar proof safes had all been tried… and failed.

The well-known local brewery, Joshua Tetley & Son challenged Houdini to escape from a beer cask filled with bitter ale, a feat he undertook to attempt on Thursday 9 February 1911.

Padlocked inside, Houdini, who did not drink, was overcome by the alcohol. Had it not been for his assistants he would have drowned. He was only partially conscious when hauled from the container.

Seventy years later, on Saturday 18 June 1983, escapologist David de Val successfully performed the feat when he emerged from a 50-gallon cask of Tetley beer.

De Val had reckoned with something that Houdini had ignored. That 'something' was the carbon-dioxide gas given off by all beer.

As de Val explained,
'Although he, and I, both managed to perform the escape in water, with beer it is a different matter as carbon-dioxide builds up in the barrel if there is any air space and can send you unconscious.

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