In 1908, the most famous magician in the world, Harry Houdini, stood at the Harvard Bridge in Boston, surrounded by a crowd of 20,000 onlookers and well-wishers.

A Boston police officer carefully chained the showman, handcuffing his hands behind his back. Houdini’s mission was to remove the manacles and escape his chains underwater.

At a prearranged signal, a chained and handcuffed Houdini dove into the cold water.

The seconds ticked by… 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds. The crowd shifted uneasily. But at 40 seconds, Houdini burst to the surface, triumphantly holding the shackles aloft.

Houdini’s public exhibitions of brave escapes brought him worldwide fame and endeared him to the public.

Here is a video of a different underwater escape. While it lacks the special effects and suspenseful music a magician would employ today, Houdini also had no help or fail-safe measures.

Houdini’s bravery and success undoubtedly inspired others to take on dangerous stunts as well.

But not everyone had Houdini’s abilities. I don’t know whether Franz Reichelt was inspired by Houdini but his attempt to do what had never been done went terribly wrong. Reichelt constructed a homemade parachute and jumped off the Eiffel Tower in 1912, with tragic results. It’s an amazing video in its own right.