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Harry Houdini: Students
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Pop legend states that Harry Houdini died of multiple blows to the abdomen delivered by a McGill University student, J. Gordon Whitehead, in Montreal on October 22, 1926. Modern medical science... discounts that Houdini's acute appendicitis was caused by any physical trauma; it appears that the blows he suffered were not fatal, but aggravated an existing undetected illness.
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Houdini died on Halloween, October 31, 1926 of peritonitis that resulted from a ruptured appendix. His condition was aggravated, if not caused, by blows to his mid-section from a college student who wanted to test Houdini’s stated ability to withstand heavy hits, but who attacked before Houdini could properly prepare himself.
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Houdini's death was precipitated by a reckless blow to the stomach from a student who visited him in his dressing room at the Princess Theater in Montreal on October 22, 1926. The student, J. Gordon Whitehead, had asked if it was true that Houdini could sustain punches to his midsection without injury. When Whitehead punched him, Houdini had been sorting his mail and was somewhat distracted.
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A widespread urban legend is that Houdini's ruptured appendix was caused by multiple blows to his abdomen from a McGill University student, J. Gordon Whitehead, in Montreal on October 22. The eyewitnesses to this event were two McGill University students named Jacques Price and Sam Smilovitz (sometimes called Jack Price and Sam Smiley). Their accounts generally agreed. The following is according to Price's description of events. According to Price, Houdini was reclining on his couch after his performance, having an art student sketch him. When Whitehead came in and asked if it was true that Houdini could take any blow to the stomach, Houdini replied in the affirmative.
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Houdini returned to America. He was always willing to show his physical strength and in 1926 he allowed a student to punch him in the stomach. The injuries he received led to his death.
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Houdini was known for his tremendous physical condition, and could withstand blows to the abdomen by tensing his muscles. While performing in Canada... he was challenged by a student who didn't give him time to prepare for the punch. Whether or not the blow ruptured his appendix, it did not cause his appendicitis, which is a bacterial infection.
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