4 – Benjamin Rucker,
- Benjamin Rucker was another one who tried burying himself alive but failed to get the ‘alive’ part right.
- To market his upcoming exhibition, Benjamin, AKA the Dark Herman, was publicly buried and then dug up in front of an audience three days later. At first the trick was a success. They dug him up and he was alive and well. He led his astounded audience to a nearby theatre where he continued the rest of the show.
- Unfortunately not long into his show Benjamin suffered a heart attack and died on stage. His audience, who had just seen him defy death, refused to believe it. They clapped along, thinking it was part of the show. The creepiest part is that the promoters had been advertising the show as ‘The Memorial of Dark Herman’. How were they to know how appropriate that would be?
3 – Washington Irving Bishop,
- If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. After working for a fake medium, Washington Irving Bishop tried to make a living exposing spiritual frauds. He soon realised he could make more money being a psychic himself. The job eventually led to his demise – although he strangely didn’t see this coming…
- In his public demonstrations, Washington would do readings using an audience member’s hand. He would feel for acute muscle movements that would reveal whether the person was going to win the lottery or fall down some stairs.
- In 1889, Washington collapsed in the middle of a show in New York. He fell into a coma-like state, which people mistook for death. Not realising he was still alive, officials performed an autopsy and killed him. They were hoping to study his brain to see if it was special. Obviously they weren’t using their own brains when they made that call.
2 – Vivian Hensley,
- When your parents tell you not to play with knives listen up because it’s for a damn good reason! Amateur magician Vivian Hensley liked shocking audiences by swallowing dangerous blades. But one day the trick went about as wrong as it possibly could.
- The Australian magician was performing the trick for his young son. But instead of hiding the blade up his sleeve like he was supposed to, Vivian lost his grip and dropped the sharp razor blade into his mouth! He accidentally cut his tongue and throat, causing blood to gush everywhere, and died from the ensuing complications. His poor son was obviously traumatised.
- The craziest thing is Vivian actually worked as a dentist! He really should’ve known better than to stick dangerous objects in his mouth…
1 – Charles Rowen,
- Charles Rowen was a South African magician who was famous for getting out of straitjackets, leaping out of the way of speeding cars and jumping into huge piles of broken glass. I know, right? What could possibly go wrong!?
- In 1930 he was performing a very dangerous stunt where he’d get out of his straitjacket just in time to dodge a speeding car. Hundreds and thousands of people watched as he attempted to get out of his restraints. They then saw him stumble, fall and get mowed down by a car travelling seventy kilometres an hour. His leg was almost severed in the gruesome incident.
- As he laid there dying, Charles took full responsibility for the mistake and exonerated the driver. A legend and a gentleman.
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