The students noted that the escape artist, known for jaw-dropping stunts , seemed to be in terrible pain. But Houdini was determined to go on with the show. After performing the following evening, he traveled to Detroit, where he sent a telegram requesting medical attention. Despite a high fever and pain, he took the stage on October 24 for what would be his final performance.

After the show, he was hospitalized and diagnosed with appendicitis. During surgery, doctors discovered a burst appendix and an abdominal cavity full of pus. A few days later, a second operation failed to stop the infection. In an era before antibiotics were widely available, his condition continued to deteriorate.

Houdini, born Erik Weisz, died on October 31, 1926, at age 52. Although the timing fueled speculation that the punches had caused his appendix to rupture, medical experts have questioned that connection .…