AN ROPE TRICK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21906, 15 September 1934, Page 3 (Supplement)

AN ROPE TRICK

MAN DIES WITH SECRET

" WITHIN SIGHT OF SUCCESS " Mr. Arnold de Biere, the famous illusionist, who died in London recently, has probably taken with him to the grave the secret of a successful reproduction of the Indian Rope Trick. He had been studying this trick for years and had travelled all over the world in search of information about it. A few days before his death Mr. de Biere said that he was within sight of success. " By the autumn," he said, " I will be able to do it. I shall perform it in the open air, and I am certain that it will deceive everybody." Mr. de Biere was one of the leading masters of his art, which he had exhibited all over Europe. One of his most cherished possessions was an ace of hearts bearing the signature " Edward P." The card was inscribed by the Prince of Wales at a party organised for the King of Spain in 1928. In the course of his performance Mr. de Biere gave the Prince the card and asked him to mark it in such a way that he would know it again. " He did what I expected," said de Biere afterward. " He wrote his name on I had his signature as a memento.". A friend said that Mr. de Biere was probablv the highest-paid magician of recent times. " One trick, which only he performed," puzzled illusionists all over the world," the friend added. " After his thumbs had been tied together by a member of the audience he would catch hoops thrown at him on his arms. The secret of the trick was never'discovered." Mr. de Biere was a vice-president of the Magicians Club. The Indian Hope Trick is said to have been performed by Indian fakirs. The fakir threw a rope into the air, a boy climbed up and then disappeared. Recently the Occult Committee of the Magic Circle offered £SOO _to anyone who would perform the trick.