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Illusionist escapes straitjacket, trap at downtown mall

Illusionist Jay Owenhouse escapes from a 6-buckle straight jacket with a burning rope holding the Jaws of Death at bay, Sept. 21, 2013, in Riverpark Square. Owenhouse attempted to break free 90 seconds, but did not succeed but escaped unharmed by the jaws. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-reivew)
By Kaitlin Gillespie kaitling@spokesman.com(509) 459-5426
Illusionist Jay Owenhouse escapes from a 6-buckle straight jacket with a burning rope holding the Jaws of Death at bay, Sept. 21, 2013, in Riverpark Square. Owenhouse attempted to break free 90 seconds, but did not succeed but escaped unharmed by the jaws. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-reivew)
A straitjacket. A flaming rope. A 1,200-pound steel trap. Jay Owenhouse faced all three Saturday as he attempted to break the world record for escaping a six-buckle straitjacket while hanging upside down in River Park Square. Owenhouse said the record, originally set by legendary escape artist Harry Houdini, is 90 seconds. Dramatic music filled the mall atrium as the seconds ticked by. Shoppers peered over the railing of the upper floors, watching as Owenhouse was tied by his feet to the spiked metal trap held open only by a burning rope. Owenhouse struggled to escape the straitjacket, grunting as he pulled his arms over his head. “The hardest thing for me is to stay focused mentally,” Owenhouse said later. After about two minutes, Owenhouse tore the straitjacket off, turned himself upright and dropped to the ground below. A moment later, the rope broke and the trap snapped shut with a bang. The crowd cheered as Owenhouse waved. It took him 2 minutes and 18 seconds to escape. “Unfortunately it does not look like I broke the record,” he said. “But I’m just glad to be alive.” Owenhouse will perform his illusionist act at the INB Performing Arts Center on Saturday at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.