Responding to my sword swallowing post today, DJ Vollkasko says:
Allow me to point you to "Miracle Mongers and Their Methods" by Harry Houdini from 1920. (Project Gutenberg version available here sans illustrations.)
There you'll find fireeaters, heat resistors, strong men and of course sword swallowers. Some of the illustrations are incredible, as is the story of the sword swallower whose blade broke after being swallowed… This veritable queen of her trade kept her calm and saved herself. How? Well, read for yourself.
For all users of the Apple MessagePad or eMate (there still may be some amongst the BoingBoing readership–I know of at least three ;=} ), I have recently released ebook versions of this wonderful book.
