1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,000 A popular pack of germs mammoth tale of survival. 2 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:07,000 It moaned and creaked. 3 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:11,000 I think you could hear collectively everyone holding their breath. 4 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:15,000 A crumbling compound that harbored a sinister threat. 5 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:21,000 They were people who felt strongly, but these strong beliefs were very dangerous. 6 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:25,000 And an iconic building in the center of a treacherous plot. 7 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:29,000 The capital is a symbol, but that also makes it a target. 8 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:34,000 Sometimes the greatest secrets lie in plain sight. 9 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:37,000 These are monumental mysteries. 10 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:50,000 Located on a barrier island off the New Jersey coast is the popular shore town of Margate City. 11 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:55,000 A tiny community with 8,000 residents and million dollar homes. 12 00:00:56,000 --> 00:01:00,000 But amongst the hotels and bungalows stands an unconventional building 13 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:04,000 that looks more like it belongs at the circus rather than the beach. 14 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:08,000 It's six stories tall. It weighs over 90 tons. 15 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:12,000 It has four feet, 18 toes and two ears. 16 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:19,000 Inside the main room is very Victorian styled with gastric pink walls 17 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:21,000 and it's the only thing like it on earth. 18 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:29,000 This is Lucy the Elephant, one of the oldest and most beloved roadside attractions in the country. 19 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:33,000 But according to the landmarks executive director Richard Hellfin, 20 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:37,000 this majestic mammoth wasn't always so adored. 21 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:39,000 Lucy is very happy where she is. 22 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:42,000 But her life hasn't always been very happy. 23 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:45,000 She met a lot of obstacles along the road. 24 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:51,000 So what amazing story lies behind this colossal creature? 25 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:54,000 The 1880s. 26 00:01:54,000 --> 00:02:02,000 South Atlantic City is a tiny seaside settlement where residents scrape out a living by fishing and clamming. 27 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:07,000 South Atlantic City was basically just a couple fishing shacks and dunes and beech grass 28 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:10,000 and it was not a desirable place for people to live. 29 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:13,000 But one man aims to change all that. 30 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:16,000 Entrepreneur James Lafferty. 31 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:20,000 The ambitious businessman has acquired property in the area, 32 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:24,000 believing he can transform this blighted land into a booming resort, 33 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:27,000 much like Atlantic City to the north. 34 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:32,000 But in order to convince investors to buy and build on his empty lots, 35 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:36,000 he must first attract their attention with something special. 36 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:39,000 Lafferty is a visionary and an entrepreneur 37 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:44,000 and he comes up with this crazy idea to build this structure. 38 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:48,000 There was nothing of its kind anywhere on the planet. 39 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:54,000 Inspired by the great showman P.T. Barnum and his exotic circus animals, 40 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:59,000 Lafferty plans to draw in buyers by constructing a new real estate office 41 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:02,000 in the shape of an elephant. 42 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:09,000 The building is made up of more than a million pieces of wood and 200 kegs of nails. 43 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:11,000 Every single piece is cut by hand. 44 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:19,000 And in 1881, the 65 foot tall 90 ton epic construction is complete. 45 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:26,000 And it isn't long before the peculiar pack-a-derm garners waves of attention. 46 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:31,000 People arriving are in awe of this six-story mammoth structure. 47 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:35,000 They enter through its left rear leg and are greeted by Lafferty at a desk 48 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:37,000 where he tries to sell his real estate holdings. 49 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:39,000 People love seeing the elephant. 50 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:46,000 The adored animal, who is eventually named Lucy, doesn't just woo visitors. 51 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:50,000 She also wins the hearts of South Atlantic City's residents. 52 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:53,000 Most people had a tremendous amount of love for Lucy. 53 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:55,000 She was a part of their community. 54 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:59,000 Yet while Lafferty's creation is a popular curiosity, 55 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:02,000 it does little to help him sell his plots. 56 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:05,000 And his ambitious venture ends in failure. 57 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:11,000 Although people were in awe of Lafferty's creation, they were not real estate buyers. 58 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:14,000 And he's eventually forced to sell the elephant. 59 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:20,000 The bankrupt businessman soon moves away and leaves Lucy behind. 60 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:28,000 Over the years, the orphaned elephant is passed from owner to owner. 61 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:33,000 Lucy was used as a single-family residence, a tavern, a tourist attraction. 62 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:36,000 But throughout her life, she was not a profitable venture. 63 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:41,000 As the years go by, Lucy begins to fall into disrepair. 64 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:47,000 Lucy's outer skin is made of tin, so the rust was always a problem. 65 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:50,000 And Lucy's body begins to decay. 66 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:58,000 By 1969, South Atlantic City has become a popular seaside spot and has been renamed Bargate City. 67 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:03,000 And when the land on which Lucy stands is sold to a new developer, 68 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:07,000 it seems her life as the symbol of the city will come to an end. 69 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:13,000 The new owners, they're going to build a high-rise, so Lucy faces the wrecking ball. 70 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:18,000 But as news of Lucy's impending extinction spreads, residents of Bargate 71 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:21,000 are suddenly reminded of her special place in their hearts. 72 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:27,000 I think the elephant represented a part of their childhood, their heritage, their home. 73 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:32,000 They felt that Lucy and Bargate were synonymous and said, we have to do something about it. 74 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:38,000 A resident named Josephine Harren, who is now a resident of Bargate City, 75 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:40,000 we have to do something about it. 76 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:47,000 A resident named Josephine Harren gathers a group of locals and forms the Save Lucy Committee. 77 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:51,000 Together they come up with an ambitious plan. 78 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:55,000 To move Lucy from where she has stood for almost 90 years, 79 00:05:55,000 --> 00:06:01,000 two blocks away to city-owned land, where she will be forever out of any developer's reach. 80 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:05,000 Turning to the close-knit community, 81 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:09,000 the committee raises the funds needed to relocate the decrepit giant. 82 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:19,000 And on the morning of July 20th, a crowd gathers on Atlantic Avenue to witness Lucy's epic journey. 83 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:22,000 This is a task of monumental proportions. 84 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:25,000 The skeptics were saying it'll never survive the move. 85 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:30,000 There's excitement, exhilaration, nervousness beyond words. 86 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:37,000 They have to jack up all four legs and put dollies underneath them and then time together with steel. 87 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:41,000 People fear that the elephant would collapse as soon as it went off the curb. 88 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,000 It moaned and it creaked. 89 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:49,000 I think you could hear collectively everyone holding their breath. 90 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:56,000 Finally, the 90-tonne dilapidated structure inches off its base and begins to roll down the street. 91 00:06:56,000 --> 00:07:02,000 To see this six-story giant coming back to life was an amazing sight. 92 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:10,000 Lucy slowly makes the two-block journey and seven hours later, safely stands in her new home. 93 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:13,000 Everyone breathes a sigh of relief. 94 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:24,000 After extensive restorations, the superstructure is once again open to the public as a tourist attraction. 95 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:32,000 And today, Lucy, the only elephant in America to be declared a national historic landmark, 96 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:39,000 proudly stands watch over Margate City, now a popular resort thanks in part to her. 97 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:47,000 Washington, DC, the heart of American political power. 98 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:54,000 On the eastern edge of the city's majestic National Mall sits a neoclassical structure 99 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:58,000 that is one of the most iconic buildings in the world. 100 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:01,000 From the outside, it looks very much like a Roman temple. 101 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:06,000 It's partly cast iron, partly sandstone, it's partly marble, 102 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:10,000 and the dome is the most recognizable symbol of American democracy. 103 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:18,000 This is the United States Capitol building, where laws are created and presidents inaugurated. 104 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:29,000 But as Senate historian Don Ritchie can attest, it was also the site where one man threatened to bring American democracy to its knees. 105 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:36,000 This was a major attack on a federal building. The Capitol is a symbol, but that also makes it a target. 106 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:44,000 What devilish plot began with a strike on this most iconic of American institutions? 107 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:54,000 July 2, 1915, Washington, DC. All is quiet in the U.S. Capitol building. 108 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:59,000 But as midnight approaches, there is a thunderous explosion. 109 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:04,000 Initially, they thought that the Capitol dome had collapsed. 110 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:10,000 It soon discovered, however, that the source of the blast was the Senate reception room. 111 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:13,000 And the scene is one of devastation. 112 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:18,000 Windows were blown out, mirrors are broken, doors are blown off the hinges. 113 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:24,000 Moments later, Robert Boardman, the city's chief of detectives, arrives. 114 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:32,000 Initially, he didn't know, was this a bomb or was this something that had happened because of a natural explosion of some sort? 115 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:37,000 But the next morning, Boardman finds his answer. 116 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:42,000 The Washington Times has published an incredible letter it received overnight. 117 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:47,000 The letter is from someone confessing to have planted a bomb in the Capitol building. 118 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:51,000 The mystery bomber claims he is an old family member. 119 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:55,000 The mystery bomber claims he is an old-fashioned American with a conscience, 120 00:09:56,000 --> 00:10:00,000 whose intention is to prevent the U.S. from siding with the British in World War I. 121 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:07,000 That's when Boardman realized that this was an act of terrorism and that this person could strike again. 122 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:16,000 Suddenly, Detective Boardman was under a great deal of pressure to find out who did this and how they could be stopped. 123 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:24,000 While Boardman is coordinating the manhunt in Washington, he receives an urgent telegram. 124 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:32,000 Police on Long Island, New York have in their custody a man named Frank Holt, who claims to be the bomber. 125 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:39,000 And when Boardman arrives at the jail, he realizes Holt is no ordinary villain. 126 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:43,000 He's proud of his accomplishment as a bomb maker. 127 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:47,000 He says, well, I knew precisely when this bomb would go off. 128 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:52,000 And Boardman begins to realize that Frank Holt is capable of anything. 129 00:10:56,000 --> 00:11:02,000 Boardman searches Holt's belongings in a desperate attempt to discover what else the bomber may have planned. 130 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:05,000 And he finds an ominous clue. 131 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:10,000 A timetable for munitions supply ships sailing from the U.S. to Britain. 132 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:15,000 The ships were the symbol of everything that Holt was imposing. 133 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:22,000 And when Boardman asks Holt if there are bombs on the vessels, Holt's response is chilling. 134 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:26,000 He smiled and said, you'll find out on July the 7th. 135 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:33,000 That date is only three days away and the detective has no idea which ships are targeted. 136 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:39,000 With time running out, will Boardman get to the bottom of Holt's dastardly terrorist plot? 137 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:47,000 It's 1915 in Washington, D.C. 138 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:54,000 Detective Robert Boardman is interrogating the bomber who destroyed part of the Capitol, a man named Frank Holt. 139 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:59,000 But Holt reveals that the Capitol building was just the beginning. 140 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:04,000 It seems he's planted several more bombs that will detonate in three days. 141 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:09,000 So can Boardman diffuse this explosive situation? 142 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:18,000 With only 76 hours to go, Boardman believes Holt may have planted bombs on munitions ships heading for Britain. 143 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:22,000 But he has no idea which of them have been targeted. 144 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:26,000 So he frantically wires all vessels to return to port. 145 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:33,000 They really needed to find this dynamite. So there's a real crisis atmosphere that takes place. 146 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:39,000 Desperate to get more details from Holt, Boardman rushes to question him again. 147 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:44,000 But at the jail, he discovers his nemesis has yet another deadly surprise. 148 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:48,000 He finds when he gets there that Holt has committed suicide. 149 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:55,000 The best source of evidence about what Holt intended to do died with him. 150 00:12:56,000 --> 00:13:00,000 It seems the master bomb maker may have had the last laugh. 151 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:05,000 July 7th, the date Holt borned of arrives. 152 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:08,000 Boardman receives a frantic phone call. 153 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:14,000 A munitions ship, the Mini Ha Ha, has just suffered a massive explosion. 154 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:21,000 The Mini Ha Ha had six million dollars worth of cargo to be shipped to the British. 155 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:24,000 Holt's threat has come to pass. 156 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:28,000 However, because the ship's crew had received Boardman's warning, 157 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:33,000 they had readied themselves to fight the flames and the ship safely reaches port. 158 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:36,000 Holt's plot has failed. 159 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:41,000 And with no further bombings, his reign of terror is at an end. 160 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:48,000 He was capable of doing much more harm. He certainly had the explosives, but the great thing was that he was stopped. 161 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:54,000 Today, the Capitol building, while once the target of an evil terrorist plot, 162 00:13:55,000 --> 00:14:00,000 still stands as a testament to the enduring power of democracy and freedom. 163 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:11,000 Straddling southern Louisiana's Mississippi River Delta is a melting pot known for its eclectic fusion of cultures. 164 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:13,000 The city of New Orleans. 165 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:24,000 Amongst the many architectural beauties of the old French Quarter is an elegant two-story structure that is one of the area's most admired abodes. 166 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:31,000 It is made of brick with large wooden shutters and door-sized windows. 167 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:36,000 And there's a large ornate gallery with cast iron balconies. 168 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:40,000 It is considered to be one of the most desirable homes. 169 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:50,000 But as author Kalila Smith can attest, some say this creole townhouse hides a dark and sinister past. 170 00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:59,000 According to a centuries-old legend, this building was once home to a man who was believed to be one of the most evil people in history. 171 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:05,000 What devilish deeds are rumored to have occurred within these elegant walls? 172 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:10,000 1903, New Orleans, Louisiana. 173 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:16,000 The city pulsates with music, dancing and social events. 174 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:24,000 There are lavish dinner parties. People are frequenting the pubs and the saloons. It's a great time. 175 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:30,000 But one night in December, the town's darker side is revealed. 176 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:37,000 According to the story, residents in the old French Quarter are suddenly awakened by a piercing scream. 177 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:43,000 They see a woman hurling over the gallery from the house down the street. 178 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:52,000 She apparently has jumped on her own court. She is trying to escape something horrifying inside that house. 179 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:56,000 When police arrive at the scene, they're stunned by what they find. 180 00:15:57,000 --> 00:16:02,000 This woman has a gaping wound on her neck with blood gushing from it. 181 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:11,000 With her dying breaths, the woman tells authorities that she met a charming man at a local bar and was invited back to his home. 182 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:14,000 And with her back turned, he attacked her. 183 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:19,000 She said he swept up on her with abs and a gun. 184 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:26,000 She said he swept up on her with abnormal speed and with superhuman strength, he bit her on the side of the neck. 185 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:32,000 Fearing for her life, the woman then raced the balcony and jumped. 186 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:39,000 Upon concluding her horrific tale, the wounded victim loses consciousness and dies. 187 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:47,000 When police enter the attacker's house, the man is nowhere to be found. 188 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:57,000 So they start kicking back rugs and they are finding blood stains soaked down into the wooden floors. 189 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:03,000 Then in the wine cellar, they make an even more chilling discovery. 190 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:08,000 When they opened the bottles, they realized that it's a combination of red wine and human blood. 191 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:16,000 The bites on the neck, the stains on the floor and the bloody wine all point towards one macabre theory. 192 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:21,000 They speculated that perhaps this man might have been a vampire. 193 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:32,000 Who is the vicious killer that resides in this dwelling? And could he truly be a real life vampire? 194 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:38,000 It's 1903 in New Orleans. 195 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:45,000 A desperate woman has just escaped the clutches of a bloodthirsty maniac who sunk his teeth into her neck. 196 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:51,000 Police raid the suspect's home where in his wine cellar, they make a chilling find. 197 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:59,000 The bottles contain human blood. So have police stumbled onto a real life vampire? 198 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:08,000 Investigators learn that the man living in the Creole townhouse was a newcomer to the city named Jacques Saint-Germain. 199 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:15,000 Jacques Saint-Germain appeared to be a wealthy man from the south of France, about 40-45 years old. 200 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:26,000 Police also discover that the suspect claimed to be a direct descendant of a mysterious 18th century nobleman known as the Count Saint-Germain. 201 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:35,000 And some believe that there is a sinister link between the blood-sucking Jacques Saint-Germain and his ancestor, the enigmatic Count. 202 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:42,000 The Count Saint-Germain spoke several different languages. He could pick up any musical instrument and play it. 203 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:47,000 He knew everything about everything. Physics, astronomy, history. 204 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:53,000 But there was more to this 18th century aristocrat than just books and learning. 205 00:18:53,000 --> 00:19:00,000 He was a very charming, mysterious man who was believed to be hundreds of years old. 206 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:08,000 It was even rumored that his everlasting youth was due to one very special talent. 207 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:19,000 The Count Saint-Germain was an 18th century alchemist. He's got a substance that he called the elixir of life, the secret to eternal youth. 208 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:28,000 There are even reports that over the hundred years that followed, the mysterious Count was cited at a host of historical events. 209 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:34,000 People say he's at the beheading of Marie Antoinette, that he was in Egypt with Napoleon during the wars. 210 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:38,000 In the 1840s, he showed up again. 211 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:48,000 Leading some to conclude that the mysterious, ever-young aristocrat and his neck-biting, blood-drinking namesake are actually one and the same. 212 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:57,000 The police speculated that perhaps Jacques Saint-Germain was the Count Saint-Germain himself and that he was a vampire. 213 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:02,000 Maybe all along his elixir of youth was indeed human blood. 214 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:06,000 Whatever the truth, one thing is certain. 215 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:14,000 After the attack on the woman, Jacques Saint-Germain was never seen again. 216 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:18,000 And the case remains unsolved. 217 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:32,000 And today, this exquisite abode in the city's old French Quarter serves as an intriguing reminder of this blood-curdling tale of intrigue, murder and immortality. 218 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:44,000 Just an hour's drive from the Mexican border is the old mining camp of Tombstone, Arizona. 219 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:52,000 With its weathered storefronts and dusty streets, this historic pioneering town keeps the legend of the Old West alive. 220 00:20:55,000 --> 00:21:04,000 But of its many lovingly preserved buildings, there is one that stands apart, an unusually opulent structure that was once the life and soul of the town. 221 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:11,000 It has sculpted metal tiles and is actually a beautiful example of classic Victorian architecture. 222 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:15,000 At one time, it was one of the most luxurious places in town. 223 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:20,000 Dating back to 1880, this is the Oriental Saloon. 224 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:31,000 Yet according to historian Don Taylor, this elegant establishment was also at the heart of an amazing story of bloodshed murder and innovation. 225 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:39,000 It's one of the most intriguing tales of the American West and what is absolutely stunning is that it began from a small piece of fabric. 226 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:49,000 So what eye-opening discovery was made at this infamous tavern? And how did it inspire an ingenious life-saving invention? 227 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:55,000 1893, Chicago, Illinois. 228 00:21:56,000 --> 00:22:01,000 A young priest named Kazimierz Zeglund has recently arrived from Poland. 229 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:07,000 In a city plagued by violence and crime, he is on a mission to bring peace. 230 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:16,000 And it isn't long before a devastating event gives the hopeful Zeglund an idea as to how to make his mark. 231 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:19,000 The mayor of Chicago was shot and killed. 232 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:27,000 This was the third such incident in the last 40 years where a major politician was assassinated by a bullet. 233 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:35,000 Zeglund is deeply saddened by the tragic loss and wonders if there might be a way to prevent such senseless death. 234 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:42,000 Zeglund was inspired to develop a bulletproof garment that would protect people from gunshot wounds. 235 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:45,000 The young priest begins experimenting with various materials. 236 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:54,000 He was using steel, moss, wood shavings, trying to come up with the one item that would stop the penetration of the bullet. 237 00:22:55,000 --> 00:23:03,000 But none of them are a match for the immense force of a gunshot. It seems his noble quest is doomed to fail. 238 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:17,000 Then the frustrated inventor stumbles upon a medical journal from the 1880s that contains an intriguing article by a physician in Tombstone, Arizona named Dr. George Goodfellow. 239 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:27,000 George Goodfellow was an expert on gunshot wounds. Most victims of gunplay would seek him out believing that they would have a better chance of survival. 240 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:39,000 The article describes how on one particular night in 1881 the doctor was passing by the Oriental Saloon when a confrontation spilled out onto the streets. 241 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:48,000 Two gamblers were only about six to eight feet apart and then Dr. Goodfellow sees two shots fired by one of them. 242 00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:57,000 Goodfellow rushed to the aid of the fallen victim, but it was too late. 243 00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:06,000 There were two bullet holes in the suit coat and one of them was actually through the breast pocket where the bullet penetrated his heart and killed him. 244 00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:12,000 But then the physician spotted something stuffed inside the bullet wound. 245 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:22,000 And that wound was a handkerchief and as he removed it, Goodfellow found that the bullet was actually wrapped in the handkerchief. 246 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:32,000 The bullet had penetrated the fabric of the suit coat and also the muscle, the skin, the bone, but it had not penetrated the handkerchief. 247 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:36,000 The small bit of cloth was completely intact. 248 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:39,000 Goodfellow described it as miraculous. 249 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:44,000 How did a simple piece of fabric withstand the force of a speeding bullet? 250 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:58,000 It's 1893, Chicago, when inventor Kazemir Zeglin sets out to create a bulletproof garment. 251 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:01,000 It seems his quest is doomed to fail. 252 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:14,000 But hope arrives when he stumbles across a decade old article from Tombstone, Arizona that describes an amazing fabric that can supposedly withstand the impact of a speeding bullet. 253 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:17,000 So what is this miracle fiber? 254 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:28,000 Zeglin digs deeper into Goodfellow's research and finds that the strange discovery the doctor made outside the Oriental Saloon was not an isolated incident. 255 00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:36,000 The doctor also cataloged other gunshot cases in which a bullet was apparently repelled simply by delicate cloth. 256 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:45,000 One of the victims was actually shot in the neck, but his scarf prevented the bullet from penetrating his carotid artery, basically saving his life. 257 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:51,000 And when Goodfellow compared the incidents, he found a startling similarity. 258 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:56,000 There's one common denominator and that's the fabric. They were all native silk. 259 00:25:57,000 --> 00:26:06,000 Goodfellow postulates that several layers of silk may have the ability to actually stop a bullet from penetrating a human body. 260 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:16,000 Yet without the resources to test his theory, Goodfellow simply recorded his findings in the medical journal that Zeglin now holds in his hands. 261 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:25,000 Inspired by Goodfellow's discovery, Zeglin believes he finally has the key to producing his life-saving garment. 262 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:33,000 He develops a four-ply fabric of silk and with it created a vest. 263 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:43,000 The young inventor conducts a series of trials and in each one, a speeding bullet fails to penetrate the fabric. 264 00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:50,000 Then in July of 1897, he performs the ultimate test and slips on the vest. 265 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:57,000 He was actually shot from about 10 feet away with a .32 caliber revolver. 266 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:06,000 All he said was he felt the tap of the bullet. 267 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:10,000 At last, Zeglin has achieved his quest. 268 00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:13,000 He had created the first bulletproof vest. 269 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:24,000 Zeglin's invention becomes an overnight sensation and in 1898, he introduces the world's first commercially available bulletproof vest. 270 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:31,000 For 40 years, silk is the primary material used in personal body armor. 271 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:45,000 And today, the Oriental Saloon in Tombstone's historic district still stands as a reminder of a notorious shootout that inspired this life-saving invention. 272 00:27:50,000 --> 00:28:00,000 Los Angeles, California. Rising from humble beginnings more than a century ago, L.A.'s movie industry now grosses over $10 billion a year. 273 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:13,000 But in a lonely gorge some 15 miles west of Tinseltown is a collection of dilapidated buildings that were the site of one of the darkest chapters in the region's history. 274 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:26,000 There's a power station, an old garage, a huge water tank. It's not a residence or a place of business. It's this odd netherworld. 275 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:40,000 This is Murphy Ranch. And as local historian Randy Young can attest, these abandoned structures were once home to a sinister group held bent on world domination. 276 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:47,000 They were people who felt strong, but these strong beliefs were very dangerous. 277 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:56,000 What role did Murphy Ranch play in an astonishing plot that threatened to destroy the United States from within? 278 00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:12,000 December 1941, Los Angeles. Police receive reports from residents in Rustic Canyon of suspicious activity at one of the area's most isolated spots, Murphy Ranch. 279 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:21,000 The Murphy Ranch was this mysterious place in the woods. They had barbed wire, they had chain link fences. 280 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:30,000 Police learn that a group of people have been spotted on the ranch and they seem to be carrying out strange military maneuvers. 281 00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:39,000 There were sinister, really crazy people marching around doing drills. It just is odd. 282 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:49,000 On December 8th, federal agents raid Murphy Ranch. But as they cross the perimeter, they are stunned by what they find. 283 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:58,000 Living there are approximately 50 people who appear to all be wearing the same militaristic uniform. 284 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:02,000 They were marching around in silver shirts with a big red L on it. 285 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:09,000 Not only that, but they look to be subsisting in an extensive, seemingly fortified compound. 286 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:15,000 The police see these huge concrete substantial structures that look like bomb shelters. 287 00:30:16,000 --> 00:30:23,000 A huge 400,000 gallon water tank. They see a power station that could light up a small city. 288 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:28,000 It looked like a self-supporting survivalist camp. 289 00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:37,000 Who are these people and why have they built a self-sufficient compound in the shadow of the Hollywood Hills? 290 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:53,000 December 1941, authorities have uncovered evidence of a secret community operating out of an isolated ranch some 15 miles west of Los Angeles. 291 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:59,000 But when they raid the compound, they find the beginnings of a self-sufficient militant cult. 292 00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:05,000 So who are these fanatics and what dastardly scheme are they plotting? 293 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:12,000 The answer can be found a decade earlier on the other side of the country. 294 00:31:14,000 --> 00:31:17,000 January 1933, Asheville, North Carolina. 295 00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:28,000 43-year-old William Dudley Pelley is an unsuccessful screenwriter who blames his failures on one particular scapegoat, the Jews. 296 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:34,000 He would write these treatises to crying Jewish power within the world. 297 00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:40,000 And Pelley finds a kindred spirit in another anti-Semite across the globe. 298 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:42,000 Adolf Hitler. 299 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:59,000 When he heard Adolf Hitler's speech, it was in January 1933, he had an epiphany that he was going to be a part of Adolf Hitler's idea of cleaning things up. 300 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:06,000 Spurred on by Hitler's Nazi doctrine. 301 00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:09,000 This is our country as well and we can make it happen. 302 00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:15,000 Pelley forms the Silver Legion of America in the hope that they will one day rule the country. 303 00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:25,000 His vision was Nazi encampments across America that would one day take over the government of the United States. 304 00:32:26,000 --> 00:32:39,000 The Legion quickly swells to 15,000 members and an additional 75,000 non-affiliated sympathizers, making it one of the largest and most powerful extremist groups in the U.S. 305 00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:48,000 And just like Hitler's brown shirts, the members of the Silver Legion of America also wear a distinctive uniform. 306 00:32:49,000 --> 00:32:58,000 It was a silver shirt with a big red L that was supposed to be a symbol of loyalty for his legions. 307 00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:09,000 But in 1935, just as the silver shirts are gaining influence, Pelley is convicted of stock fraud. 308 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:15,000 When he was arrested, everything started to fall apart. Everybody abandoned him. 309 00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:23,000 So with Pelley out of the picture, who is behind the silver shirts community at Murphy Ranch? 310 00:33:24,000 --> 00:33:26,000 And what is the purpose of this vast compound? 311 00:33:28,000 --> 00:33:35,000 Investigations reveal that the ranch's construction may be linked to the man who fueled Pelley's fascist obsession. 312 00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:38,000 Adolf Hitler. 313 00:33:39,000 --> 00:33:48,000 Adolf Hitler and his followers felt that the minute England started losing the war, Hitler would put military pressure on the United States. 314 00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:53,000 The American government was going to collapse and anarchy would break out. 315 00:33:54,000 --> 00:34:01,000 Some suggest that the Los Angeles compound was designed as a base for a fascist government, allied with Hitler. 316 00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:03,000 That would one day rule America. 317 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:15,000 The followers of the Silver Legions of America thought that Murphy Ranch was very much to be a future facility for a fascist government. 318 00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:23,000 But without concrete evidence, the true purpose of this sinister construction may never be known. 319 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:27,000 We have a tough time trying to figure out what was realness. 320 00:34:27,000 --> 00:34:33,000 People don't want to come up to you and say, gosh, I was a Nazi and let me tell you all about it. 321 00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:44,000 And today, here at Murphy Ranch, only a few remnants of the super compound remain after a devastating wildfire in 1978. 322 00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:56,000 But these mysterious ruins still serve as a chilling reminder that Hitler's fascism once had a home base in the United States. 323 00:34:58,000 --> 00:35:08,000 From classic historic brownstones to contemporary steel towers, New York boasts a remarkably diverse collection of architectural gems. 324 00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:21,000 And at the southern tip of Manhattan stands a notably opulent and important structure, a century old Italian Renaissance behemoth that is essential to the city's survival. 325 00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:26,000 It's built entirely of golden limestone. 326 00:35:27,000 --> 00:35:33,000 It has 25 floors in its main core and another 15 in its tower. 327 00:35:34,000 --> 00:35:35,000 It's beautiful. 328 00:35:36,000 --> 00:35:41,000 This is the Manhattan Municipal Building, one of the largest government structures in the world. 329 00:35:42,000 --> 00:35:52,000 But according to author Deborah Blunk, this impressive monolith was also at the center of a terrifying tale of panic, delirium and death. 330 00:35:53,000 --> 00:35:58,000 It's home to one of the most important public health mysteries in the United States. 331 00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:06,000 What role did this landmark play in an astounding medical scandal that sparked national outrage? 332 00:36:07,000 --> 00:36:10,000 1924, New York. 333 00:36:11,000 --> 00:36:20,000 Charles Norris is the city's first appointed chief medical examiner and is charged with investigating any suspicious or unusual deaths in the area. 334 00:36:21,000 --> 00:36:30,000 From his base at the Manhattan Municipal Building, he has transformed the forensics department into one of the most sophisticated laboratories in the country. 335 00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:36,000 Norris was a completely incorruptible medical examiner. 336 00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:43,000 He would take on anyone who he thought was getting in the way of public health. He was fearless. 337 00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:48,000 But Norris is about to face his biggest adversary yet. 338 00:36:49,000 --> 00:36:56,000 In late October, he receives a request from the city's district attorney to investigate a local factory. 339 00:36:57,000 --> 00:37:03,000 He says to Norris, there were reports of these mysterious deaths at the Standard Oil Refinery. 340 00:37:05,000 --> 00:37:11,000 Founded in 1870, Standard Oil is one of the most powerful oil producers in the country. 341 00:37:12,000 --> 00:37:22,000 But Norris learns that out of 49 workers at the nearby New Jersey plant, 32 have been hospitalized and five have died in the last year alone. 342 00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:26,000 All struck down by a strange and frightening illness. 343 00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:36,000 They were becoming unusually unstable, stumbling around, even hallucinating. 344 00:37:37,000 --> 00:37:43,000 Some of these men are so sick and so crazy that they literally have to be strapped into straight jackets. 345 00:37:45,000 --> 00:37:51,000 Employees have become so terrified of the plant, they've even given it a nickname. 346 00:37:52,000 --> 00:37:54,000 The Looney Gas Building. 347 00:37:55,000 --> 00:38:00,000 Yet despite these alarming figures, Standard Oil denies there is a problem. 348 00:38:00,000 --> 00:38:07,000 Their position was that it must be the workers' fault. They said these workers were apparently not up to a man's job. 349 00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:09,000 A real man wouldn't have gotten sick. 350 00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:17,000 Appalled by the company's callous response, Norris resolves to uncover the origins of the mysterious condition. 351 00:38:17,000 --> 00:38:22,000 He knows there's something in this building that's poisoning these men and making them crazy. 352 00:38:23,000 --> 00:38:31,000 With the plant's operations temporarily suspended, Norris begins his investigations by arranging a detailed inspection. 353 00:38:32,000 --> 00:38:36,000 And there's one thing about the factory that stands out, the odor. 354 00:38:37,000 --> 00:38:44,000 It was a musty, curiously sweet, unique smell. It was a clone. 355 00:38:45,000 --> 00:38:51,000 Has Norris found the key to solving the mystery of this bizarre and fatal illness? 356 00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:58,000 1924, New York. 357 00:38:58,000 --> 00:39:09,000 Chief medical examiner Charles Norris is investigating reports that workers at the Standard Oil refinery are being struck down by a disease that causes insanity and even death. 358 00:39:10,000 --> 00:39:18,000 Standard Oil has publicly denied there is a problem, but an inspection of the facility reveals a strange smell emanating from the equipment. 359 00:39:19,000 --> 00:39:24,000 What is this odor? And could it have something to do with what's killing the workers? 360 00:39:26,000 --> 00:39:30,000 He picked up this sweet, musty smell. It was a clone. 361 00:39:30,000 --> 00:39:34,000 Back at the lab, Norris and his colleagues test the samples. 362 00:39:34,000 --> 00:39:45,000 As they analyze them, they find this repeated pattern. It's three chemicals, carbon, hydrogen and lead. 363 00:39:46,000 --> 00:39:54,000 And because Norris knows the chemistry of toxic compounds, he recognizes this one. It's called tetraethyl lead. 364 00:39:55,000 --> 00:40:06,000 Tetraethyl lead, or TEL, is an additive that boosts the efficiency of fuel and is a key ingredient in Standard Oil's gasoline. 365 00:40:07,000 --> 00:40:13,000 Norris realizes the substance emits the same musty odor that was detected back in the plant. 366 00:40:13,000 --> 00:40:22,000 And when he performs autopsies on the deceased workers, it becomes clear that TEL, in particular the lead it contains, 367 00:40:22,000 --> 00:40:24,000 has had a devastating effect. 368 00:40:27,000 --> 00:40:34,000 He could see a pattern of destruction. Essentially, this chemical was chewing through their brains. 369 00:40:36,000 --> 00:40:43,000 Noting the cause of death as extreme lead poisoning, Norris writes a report calling for TEL to be banned. 370 00:40:43,000 --> 00:40:48,000 Standard Oil is furious and they realize that they have to turn this around. 371 00:40:49,000 --> 00:40:55,000 To prove that TEL is safe, its developer, Thomas Midgley, calls a press conference. 372 00:40:55,000 --> 00:40:58,000 To assure you these accusations are completely preposterous. 373 00:40:59,000 --> 00:41:08,000 Midgley washes his hands in a bowl of TEL and leans over the bowl so these vapors are rising up and he's entailing them. 374 00:41:09,000 --> 00:41:12,000 Nothing. No nausea, no layheadness. 375 00:41:12,000 --> 00:41:19,000 He's trying to send a message to the American public. They have nothing to worry about at all with leaded guests. 376 00:41:22,000 --> 00:41:29,000 But a few months after the P.E.R. stunt, it emerges that Midgley has had to take an extended leave of absence. 377 00:41:29,000 --> 00:41:35,000 Midgley starts developing symptoms of lead poisoning and has to go and be treated. 378 00:41:36,000 --> 00:41:41,000 Based on Norris' damning report, New York City bans TEL. 379 00:41:41,000 --> 00:41:46,000 Days later, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and the state of New Jersey follow suit. 380 00:41:47,000 --> 00:41:56,000 Norris has discovered late the groundwork for being able to detect lead poisoning in victims that we still use today. 381 00:41:57,000 --> 00:42:12,000 And almost a hundred years later, the Manhattan Municipal Building stands as a reminder of the fearless investigator who took on an industry giant to help make the world a safer place. 382 00:42:14,000 --> 00:42:23,000 From a sinister military cult to a terrifying bout of madness, a blood-sucking aristocrat to a mammoth roadside attraction. 383 00:42:23,000 --> 00:42:28,000 I'm Don Wildman and these are Monumental Mysteries.