1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,000 An architectural auditing on the brink of collapse. 2 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:10,000 The fate of Italy's national treasure depended on one man. 3 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:13,000 A master thief who robbed the rich and famous. 4 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:19,000 He robbed Bob Hope, Phyllis Diller, even Tarzan himself. 5 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:23,000 And a literary giant tied to a baffling scourge. 6 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:28,000 Shakespeare inspired an environmental catastrophe in this country. 7 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:32,000 Sometimes the greatest secrets lie in plain sight. 8 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,000 These are the mysteries of the monument. 9 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:49,000 Central Park has over 840 acres of meadows and ponds, 10 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:53,000 making it one of the most popular destinations in New York City. 11 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:58,000 Completed in 1863 as America's first landscaped public space, 12 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:03,000 this urban oasis is a breathtaking blend of nature and design. 13 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:11,000 But among its man-made treasures, one imposing bronze sculpture stands apart. 14 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:14,000 This statue is about 17 feet tall. 15 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:18,000 He's holding a book and he's deep in thought. 16 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:23,000 And it depicts a rather dignified Elizabethan figure. 17 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:26,000 This is a statue of William Shakespeare. 18 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:31,000 It was donated in 1872 by the Shakespeare Tri-Sentennial Committee 19 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:34,000 to honor the legendary playwright. 20 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:38,000 But according to writer Steve Mersky, 21 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:41,000 Shakespeare left an unexpected legacy of his own 22 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:44,000 that reaches far beyond his body of work. 23 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:50,000 Shakespeare has inspired what some people consider to be an environmental catastrophe in this country. 24 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:56,000 October 4th, 1960, Boston, Massachusetts. 25 00:01:56,000 --> 00:02:02,000 On this clear fall evening, emergency crews respond to a devastating scene north of Logan Airport. 26 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:08,000 Eastern Airlines Flight 375 has just plunged into Boston Harbor. 27 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:14,000 Tragically, of the 72 people on board, only 10 survive. 28 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:20,000 In the aftermath, investigators try to uncover the cause of the disaster. 29 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:25,000 Little do they know that it has its roots in the previous century. 30 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:30,000 The tale begins in 1890, New York. 31 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:35,000 An eccentric man named Eugene Sheffelin belongs to a group of amateur naturalists 32 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:39,000 called the American Aclimatization Society. 33 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:42,000 But that's not Sheffelin's only passion. 34 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:48,000 He was a big fan of theater and of a particular writer 35 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:53,000 who mentioned birds a lot in his writings, Shakespeare. 36 00:02:55,000 --> 00:03:02,000 So to honor his literary hero, Sheffelin proposes an ambitious scheme to his fellow naturalists. 37 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:06,000 He thought it would be nifty if we could bring over to this country 38 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:10,000 every bird mentioned in all the writings of Shakespeare. 39 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:18,000 Thrilled by the novel plan, the group begins to import birds from Europe. 40 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:26,000 Most of the feathered newcomers fail to thrive when released into the alien city. 41 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:32,000 But there's one species whose arrival will have ramifications that nobody could predict. 42 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:36,000 As Sheffelin works his way through Shakespeare's plays, 43 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:43,000 he arrives at one of the playwright's most celebrated dramas, Henry IV, Part 1. 44 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:49,000 There's one line in which a character cites starlings, and that was enough for Sheffelin. 45 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:52,000 We gotta get us some starlings here, too. 46 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:56,000 The hopeful members release 60 starlings in Central Park, 47 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:59,000 and the birds thrive in their adoptive home. 48 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:02,000 These birds loved New York. 49 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:06,000 They started to reproduce and expand their territory. 50 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:11,000 Over time, starlings spread beyond the borders of New York 51 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:15,000 and soon come to blanket the continent, from the East Coast to the West, 52 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:17,000 and from Canada to Mexico. 53 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:24,000 But as their population increases, many begin to regard the creatures as tremendous pests. 54 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:29,000 Starlings are bossy little birds. They're pretty aggressive. 55 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:36,000 They will roost in the millions and even flock in a group of a million or a million and a half. 56 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:45,000 They were thought to be responsible for the demise of other species in the United States, like the Sapsucker. 57 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:48,000 But the damage doesn't end there. 58 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:54,000 With the rise of air travel, these winged pests begin interfering with airplanes. 59 00:04:56,000 --> 00:05:02,000 After Eastern Airlines Flight 375 goes down in Boston Harbor in October 1960, 60 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:07,000 investigators trace the cause of the crash to a massive flock of starlings. 61 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:15,000 It seems that seconds after takeoff, the jet had collided with thousands of birds and sucked them into its engines. 62 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:23,000 The flock interfered with a turboprop causing the crash of the airplane. 63 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:27,000 It is the deadliest bird strike in aviation history. 64 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:33,000 I'm sure Sheffelin thought he was doing a lovely thing for the city by bringing these birds over. 65 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:37,000 But the Climateization Society and Sheffelin were not scientists. 66 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:41,000 They didn't know what they were doing from an environmental point of view. 67 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:50,000 Today, starlings still thrive in Central Park, where this statue of William Shakespeare endures 68 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:57,000 as a testament to the way in which the Bard has inspired lovers of the written word and admirers of the winged bird. 69 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:07,000 In the heart of Italy is the picturesque region of Tuscany. 70 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:12,000 With its lush vineyards and chatting piazzas and Romanesque gems, 71 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:17,000 the area brings in nearly 47 million visitors each year. 72 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:26,000 But perhaps the most popular attraction here is a stunning example of medieval engineering gone wrong. 73 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:32,000 It's 180 feet tall. It tilts almost 15 feet toward the south. 74 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:36,000 And it has six levels of colonnades that have small arched openings. 75 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,000 It's almost wedding cake-like in its quality. 76 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:47,000 This is the Leaning Tower of Pisa, an ancient bell tower that has stood for eight centuries. 77 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:55,000 But according to engineer Kathleen Dunn, this architectural oddity was once on the brink of total collapse. 78 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:01,000 The fate of Italy's national treasure depended on one man. 79 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:08,000 1995, Tuscany, Italy. 80 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:14,000 For centuries, the Leaning Tower of Pisa has been drawing in crowds with its unique slant. 81 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:18,000 The crooked structure was built on unstable ground. 82 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:25,000 And since its creation, the incline has been increasing each year. 83 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:29,000 But now the situation has reached a tipping point. 84 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:35,000 Engineers fear the Leaning Tower of Pisa might fall down. 85 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,000 The problem was accelerating. 86 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:43,000 The prime minister was very worried and had to close the tower to tourists. 87 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:48,000 The task of preventing this disaster falls to a special 14-member committee 88 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:52,000 led by a prominent British professor named John Burland. 89 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:56,000 John Burland is the quintessential engineer. 90 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:59,000 He's not afraid to take on any problem. 91 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:05,000 No matter what obstacles are put in place, he goes right to figuring out the solution. 92 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:09,000 The mission will put Burland's sterling reputation to the test. 93 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:14,000 If he succeeds, then he's known as the man who saves the Leaning Tower of Pisa. 94 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:20,000 His team consists of engineers, architects, and art historians. 95 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:26,000 With such a diverse group, tensions are high from the start. 96 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:31,000 There's an enormous debate about how to stabilize the tower. 97 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:36,000 Professor Burland finds that the other members of the committee have different backgrounds, 98 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:42,000 different interests, and different ideas of what it means to save the Leaning Tower of Pisa. 99 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:50,000 And the longer the tower remains closed, the more the community suffers. 100 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:58,000 With tourism already down by 45%, the pressure to solve the problem is huge. 101 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:05,000 The whole idea that the Leaning Tower is no longer this destination is just devastating. 102 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:13,000 Then, later that year, the team finally comes up with a plan to save the tower. 103 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:17,000 Attach 10 underground steel anchors to its base. 104 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:25,000 They install 10 drilled anchors on the north side of the tower to stop it from leaning further to the south. 105 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:33,000 But little do Burland and his colleagues know they are making a devastating mistake. 106 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:37,000 On September 7th, 1995, disaster strikes. 107 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:43,000 Overnight, the tower lurches southward by a sixteenth of an inch. 108 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:51,000 Sixteenth of an inch doesn't sound very dramatic, but it was more than it had moved in the entire year before. 109 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:53,000 It was very bad news indeed. 110 00:09:54,000 --> 00:10:01,000 Burland realizes that by installing the anchors, they created a series of dangerous voids underground. 111 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:05,000 The tower settled into one of the voids and that's what created the lurch. 112 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:11,000 With the pride of Pisa at greater risk than ever before, the public is enraged. 113 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:19,000 When the team is driven into Pisa to look at the damage, the locals are so infuriated they pelt the cars with tomatoes. 114 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:26,000 Unless Burland comes up with another solution, the World Heritage Site will topple over. 115 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:32,000 This would be a devastating loss not just for the country, but for the entire world. 116 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:36,000 It's 1995 in Italy. 117 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:46,000 When the Leaning Tower of Pisa is reported to be near collapse, British engineer John Burland and a team of experts undertake the challenge to try and save it. 118 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:52,000 But their recent solution has just plunged the tower into more jeopardy than ever before. 119 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:58,000 So can Burland and his team save one of Italy's most cherished landmarks? 120 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:08,000 After weeks of agonizing, Burland proposes a radical solution. 121 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:12,000 Remove soil from under the tower. 122 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:15,000 The committee is stunned. 123 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:22,000 Some members argue that extracting so much earth will only increase the tower's tilt and cause it to tumble. 124 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:25,000 This solution was counter-intuitive. 125 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:30,000 All the previous solutions pretty much were based on the idea of bringing the south side up. 126 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:36,000 But Burland predicts that lowering the north side will cause the tower to level off at the base. 127 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:39,000 This was a revolutionary idea. 128 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:45,000 Yet with no other option, the team agrees to give Burland's audacious plan a try. 129 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:50,000 And in 1999, they put his idea to the test. 130 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:54,000 It took two years of extractions. 131 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:56,000 It took 70 tons of soil. 132 00:11:57,000 --> 00:11:59,000 This was a monumental task. 133 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:04,000 But in the end, it was a resounding success. 134 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:11,000 The tower is returned to a stable position, but one that still preserves its signature lean. 135 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:19,000 And in June of 2001, the committee proclaims the beloved monument is safe for at least another 200 years. 136 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:24,000 I think Professor Burland was delighted with the whole operation. 137 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:28,000 He was the man who managed to save the Leaning Tower of Pisa. 138 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:36,000 And today, this miraculous structure still stands askew as a testament to one man's ingenuity and dedication. 139 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:40,000 And to the lengths people will go to save a national treasure. 140 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:46,000 Portsmouth, New Hampshire. 141 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:51,000 The proud tradition of shipbuilding in this coastal city dates back to colonial days. 142 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:57,000 Today, the town is still home to one of just four military shipyards in the nation. 143 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:05,000 And here at the Portsmouth Navy Yard stands an example of the area's finest work. 144 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:11,000 It is gray. It is about 15 feet tall, 45 feet long. 145 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:16,000 Made of steel and there are little tiny paintings along the side. 146 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:19,000 This is the USS Squaless Memorial. 147 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:25,000 It was constructed from the tower of a World War II submarine that patrolled the Pacific. 148 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:33,000 But as historian J. Dennis Robinson can attest, the vessel's most perilous voyage occurred much closer to home. 149 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:38,000 Because of this event, suddenly 59 lives were hanging in the balance. 150 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:41,000 What happened was the Navy's worst nightmare. 151 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:48,000 May 1939. 152 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:55,000 With World War II looming, President Franklin Roosevelt is building up America's arsenal. 153 00:13:56,000 --> 00:14:06,000 Among the country's most potent weapons are a new line of state-of-the-art submarines housed at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, including the just completed USS Squaless. 154 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:12,000 So these new submarines, they were bigger, they were faster. 155 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:14,000 They could dive deeper, they could stay under longer. 156 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:22,000 Before the Squaless can be deployed, it must undergo a series of trial dives that simulate actual combat scenarios. 157 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:30,000 And on May 23rd, the 59-man crew is preparing for the vessel's final and most dangerous test. 158 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:34,000 An emergency battle descent known as the Crash Dive. 159 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:38,000 So the critical test simulates an enemy attack. 160 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:44,000 The Squaless has to hit its top speed and dive to about 50 feet. 161 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:47,000 And it has to do this in 60 seconds. 162 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:52,000 The steep dive will place a massive strain on the vessel's mechanics. 163 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:58,000 As the sub begins its plunge, everything seems to go according to plan. 164 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:05,000 They go under and everything is perfect. 165 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:08,000 The Squaless quickly descends to 50 feet. 166 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:16,000 But as the craft starts to level off, the sailors in the control room receive alarming news from the stern. 167 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:19,000 Call comes in from the engine room. 168 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:21,000 It is flooding. 169 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:26,000 The crew rushes to seal off the flooded stern from the rest of the vessel. 170 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:28,000 But it's no use. 171 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:33,000 As the back half of the sub fills with water, the power cuts out. 172 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:38,000 The Squaless sinks to the ocean floor. 173 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:42,000 They're resting on the bottom of the ocean. 174 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:46,000 They're trapped 240 feet below the surface. 175 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:51,000 In the vessel's front compartments are 33 men who are still alive. 176 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:55,000 The other 26 in the back are presumed dead. 177 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:04,000 The stranded survivors release a three-foot-toll distress buoy. 178 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:06,000 There's sole hope for a rescue. 179 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:11,000 Tethered to the sub by a cable, the beacon floats to the surface. 180 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:16,000 On it is a sign saying, Submarine sunk here. 181 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:22,000 But until a passing ship spots the buoy, the crew will literally be holding their breath. 182 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:28,000 With each exhalation, the men are adding toxic carbon dioxide to their limited air supply. 183 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:33,000 They have maybe two days of oxygen and the clock was ticking. 184 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:41,000 May 23, 1939, 10 miles off the coast of New Hampshire, 185 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:46,000 a disaster aboard the submarine has left 26 men presumed dead 186 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:51,000 and 33 more stranded in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. 187 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:55,000 With oxygen running low, the crew is growing desperate. 188 00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:59,000 So will they somehow survive this underwater nightmare? 189 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:04,000 When the squalus fails to report back to base, 190 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:08,000 the Navy dispatches a search party to find the missing sub. 191 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:13,000 Just before 1 p.m., five hours after the vessel disappeared, 192 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:16,000 the group spots the distress buoy. 193 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:19,000 But the rescue team now faces a bigger problem. 194 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:26,000 No Submariner has ever been saved from a sunken submarine below 20 feet. 195 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:34,000 To lead the rescue, the Navy calls in Lieutenant Commander Charles Momsen, 196 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:38,000 the head of its experimental deep-sea diving program. 197 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:45,000 Charles Momsen had been for years developing ways to escape from submerged submarines. 198 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:54,000 Momsen presents a bold plan centered around a large steel diving bell of his own design. 199 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:59,000 The diving bell is a hollowed-out tank that could be lowered down theoretically, 200 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:06,000 attached to the squalus, and the men could escape through a hatch into the bell and up to the surface. 201 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:08,000 But it's never been done. 202 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:11,000 The untested procedure is extremely risky. 203 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:16,000 If the seal between the submarine and the chamber isn't airtight, 204 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:19,000 both vessels could instantly flood. 205 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:23,000 Yet with few options, the Navy is ready to give it a try. 206 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:27,000 Just before noon, Momsen watches as the chamber, 207 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:32,000 manned by two of his best divers, disappears under the water. 208 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:37,000 No one knows what's going to happen when they reach the squalus. 209 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:40,000 It has been underwater for a day. 210 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:47,000 But then, an hour later, the diving bell emerges. 211 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:51,000 Suddenly, the diving bell breaks the surface, 212 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:55,000 out comes the first survivors of the squalus. 213 00:18:57,000 --> 00:18:59,000 A huge tear arose. 214 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:06,000 Over the next several hours, the bell makes three more trips to retrieve the other sailors. 215 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:10,000 All 33 survivors are brought back from the brink of death. 216 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:15,000 The moment marks the first rescue of a submerged submarine in history. 217 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:20,000 Momsen, of course, is over the moon. 218 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:22,000 This is unprecedented. 219 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:27,000 The American public who had been following this hailed this as one of the greatest events in the 20th century. 220 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:37,000 In the months following the disaster, the squalus is salvaged, repaired, and renamed the USS Sailfish. 221 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:41,000 The refurbished vessel returns to sea during World War II. 222 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:49,000 After the submarine is decommissioned in 1946, its conning tower is brought back to the Portsmouth Navy Yard, 223 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:54,000 an apt memorial for this tale of tragedy and triumph at sea. 224 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:01,000 Las Vegas, Nevada. 225 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:09,000 With over 75 casinos, it's no wonder that the city's gaming industry generates over $6 billion a year. 226 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:19,000 And on the southern tip of the famed Vegas Strip stands a monument that embodies the town's allure. 227 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:25,000 It's about 25 feet tall, about 20 feet wide, made out of metal and plastic. 228 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:28,000 It has lights around the edges that are solar powered. 229 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:32,000 On the front it reads, welcome to fabulous Las Vegas. 230 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:39,000 This iconic sign greets thousands of hopeful guests to the gambling capital of the world every day. 231 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:50,000 But according to retired gaming agent James Floyd Edwards, there's one visitor who, in his quest for fortune, cheated his way to riches. 232 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:57,000 This man was behind one of the longest running scams and schemes in the history of Las Vegas. 233 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:04,000 1990, Las Vegas. 234 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:12,000 40-year-old Oklahoma native Tommy Carmichael has moved to Sin City to chase a lucrative new profession. 235 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:22,000 Tommy Carmichael was the television repair man. His business was struggling, so he decided to take up a career in slot machine cheating. 236 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:28,000 The one-time TV shop owner knows that gaming the system won't be easy. 237 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:34,000 The newest slot machines are designed to thwart fake coins and other known cheating devices. 238 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:37,000 But Carmichael has a unique talent. 239 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:43,000 Because of his background as a television repair man, Tommy was a good tinkerer. 240 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:50,000 He understood mechanics, so he decided to create a device that would cheat the new version of a slot machine. 241 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:58,000 He begins by purchasing one of the latest slot machines and carefully taking it apart. 242 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:05,000 Only by understanding its complex inner workings can he develop a tool sophisticated enough to dupe the machine. 243 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:14,000 It's a difficult task, but I don't think Tommy Carmichael is the kind of guy that would just give up. He wanted to beat the house. 244 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:22,000 The cunning technician finally identifies a weak spot, the counter that tracks the number of coins being paid out. 245 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:29,000 He realizes that by triggering a switch, he can trick the counter into spewing out a mountain of money. 246 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:43,000 Day after day Carmichael perfects the gadget he dubs, the monkey paw, the small tool capable of snaking through the machine to hoodwink the payout switch. 247 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:51,000 The monkey paw is fabricated out of ring steel. At one end it has a V-shaped notch along the edge. 248 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:56,000 There's some piano wire that allows for the bending of the tip as it's inserted into the machine. 249 00:22:57,000 --> 00:23:04,000 It's that type of attention to work in detail. The device that Tommy created, so remarkable. 250 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:14,000 Finally, after months of practice Carmichael is ready to put his gadget to the test in a casino. 251 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:24,000 It was very important that Tommy avoided detection. When he visited the casino, he looked for where the cameras were located and where the exits were. 252 00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:32,000 Trying to be inconspicuous, he takes a seat at a slot machine and inserts the monkey paw into the coin chute. 253 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:40,000 In order for Tommy to use this device, he would have had to be subtle, quick and proficient. 254 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:45,000 Maneuvering the wire, he finally locates the switch that disables the counter. 255 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:52,000 He then trips the toggle and hits the jackpot. 256 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:56,000 Tommy was elated and was quite the rush. 257 00:23:57,000 --> 00:24:05,000 Over the next few years Carmichael continues to beat the house, making up to $1,000 an hour. 258 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:10,000 He was making very good money, enough to support a fairly extravagant lifestyle. 259 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:16,000 Fancy cars, eating well, drinking, just partying up nicely. 260 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:24,000 Yet in spite of his lavish lifestyle, Carmichael isn't satisfied. He wants more. 261 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:29,000 And he soon sees an opportunity to achieve his goal. 262 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:35,000 By selling his invention to other slot machine cheats for up to $10,000 a piece. 263 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:43,000 By 1999, Carmichael's devices are rinsing casinos of millions of dollars a year. 264 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:45,000 Everything was going his way. 265 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:50,000 But how long can this master cheater's lucky streak last? 266 00:24:51,000 --> 00:25:03,000 It's 1999, Las Vegas. TV repairman Tommy Carmichael has invented a device to scan casino slot machines. 267 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:07,000 And now he's struck it rich, selling the device to others. 268 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:13,000 But in a game of high stakes, how long can Carmichael stay on top? 269 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:20,000 Authorities suspect the city's casinos are being built out of millions of dollars in cash. 270 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:25,000 But who is stealing the money and how they are doing it remains a mystery. 271 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:29,000 Then one day police get their break. 272 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:36,000 A gambler is caught using a strange device to trip slot machines and is promptly arrested. 273 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:43,000 After interrogating the suspect, investigators believe that Tommy Carmichael supplied him with a gadget. 274 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:49,000 Carmichael's phones are tapped and it's not long before they reveal something incriminating. 275 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:53,000 Tommy Carmichael was heard making deals with other slot sheets. 276 00:25:56,000 --> 00:26:00,000 On April 19, 1999, police arrest Carmichael en route to Atlantic City. 277 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:07,000 He pleads guilty to running an illegal gambling enterprise and spends almost a year behind bars. 278 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:11,000 He had taken a greater risk by selling these devices. 279 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:15,000 I think what led to his downfall was greed. 280 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:20,000 But it seems even the greediest of crooks can be redeemed. 281 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:24,000 After serving his sentence, Carmichael goes straight. 282 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:31,000 Teaming up with slot machine manufacturers, he uses his talents to invent an anti-cheating device he names the Protector. 283 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:45,000 And this iconic sign in Las Vegas, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, continues to attract those who go to cunning lengths to have it all. 284 00:26:55,000 --> 00:26:59,000 Straddling Germany's Spray River is the nation's capital, Berlin. 285 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:11,000 Founded in the 13th century, this cosmopolitan city is home to architectural gems, like the Berlin Cathedral, the Bellevue Palace and Brandenburg Gate. 286 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:18,000 But on the southern side of town is a landmark that is often overlooked. 287 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:22,000 You can see children playing green grass, trees. 288 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:29,000 But if you're standing in the middle of it, there's concrete and all across it you can see markings that showed its original purpose. 289 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:35,000 Once an international airport, this is Tempelhofer Freyheidpark. 290 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:46,000 And as author Andre Czerny explains, it was from this site that one pilot launched a mission that helped change the fate of Berlin. 291 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:53,000 Because of one man's acts of kindness and ingenuity, he transformed the lives of millions of people. 292 00:27:57,000 --> 00:27:59,000 June 1948, Berlin. 293 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:05,000 Since the end of the Second World War, this German city has been carved in two. 294 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:15,000 In the West, the US and its allies are trying to establish a democratic state, while the East is controlled by the Soviet Communist regime. 295 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:21,000 West Berlin was surrounded on all sides by Soviet territory. 296 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:25,000 The people were really living on an island in Eastern Germany. 297 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:36,000 Now, in a bid to force West Berliners into accepting his Communist creed, Stalin has blocked all roads leading into the city and cut off the flow of supplies by land. 298 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:45,000 In response, the US has instituted an airlift called Operation Vittles, based out of Tempelhofer Airport. 299 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:56,000 Operation Vittles was a massive effort, planes landing and taking off every 90 seconds to bring the people of Western Berlin what they needed to survive. 300 00:28:57,000 --> 00:29:00,000 But America's endeavors are achieving little success. 301 00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:07,000 Years of war have bred a deep-seated distrust of the US. 302 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:12,000 Berliners after the war were a scared and scarred people. 303 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:17,000 They had the sense that they were just pawns in a big geopolitical chess game. 304 00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:21,000 It was really a struggle for the hearts and minds of the people of Western Berlin. 305 00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:33,000 As the US military wonders what they can do to win over the Berliners, little do they know the solution will come from an unlikely source. 306 00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:38,000 July 1948. 307 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:47,000 27-year-old American pilot Lieutenant Gale Halverson is assigned to Operation Vittles and reports for duty at Tempelhofer Airport. 308 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:57,000 Gale Halverson was a veteran of World War II. He was a sunny, happy person of real kindness who really wore his heart on his sleeve. 309 00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:05,000 One day, while walking through the base, the pilot sees a crowd of local children gathered behind the runway fence. 310 00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:12,000 The children were dressed in rags. Almost none of them had shoes and they were emaciated. 311 00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:17,000 Halverson strikes up a conversation with the young West Berliners. 312 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:22,000 Hoping to make them smile, he digs into his pockets and pulls out two sticks of gum. 313 00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:30,000 He ripped them in half and started passing them out to the children. And their eyes lit up. 314 00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:35,000 Moved by their joyful reaction, Halverson makes a promise to the group. 315 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:41,000 He promised them that the next day he would fly overhead and drop down candy from his plane. 316 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:45,000 But Halverson's generosity comes with a big risk. 317 00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:54,000 Altering the airlift's highly regimented operation could result in a court-martial and the end of his career. 318 00:30:57,000 --> 00:31:01,000 Nonetheless, the kind-hearted pilot proceeds with his covert plan. 319 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:06,000 He used handkerchiefs and some twine to fashion tiny candy parachutes. 320 00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:15,000 The next day, as Halverson's plane passes over the site of the planned drop, he pushes bundles of candy through the flare shoot. 321 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:27,000 The children were waving the handkerchiefs, signaling their gratitude for what they had received. 322 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:33,000 Delighted by the success of the candy drop, Halverson decides to push on with his secret mission. 323 00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:37,000 The candy-loving crowd quickly swells into the thousands. 324 00:31:40,000 --> 00:31:47,000 These children, who had only known America as the country that had occupied them, began to see America in a new light, 325 00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:52,000 gave them a sense of optimism and a sense of hope, and it changed their lives. 326 00:31:54,000 --> 00:31:58,000 Yet it seems the aviator's success will be short-lived. 327 00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:05,000 Just weeks into his spirit-lifting scheme, Halverson is summoned to his colonel's office. 328 00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:10,000 He thought that his secret had been found out. 329 00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:21,000 July 1948, West Berlin, Germany. 330 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:30,000 American aviator Gail Halverson is trying to lift the spirits of this newly divided city by dropping candy from his airplane. 331 00:32:31,000 --> 00:32:37,000 But when he's summoned by his commander, the flyer fears his candy-dropping days are over. 332 00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:41,000 So has Halverson's sweet scheme gone sour? 333 00:32:45,000 --> 00:32:49,000 As the pilot nervously approaches his commanding officer's desk, 334 00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:54,000 the colonel points to a headline in the newspaper. 335 00:32:55,000 --> 00:32:59,000 Halverson's secret operation is now big news. 336 00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:05,000 But he doesn't get the reprimand he expects. 337 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:09,000 Instead, the colonel gives him a surprising order. 338 00:33:12,000 --> 00:33:14,000 The colonel told him to keep on doing what he was doing. 339 00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:16,000 Thank you, sir, I will. 340 00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:23,000 The Americans realized that what Halverson was doing had huge potential to win the hearts and minds of the western half of Berlin. 341 00:33:24,000 --> 00:33:27,000 And so begins Operation Little Biddles. 342 00:33:30,000 --> 00:33:37,000 Over the next 10 months, a total of 23 tons of candy are dropped from 25,000 mini-parachutes. 343 00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:43,000 Operation Little Biddles transformed into something that had a larger meaning. 344 00:33:44,000 --> 00:33:46,000 It helped America win the trust of the Berliners. 345 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:49,000 They began to believe in democracy and freedom. 346 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:56,000 Eventually, Stalin realizes his campaign is ineffective. 347 00:33:57,000 --> 00:34:02,000 In May of 1949, the blockade around West Berlin is lifted. 348 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:13,000 As for Halverson, the humble pilot becomes one of the most celebrated heroes of the post-war era, and is dubbed the candy bomber. 349 00:34:13,000 --> 00:34:17,000 His kindness really did transform the world we live in today. 350 00:34:20,000 --> 00:34:33,000 And what remains of the runway at Berlin's Tempelhofer Freyheit Park stands as a reminder that even during the sourest of times, a kind heart and determination can help sweeten the world. 351 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:42,000 Along the eastern seaboard, stretching from Norfolk, Virginia to the Florida Keys, is a massive maritime maze. 352 00:34:43,000 --> 00:34:52,000 This man-made passage protects commercial barges and pleasure crafts alike from the hazards of the open sea. 353 00:34:52,000 --> 00:35:05,000 It's about 1200 miles long. It consists of canals, bays, estuaries. It's an extremely impressive feat of engineering. 354 00:35:06,000 --> 00:35:09,000 This is the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. 355 00:35:11,000 --> 00:35:19,000 According to author Lee Gruenfeld, these glittering waters were once at the center of a string of daring heists. 356 00:35:20,000 --> 00:35:27,000 These luxurious properties represented an irresistible lure for a criminal genius. 357 00:35:33,000 --> 00:35:41,000 1976, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The city's social elite are renowned for their lavish black-tie charity galas. 358 00:35:42,000 --> 00:35:48,000 Among those often in attendance is a dashing 35-year-old real estate entrepreneur named Bill Mason. 359 00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:57,000 Bill is a very good-looking guy. He's also very engaging and very charming. Just a really nice guy that people trusted. 360 00:35:58,000 --> 00:36:01,000 But the handsome socialite is hiding an ugly secret. 361 00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:05,000 Bill is arguably the most successful cat burglar in the world. 362 00:36:05,000 --> 00:36:15,000 During the course of his career, he robbed Bob Hope, Phyllis Diller, even Johnny Weissmiller, Tarzan himself. 363 00:36:16,000 --> 00:36:22,000 Although his victims are rich and famous, Mason's meticulous ways shield him from suspicion. 364 00:36:23,000 --> 00:36:28,000 He has a code that he sticks to religiously. No partners. He only trusted himself. 365 00:36:29,000 --> 00:36:34,000 It's at events like these that the master thief chooses his targets. 366 00:36:35,000 --> 00:36:42,000 He then carefully stakes out their homes and plans how he'll get in and out unobserved. 367 00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:46,000 And for Bill Mason, the trickier it is, the better. 368 00:36:47,000 --> 00:36:50,000 Bill's true addiction was solving puzzles. 369 00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:57,000 Trying to do things that nobody would believe would be possible and that afterwards they couldn't even figure out 370 00:36:58,000 --> 00:36:59,000 how he did it. 371 00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:04,000 But finding and absconding with the jewels is the easy part. 372 00:37:05,000 --> 00:37:11,000 Bill was always working on several things at a time. You have to understand that it could take four, five, six, seven months to plan a score. 373 00:37:15,000 --> 00:37:22,000 One day, when Mason is boating on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, an irresistible opportunity presents itself. 374 00:37:23,000 --> 00:37:27,000 He observes a black-tie event being held on a passing yacht. 375 00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:34,000 And he saw all those gowns and all that jewelry. He thinks, I've got all these people in one place. 376 00:37:35,000 --> 00:37:37,000 Maybe I could take down this boat in one great big score. 377 00:37:39,000 --> 00:37:44,000 Mason learns that each year the city's elite gather on the yacht for a Red Cross Charity Gala. 378 00:37:45,000 --> 00:37:53,000 If he can rob them all in one stroke at the next gala, it could be the crowning glory of his career and his biggest haul. 379 00:37:54,000 --> 00:37:59,000 So, over the next several months, he plots out a watertight scheme. 380 00:38:00,000 --> 00:38:05,000 The plan was to approach quietly by boat, throw grappling hooks up, climb up really quickly. 381 00:38:06,000 --> 00:38:12,000 And just by brandishing the weapons, people would hand over all this jewelry and the whole thing shouldn't take but five or six minutes. 382 00:38:13,000 --> 00:38:17,000 Yet the ambitious heist is like nothing Mason has ever attempted. 383 00:38:18,000 --> 00:38:22,000 He realizes that to pull it off, he must violate his code. 384 00:38:23,000 --> 00:38:27,000 He can't do this alone. Bill had to have somebody to drive this boat. 385 00:38:29,000 --> 00:38:38,000 Fate delivers up a convenient accomplice. An acquaintance named Derek Johnson, who mentions he's hard up for cash. 386 00:38:39,000 --> 00:38:43,000 When Derek said, I need a lot of money really fast, something clicked in Bill's mind. 387 00:38:44,000 --> 00:38:45,000 Can you drive a boat? 388 00:38:45,000 --> 00:38:48,000 He said, how'd you like $10,000 to drive a boat for an hour? 389 00:38:51,000 --> 00:38:58,000 Johnson eagerly agrees to the deal. What Mason doesn't realize is that he's just made a big mistake. 390 00:39:02,000 --> 00:39:10,000 It's 1976, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Serial jewel thief Bill Mason is preparing for his most ambitious heist to date. 391 00:39:10,000 --> 00:39:15,000 But to do so, he must break his cardinal rule to bring in an accomplice. 392 00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:20,000 And together, they'll stick up a luxury yacht and rob all its wealthy guests. 393 00:39:23,000 --> 00:39:26,000 Mason meticulously plans the hold up. 394 00:39:27,000 --> 00:39:33,000 Meanwhile, the Fort Lauderdale police have been scratching their heads over a number of recent burglaries. 395 00:39:34,000 --> 00:39:40,000 The police were so baffled that they simply couldn't even figure out how these individual scores had been done. 396 00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:44,000 But suddenly, investigators get a break. 397 00:39:45,000 --> 00:39:51,000 A petty thief comes forward with a tip about an elusive cat burglar who's planning a big score. 398 00:39:51,000 --> 00:39:55,000 It's a plot to rob every guest at the next Red Cross charity gala. 399 00:39:57,000 --> 00:40:00,000 The informant's name is Derek Johnson. 400 00:40:01,000 --> 00:40:06,000 It seems that Mason slipped up when he broke his rule and hired an accomplice. 401 00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:09,000 Who he didn't realize had a checkered past. 402 00:40:10,000 --> 00:40:17,000 Derek Johnson, who he got to drive the boat, turned him in in exchange for him getting off some minor charges that he was facing. 403 00:40:19,000 --> 00:40:23,000 The cops are skeptical, but they start tailing Bill Mason. 404 00:40:24,000 --> 00:40:29,000 And sure enough, within weeks, they catch him casing a joint and arrest him. 405 00:40:31,000 --> 00:40:37,000 But the police only have a weak case, and Derek Johnson's word against Mason. 406 00:40:37,000 --> 00:40:44,000 But they know that he probably did some other things, and the police sometimes care more about closing cases than they do catching perpetrators. 407 00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:49,000 So they said, if you tell us some of the other stuff you did, maybe we can work out a deal here. 408 00:40:49,000 --> 00:40:59,000 Promised with immunity for earlier offenses, Mason eventually confesses to all the other robberies he's pulled, leaving authorities stunned. 409 00:41:00,000 --> 00:41:08,000 They discover that Bill was behind some of the most high-profile jewelry thefts in all of Southern Florida history. 410 00:41:09,000 --> 00:41:15,000 After serving less than three years in prison, Mason publishes a book detailing his long career. 411 00:41:15,000 --> 00:41:19,000 He also declares that his thieving days are over. 412 00:41:20,000 --> 00:41:30,000 Today, the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and Fort Lauderdale's plush hotels and homes remain a playground for the very rich. 413 00:41:31,000 --> 00:41:38,000 But with this master cat burglar no longer on the prowl, their prized gems are now a little more secure. 414 00:41:39,000 --> 00:41:50,000 From an underwater rescue to an architectural oddity, a casino cheat to a beachside burglar. 415 00:41:50,000 --> 00:41:55,000 I'm Don Wildman, and these are the Mysteries at the Monument.