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AN ICE AX USED IN A DARING RESCUE
AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD...
(man) YOU'RE UP THERE ABOVE 26,000 FEET
IN AN ARENA WE CALL THE DEATH ZONE.
A BULLETPROOF LIMOUSINE THAT SAVED THE PRESIDENT...
ALL OF A SUDDEN, GUNSHOTS RING OUT.
(gunshots, indistinct shouting)
AND A SPACE MODULE THAT'S AT THE HEART
OF A TERRIFYING ACCIDENT.
HE HEARS THE WORDS NO SPACEMAN WANTS TO HEAR--
"UH-OH."
I'M DON WILDMAN.
JOIN ME ON A JOURNEY ACROSS THE UNITED STATES,
AS WE GO DEEP INTO THE VAULTS
OF THE NATION'S MOST REVERED INSTITUTIONS,
UNEARTHING WONDROUS TREASURES FROM THE PAST,
EXTRAORDINARY ARTIFACTS,
AND BIZARRE RELICS,
EACH WITH A SHOCKING STORY TO TELL...
(gunshot)
AND A SECRET TO BE REVEALED.
(animal roars)
THESE ARE THE MYSTERIES AT THE MUSEUM.
♪♪
(Don) WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA,
IS KNOWN FOR ITS BEAUTIFUL MARINAS,
TROPICAL WEATHER, AND STUNNING VIEWS.
BUT TUCKED AWAY BEHIND A ROW OF HEDGES,
INSIDE THE DOOR OF THIS UNASSUMING HOME
IS A CURIOUS COLLECTION OF ELECTRICAL ODDITIES,
INCLUDING ANTIQUE GENERATORS
AND THE OLDEST KNOWN X-RAY MACHINE.
THIS IS THE TURN OF THE CENTURY ELECTROTHERAPY MUSEUM
IT'S QUITE DIFFERENT THAN MOST PLACES,
BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY HAVE FUNCTIONING MACHINES
THAT PEOPLE CAN TOUCH AND PICK UP
AND WE'LL EVEN TURN ON FROM TIME TO TIME.
BUT AS CURATOR JEFF BEHARY KNOWS,
ONE RELIC SERVES AS A REMINDER
OF A MYSTERIOUS CONTRAPTION
THAT WILL NEVER BE DEMONSTRATED AGAIN.
WE HAVE AN 8x10 GLASS PLATE NEGATIVE
OF THE LAST KNOWN PHOTOGRAPH
OF ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE PIECES OF TECHNOLOGY
FROM THE 1800s.
IT WAS ONCE BELIEVED THAT THE APPARATUS
CAPTURED ON THIS NEGATIVE
WOULD REVOLUTIONIZE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND INDUSTRY.
THIS INVENTION SEEMED TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.
WHAT WAS THIS STRANGE MACHINE,
AND WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MAN WHO INVENTED IT?
1874--
AN INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION IS SWEEPING THE WORLD,
PROPELLED LARGELY BY STEAM POWER.
BUT AN ELITE GROUP OF SCIENTISTS,
INCLUDING THOMAS EDISON, NIKOLA TESLA,
AND GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE,
ARE LOCKED IN A RACE TO BECOME THE FIRST
TO HARNESS A NEW ENERGY SOURCE--ELECTRICITY.
AND IN THE MIDST OF THIS FIERCE COMPETITION,
AN UNKNOWN INVENTOR EMERGES--
JOHN WORRELL KEELY.
ON NOVEMBER 10, 1874,
KEELY INVITES A GROUP OF BUSINESSMEN TO THIS LABORATORY,
DAZZLING THEM WITH A PROTOTYPE OF A MACHINE
THAT HE SAYS WILL USHER IN
A TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTION.
HE WOULD WALK UP TO HIS ENGINE,
SIMPLY ADD A BIT OF WATER.
AND WITHIN MOMENTS, A WHEEL CONNECTED TO THE MACHINE
BEGINS TO SPIN.
KEELY PROUDLY PROCLAIMS
IT'S POWERED BY A MYSTERIOUS FORM OF ENERGY.
(Jeff) KEELY HARNESSED SOMETHING HE WAS CALLING "THE FORCE."
IT WAS AN ENERGY FORM IN NATURE
THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY UNDISCOVERED
AND NOT REALLY WELL DEFINED.
THIS FORCE WAS SOMETHING THAT ONLY HE KNEW THE SECRET OF.
WITH THE PROPER FUNDING,
KEELY SAYS HE CAN PRODUCE THE MOTOR
ON A MUCH LARGER SCALE,
AND PREDICTS THAT THE FORCE WILL ONE DAY REPLACE STEAM
AS THE PRIMARY POWER BEHIND FACTORY EQUIPMENT,
TRAINS, AND SHIPS.
THE AMAZED BUSINESSMEN EAGERLY INVEST
IN A MACHINE THAT THEY BELIEVE WILL MAKE THEM RICH.
(Jeff) FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE,
THIS WAS THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG.
HERE IS A MAN WHO HAD THIS INCREDIBLE POWER
OF HARNESSING THESE FORCES OF NATURE THAT NO ONE COULD SEE.
AS WORD SPREADS ABOUT THIS EXTRAORDINARY INVENTION,
MONEY STARTS POURING IN.
AT ITS PEAK, THE KEELY MOTOR COMPANY
IS WORTH AN ASTOUNDING $5 MILLION.
PEOPLE HAVE INVESTED IN SOME CASES
THEIR LIFE SAVINGS INTO THIS TECHNOLOGY.
PEOPLE INVESTED THEIR FAITH IN THIS MAN.
BUT AS THE MONTHS AND THEN YEARS GO BY,
KEELY FAILS TO PRODUCE A MODEL THAT CAN BE MASS-PRODUCED,
AND HIS SHAREHOLDERS GROW INCREASINGLY IMPATIENT.
THEY WERE READY TO HAVE HIS PROMISES COME TRUE
AND TO SUDDENLY REPLACE
ALL OF THE OTHER ENERGY FORMS ON THE PLANET
WITH THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY.
A LOT OF TIMES,
KEELY MOTOR PEOPLE WOULD SHOW UP AT RANDOM
TO SEE IT OPERATE,
AND KEELY WOULD SAY, "OH, NO, IT'S NOT READY TO BE SHOWN.
WE'RE MAKING SOME IMPROVEMENTS ON IT."
AND FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE,
THIS AROSE A LOT OF SUSPICION TOWARDS KEELY.
THEN IN NOVEMBER 1898,
INVESTORS RECEIVE NEWS
THAT PUTS THE ENTIRE ENDEAVOR IN PERIL.
JOHN WORRELL KEELY IS DEAD.
IT SEEMS HE'S TAKEN THE SECRET OF THE FORCE
WITH HIM TO THE GRAVE.
DESPERATE TO UNRAVEL THE MYSTERY
BEHIND THE FORCE THAT POWERED KEELY'S MACHINE,
SHAREHOLDERS TURN TO THE INVENTOR'S CLOSE FRIEND
AND ASSOCIATE THOMAS KINRAIDE.
KINRAIDE WAS PROBABLY PETRIFIED AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
NO ONE EXPECTED KEELY TO BECOME ILL AND DIE,
AND LEAST OF ALL THIS MAN, WHO WAS SUDDENLY EXPECTED
TO EXPLAIN IT ALL TO THE PUBLIC.
KINRAIDE ACCEPTS THE CHALLENGE
AND ARRIVES AT KEELY'S LAB
TO EXAMINE THE APPARATUS.
HE ANALYZES THE MACHINE AND TAKES PHOTOGRAPHS
TO DOCUMENT HIS INVESTIGATION.
AND THE ONLY SURVIVING GLASS NEGATIVE FROM THAT QUEST
IS TODAY PART OF JEFF BEHARY'S COLLECTION.
THOSE PHOTOS WERE NEVER PUBLISHED,
AND I DISCOVERED THEM IN 2005,
STILL IN KINRAIDE'S HOME OVER 100 YEARS LATER.
KINRAIDE SHIPS THE MOTOR TO HIS HOMETOWN OF BOSTON
AND CONTINUES HIS INVESTIGATION FOR MONTHS, BUT TO NO AVAIL.
SO IMPATIENT STOCKHOLDERS
DECIDE TO TAKE MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS
AND SEARCH KEELY'S PHILADELPHIA LAB
FOR ANY CLUES THE INVENTOR MAY HAVE LEFT BEHIND.
WHAT THEY FIND SHOCKS THE MEN WHO INVESTED
THEIR MONEY AND TRUST IN THE SCIENTIST.
CERTAIN INVESTORS IN THE COMPANY AND STOCKHOLDERS
AND A TEAM OF SCIENTISTS FROM PHILADELPHIA
RIPPED OPEN THE WALLS AND FOUND TUBES AND HOSES
THAT RUN UP TO THE REST OF THE EQUIPMENT.
THERE WAS ALSO FOUND A WATER MOTOR,
AND THIS MOTOR WAS RUN FROM AN OUTSIDE POWER SOURCE
AND WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY UNDETECTABLE FOR PEOPLE.
THESE ELEMENTS OF KEELY'S MOTOR HAD BEEN HIDDEN
DURING THE PROTOTYPE'S ORIGINAL DEMONSTRATION
25 YEARS EARLIER.
NOW THE ONCE-EAGER INVESTORS REALIZE THAT THE KEELY MOTOR
WAS LITTLE MORE THAN AN ELABORATE HOAX.
AFTER DECADES OF WAITING
AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INVESTED,
THE SHAREHOLDERS LOSE EVERYTHING,
THE VICTIMS OF A CON MAN'S TALES
OF A MYSTERIOUS POWER SOURCE
AND A MACHINE THAT WAS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.
TODAY, IN JEFF BEHARY'S
TURN OF THE CENTURY ELECTROTHERAPY MUSEUM,
THIS PHOTOGRAPHIC NEGATIVE IS THE ONLY SURVIVING PROOF
OF A STUNNING ACT OF DECEPTION
AT THE DAWN OF THE ELECTRICAL AGE.
DEARBORN, MICHIGAN,
HOME TO THE HENRY FORD MUSEUM,
A SHRINE TO MASS PRODUCTION
AND THE AUTOMOBILE'S INTEGRAL PLACE
IN AMERICAN CULTURE.
BUT FOR CURATOR MATT ANDERSON,
THERE'S A PARTICULAR ITEM
INSIDE THIS 450,000-SQUARE-FOOT MUSEUM OF MOTORING
THAT SERVES AS A PHYSICAL REMINDER
OF AN EVENT FOREVER SEARED IN HIS MEMORY.
SEEING IT WAS REALLY PRETTY AMAZING,
BECAUSE IT WAS SO DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED
WITH A PERILOUS MOMENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
AND IT WAS JUST A POWERFUL FEELING
TO COME FACE-TO-FACE WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND ALTHOUGH ITS BASED ON SOMETHING
THAT ANYONE COULD BUY,
THE ARTIFACT'S BEEN VERY HEAVILY MODIFIED
FOR A VERY SPECIFIC PURPOSE.
IT'S A SOPHISTICATED VEHICLE OUTFITTED
WITH THE STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY OF ITS DAY
AND EQUIPPED WITH
BULLET-RESISTANT METAL AND GLASS
DESIGNED TO PROTECT ONE VERY IMPORTANT PASSENGER.
THE ARTIFACT IS A 1972 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL LIMOUSINE
WHICH HAS BEEN SPECIALLY MODIFIED
TO TRANSPORT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
AND AT A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN HISTORY,
ITS ARMOR WAS TRULY PUT TO THE TEST.
WHAT PART DID THIS LIMOUSINE PLAY
ON THE VERY DAY AN ARMED ASSASSIN
TRIED TO KILL THE NATION'S PRESIDENT?
MARCH 30, 1981--
69 DAYS AFTER ASSUMING OFFICE,
PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN
FINISHES GIVING A SPEECH TO LABOR UNIONS
AT THE WASHINGTON HILTON HOTEL.
AFTER REAGAN FINISHED HIS SPEECH,
HE HAD TO WALK SEVERAL FEET TO GET FROM THE BUILDING
TO HIS LIMOUSINE.
REAGAN EXITS THE HILTON AND PASSES WITHIN A FEW FEET
OF A SMALL CROWD OF PEOPLE.
AS THE PRESIDENT WALKS CLOSER TO THE CAR,
ALL OF A SUDDEN, GUNSHOTS RING OUT...
(gunshots)
A TOTAL OF SIX ALTOGETHER.
AS THE FIRST SHOTS ARE FIRED,
SECRET SERVICE SPECIAL AGENT JERRY PARR
SHOVES THE PRESIDENT TOWARD THE LIMOUSINE.
THE REALLY REMARKABLE THING ABOUT THIS
WHEN YOU WATCH THE VIDEOTAPE
IS HOW QUICKLY IT ALL TOOK PLACE.
(gunshots)
THE FIRST BULLET HIT PRESS SECRETARY JAMES BRADY
IN THE HEAD.
(gunshot)
THE SECOND BULLET
HIT WASHINGTON POLICE OFFICER THOMAS DELAHANTY
IN THE NECK.
(indistinct shouting, gunshot)
THE THIRD SHOT WENT CLEAR OF THE LIMOUSINE
AND STRUCK THE BUILDING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET.
(indistinct shouting, gunshot)
AND THEN AGENT TIM McCARTHY
TURNS TO FACE THE GUNFIRE,
AND IN DOING SO, HE'S ACTUALLY STRUCK IN THE ABDOMEN
BY THE FOURTH SHOT.
(gunshot, indistinct shouting)
THE FIFTH SHOT HIT THE WINDOW OF THE LIMOUSINE,
WHICH CRACKED SOME OF THE BULLETPROOF GLASS THERE,
BUT IT DIDN'T GO THROUGH.
(gunshot)
THEN IT WAS THE SIXTH SHOT THAT STRUCK
THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE.
JUST MOMENTS AFTER THE SHOOTING BEGAN,
THE LIMOUSINE WHISKS REAGAN AWAY TO SAFETY,
LEAVING A CROWD OF FRANTIC LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
IN ITS WAKE.
THERE WERE THREE PEOPLE WOUNDED ON THE SIDEWALK.
THERE WAS A PILE OF OFFICERS AND AGENTS
TRYING TO HOLD THE SUSPECT DOWN.
POLICE APPREHEND THE GUNMAN,
25-YEAR-OLD JOHN HINCKLEY JR.,
WHO, IT IS LATER REVEALED,
HAS A BIZARRE OBSESSION WITH THE ACTRESS JODIE FOSTER
AND BELIEVES THAT THE ONLY WAY TO GET HER ATTENTION
IS TO ASSASSINATE THE PRESIDENT.
MIRACULOUSLY, IT APPEARS AS IF HINCKLEY
MISSED REAGAN COMPLETELY.
AS SOON AS THE LIMO SPED AWAY,
AGENT PARR WAS LOOKING FOR EITHER EVIDENCE
OF A GUNSHOT WOUND OR FOR BLOOD ON HIS HANDS.
AND HE DIDN'T SEE ANY BLOOD, AND HE THOUGHT, YOU KNOW,
TERRIFIC, WE'VE LITERALLY DODGED A BULLET."
BUT AS THE VEHICLE RACES TOWARD THE WHITE HOUSE,
IT BECOMES CLEAR
THAT SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG.
REAGAN BEGINS COMPLAINING OF DIFFICULTY BREATHING,
AND COMMENTS SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT
THAT HE THOUGHT PARR HAD MAYBE BROKEN HIS RIB
WHEN HE PUSHED HIM DOWN INTO THE VEHICLE.
REAGAN STARTS COUGHING, AND EVENTUALLY COUGHS UP BLOOD.
SPECIAL AGENT PARR IS FACED WITH A CRUCIAL DECISION.
DO THEY CONTINUE ON TO THE WHITE HOUSE,
OR DO THEY GET TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL?
IT WILL MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.
ON MARCH 30, 1981,
AN ARMED ASSASSIN TRIES TO KILL PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN.
(gunshots)
AS A BULLET SPEEDS TOWARD THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF,
A SECRET SERVICE AGENT SHOVES HIM BEHIND THE DOOR
OF THE PRESIDENTIAL LIMOUSINE,
AND EVERYONE THINKS REAGAN IS SAFE.
BUT IT BECOMES CLEAR THAT SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG.
HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?
AS THE LIMOUSINE RACES AWAY,
SECRET SERVICE AGENT JERRY PARR MUST MAKE A CRITICAL DECISION.
WHEN REAGAN ARRIVES
AT GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL,
DOCTORS BEGIN A FRENZIED SEARCH
FOR THE SOURCE OF THE PRESIDENT'S SUFFERING.
EVERYONE WAS OPERATING UNDER THE ASSUMPTION
THAT HE HAD IN FACT BROKEN A RIB
AND THAT RIB PERHAPS HAD PUNCTURED A LUNG.
BUT AS DOCTORS CUT
THE PRESIDENT'S SUIT FROM HIS BODY,
THEY ARE STUNNED BY WHAT THEY DISCOVER.
JUST UNDER REAGAN'S LEFT ARM
IS A SMALL SLIT OF A WOUND.
AND ULTIMATELY THEY DETERMINE THAT
THAT SLIT WAS CAUSED BY A BULLET.
BUT HOW DID THE BULLET MANAGE TO HIT THE PRESIDENT
IF HE WAS ALREADY SAFELY BEHIND THE LIMOUSINE'S DOOR
WHEN HINCKLEY FIRED?
THE ANSWER TO THIS MYSTERY
LIES ON THE SURFACE OF THIS ARMORED VEHICLE.
A BALLISTICS INVESTIGATION REVEALS
THAT HINCKLEY'S FINAL SHOT...
(gunshots)
HIT THE VEHICLE
AND THEN TOOK A DRASTIC
AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY TURN.
HINCKLEY'S SIXTH SHOT
HIT THE SIDE OF THE CAR
AND THEN RICOCHETED OFF
AND WENT BETWEEN A VERY NARROW GAP
BETWEEN THE BODY OF THE CAR AND THE DOOR ITSELF.
AFTER PASSING THROUGH THAT NARROW GAP,
THE BULLET SLICED INTO REAGAN'S BODY,
GRAZING HIS RIB AND LODGING IN HIS LUNG...
STOPPING JUST 1 INCH FROM HIS HEART.
AFTER A NEARLY 2-HOUR SURGERY,
REAGAN MAKES A REMARKABLY SPEEDY RECOVERY
AND RETURNS TO THE WHITE HOUSE JUST WEEKS LATER.
OFFICER THOMAS DELAHANTY AND AGENT TIM McCARTHY,
TWO MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY DETAIL,
ALSO RECOVER FROM THEIR WOUNDS.
BUT THE PRESIDENT'S PRESS SECRETARY, JAMES BRADY,
WHO WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD,
IS LEFT PERMANENTLY DISABLED.
TODAY, THIS LINCOLN CONTINENTAL LIMOUSINE
STANDS AT THE HENRY FORD MUSEUM AS A SILENT WITNESS
TO THE RAPID CHAIN OF EVENTS
THAT UNFOLDED ON THE DAY
AMERICA ALMOST LOST ITS 40th PRESIDENT.
PHILADELPHIA BOASTS SOME OF AMERICA'S
MOST PRESTIGIOUS CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS
FROM THE MUSEUM OF ART TO THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE.
IT'S ALSO HOME TO THE COUNTRY'S OLDEST NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM,
THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES.
AND HERE, THE ACADEMY'S EWELL SALE STEWART LIBRARY
HOUSES A COLLECTION OF RARE AND HISTORIC BOOKS.
BUT SENIOR FELLOW ROBERT PECK KNOWS
THAT ONE 19th-CENTURY VOLUME
TELLS A MYSTERIOUS STORY
THAT'S ALMOST AS EPIC AS THE BOOK ITSELF.
IT'S OF ENORMOUS SIZE.
THIS IS SOMETHING LIKE 39 BY 28 INCHES,
THE BIGGEST PAPER THAT COULD BE MADE AT THAT TIME.
ON EACH OF ITS 435 PAGES,
LIFE-SIZED PAINTINGS OF HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS
STARE BACK AT READERS.
AND EVERY FEATHER, BEAK, AND TALON
IS DEPICTED IN METICULOUS DETAIL.
SO HERE IT IS--
JOHN JAMES AUDUBON'S "BIRDS OF AMERICA."
THIS ENCYCLOPEDIC BOOK IS FILLED WITH IMAGES
OF EVERY BIRD SPECIES
FROM THE EXOTIC TO THE FAMILIAR.
BUT IT'S ALSO FILLED WITH CONTROVERSY.
WHAT'S THE TRUTH BEHIND AUDUBON'S MYSTERY BIRDS?
1838--
AMERICAN NATURALIST, PAINTER,
AND AVID OUTDOORSMAN JOHN JAMES AUDUBON
PUTS THE FINISHING TOUCHES TO AN AMBITIOUS PROJECT
TO PAINT EVERY BIRD SPECIES IN AMERICA.
THE WORK HAS TAKEN HIM OVER 13 YEARS
OF EXHAUSTIVE TRAVEL, OBSERVING, HUNTING,
AND THEN BRINGING WILD BIRDS TO HIS NEW YORK STUDIO.
THERE AUDUBON WOULD POSE EACH SPECIMEN
AND PAINT IT WITH EXACTING DETAIL.
IN ORDER TO CREATE ANY ONE OF THESE PLATES,
AUDUBON WOULD INVEST HUGE AMOUNTS OF TIME.
IT WOULD BE NOT JUST A QUESTION OF HOURS, BUT DAYS
AND SOMETIMES WEEKS TO GET TO A PLACE,
FIND THE PARTICULAR BIRD,
TO COLLECT IT,
TO BRING IT BACK AND SKETCH IT.
THIS WAS A MAN DRIVEN, OBSESSED BY BIRDS
AND BY PAINTING.
AND WHEN THE GENERAL PUBLIC FINALLY SEES THE COLLECTION,
AUDUBON'S BOOK IS HAILED AS A TRIUMPH
OF ART AND SCIENCE.
BUT AS THE DECADES PASS,
QUESTIONS ARISE ABOUT ITS ACCURACY.
EVERY SO OFTEN SOMEONE WOULD LOOK AT A PLATE AND SAY,
"I DON'T RECOGNIZE THAT BIRD. WHAT IS IT?"
AND SO SLOWLY A GROUP
OF MYSTERY BIRDS EMERGED...
A MUTATED PENGUIN,
A CREAMY WHITE DUCK
WITH PATCHES AS DARK AS A RAVEN,
VIVID MULTICOLORED PARAKEETS,
A SIMPLE BROWN SPARROW WITH A RED NECK,
AND A MAJESTIC SEA EAGLE.
THERE ARE AT LEAST 12 BIRD SPECIES
IN "THE BIRDS OF AMERICA"
THAT SIMPLY DON'T EXIST.
SKEPTICS WONDER IF AUDUBON WAS MERELY MISTAKEN,
OR IF THE BIRDS WERE PRODUCTS OF HIS IMAGINATION.
WHETHER THESE BIRDS EVER EXISTED IS A QUESTION.
SO IT BECAME A GREAT PUZZLE FOR AMATEUR BIRD-WATCHERS
TO TRY TO SOLVE THIS MYSTERY.
AFTER FURTHER STUDY, ZOOLOGISTS ARE ABLE TO OFFER
A VERY SIMPLE EXPLANATION FOR THE PRESENCE
OF SOME OF THESE BIRDS IN AUDUBON'S BOOK.
SIX, INCLUDING THE GREAT AUK AND THE CAROLINA PARAKEET,
WENT EXTINCT IN THE YEARS FOLLOWING PUBLICATION.
THESE ARE ALL ICONIC, FAMOUS BIRDS,
TEETERING ON THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION
WHEN AUDUBON PAINTED THEM.
WITH HALF OF AUDUBON'S MYSTERY SOLVED,
EXPERTS TURNED TO THE REMAINING SIX BIRDS.
FOUR SEEMED TO DEFY ANY DEFINITIVE EXPLANATION--
THE CARBONATED SWAMP-WARBLER,
THE SMALL-HEADED FLYCATCHER,
CUVIER'S KINGLET,
AND THE BLUE MOUNTAIN WARBLER.
THERE IS NO OTHER EVIDENCE
THAT THE SPECIMENS THAT AUDUBON COLLECTED EVER EXISTED,
LEADING SCIENTISTS TO THEORIZE
AS TO HOW HE AND ONLY HE
COULD HAVE DISCOVERED THESE CREATURES.
THEY MAY BE HYBRIDS, BIRDS THAT HAD BRED TOGETHER
TO CREATE AN UNUSUAL-LOOKING SPECIMEN,
OR POSSIBLY SOME SORT OF GENETIC FLUKE.
A PIGMENT CHANGE IN A BIRD CAN--
CAN SHIFT ITS COLORS FROM GREEN TO BLUE.
THIS EXPLANATION HAS LONG SATISFIED CRITICS.
BUT THE LAST TWO BIRDS IN AUDUBON'S BOOK
WOULD PROVE TO BE AN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE MYSTERY TO UNRAVEL.
IT'S 1838.
JOHN JAMES AUDUBON COMPLETES A GIANT BOOK
CATALOGING EVERY BIRD SPECIES IN NORTH AMERICA.
BIRD LOVERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC
PRAISE ITS LUSH ARTWORK AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL.
BUT SCIENTISTS SOON QUESTION
THE EXISTENCE OF A HANDFUL OF BIRDS
DEPICTED IN THOSE OVERSIZED PAGES.
SOME THEY CLAIM WENT EXTINCT.
OTHERS MAY HAVE BEEN GENETIC FLUKES.
BUT IDENTIFYING THE FINAL TWO BIRDS
PROVES TO BE THE MOST PERPLEXING MYSTERY OF ALL.
SO WHAT'S THE REAL STORY
BEHIND AUDUBON'S MASTERPIECE?
THE ENCYCLOPEDIC VOLUME "BIRDS OF AMERICA"
IS FILLED WITH NEW SPECIES,
MANY OF WHICH AUDUBON DISCOVERED AND NAMED HIMSELF
DURING HIS EXPANSIVE TRAVELS.
(Robert) ONE OF THE BIRDS
AUDUBON THOUGHT WAS A NEW SPECIES
HE GAVE A NAME TO-- MORTON'S FINCH.
AUDUBON'S BOOK DESCRIBES THE CREATURE AS SMALL
WITH AN ASH-GRAY HEAD, BLACKISH-BROWN TAIL FEATHERS,
AND A WHITE BAND ACROSS EACH WING.
EVERYONE THOUGHT THIS WAS FINE
UNTIL NATURALISTS BEGAN ASKING, WHERE IS THIS FINCH?
IN AUDUBON'S TEXT,
HE SAID IT CAME FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
BUT IT TAKES YEARS OF SEARCHING
BEFORE THE BIRD'S TRUE IDENTITY
IS FINALLY DISCOVERED.
THE SPECIMEN WAS ACTUALLY NOT A NEW SPECIES,
BUT A BIRD THAT WAS QUITE COMMON IN CHILE.
SO HOW COULD A SOUTH AMERICAN BIRD
MAKE IT INTO A BOOK
CREATED TO CATALOG ONLY THE BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA?
THE ANSWER LIES IN THE WAY
AUDUBON CREATED HIS MASTERPIECE.
BY THE AUTUMN OF 1837,
THE PRESSURE WAS MOUNTING
FOR HIM TO COMPLETE HIS LANDMARK SERIES,
ALREADY OVER A DECADE IN THE MAKING.
AUDUBON FOUND IT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT
TO KEEP UP THE EXHAUSTIVE PACE
OF TRAVEL, HUNTING, AND PAINTING.
AND SO HE DESPERATELY BEGAN LOOKING ELSEWHERE
FOR SPECIMENS TO PAINT.
SO HE TURNED TO FELLOW AVIAN ENTHUSIAST
JOHN KIRK TOWNSEND FOR ASSISTANCE.
JOHN KIRK TOWNSEND WAS A MEMBER
OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES
WHO WAS ALMOST AS PASSIONATE ABOUT BIRDS AS AUDUBON.
AUDUBON OFFERED TO BUY BIRDS
FROM TOWNSEND'S EXTENSIVE COLLECTION.
HE WAS DESPERATE TO GET THAT MATERIAL.
HE WANTED THOSE BIRDS
SO THAT HE COULD INCORPORATE THEM INTO HIS BOOK.
BUT WHAT AUDUBON DIDN'T KNOW
IS THAT TOWNSEND DID NOT LIMIT HIS COLLECTING
TO NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES.
WHEN AUDUBON RECEIVED THE SHIPMENT OF BIRDS,
A TINY SPARROW FROM SOUTH AMERICA
WAS ERRONEOUSLY MIXED IN.
IT'S A VERY EASY MISTAKE TO BE MADE.
AUDUBON ASSUMED IT HAD COME FROM CALIFORNIA,
WHEN IT WAS ACTUALLY A SOUTH AMERICAN SPECIES,
AND A FAIRLY COMMON ONE AT THAT.
WITH THE IDENTITY OF MORTON'S FINCH SOLVED,
ORNITHOLOGISTS TURN THEIR ATTENTION
TO THE FINAL MYSTERY BIRD,
THE WASHINGTON EAGLE.
IT WAS NOT A BALD EAGLE.
IT WAS NOT A GOLDEN EAGLE.
IT WAS A UNIQUE NEW SPECIES THAT HE NAMED
IN HONOR OF GEORGE WASHINGTON.
THIS WAS THE ULTIMATE NATIONAL SYMBOL.
FOR YEARS, AUDUBON CLAIMED THIS MAJESTIC BIRD
TO BE ANOTHER NEW SPECIES THAT HE DISCOVERED,
BUT EXPERTS WERE NEVER ABLE TO CONFIRM HIS FINDINGS.
DID IT EXIST? WE DON'T REALLY KNOW.
SOME THEORIZE THAT THE WASHINGTON EAGLE IS SO RARE
THAT IT IS STILL OUT THERE IN THE WILD,
WAITING TO BE REDISCOVERED.
OTHERS BELIEVE THAT AUDUBON
MAY HAVE DISCOVERED THIS BIRD
SHORTLY BEFORE IT WENT EXTINCT,
LEAVING HIM THE SOLE WITNESS TO ITS EXISTENCE.
IT MAY BE THE ONLY EXPLANATION
FOR HOW THE PAINTER COULD HAVE CAPTURED
SUCH STUNNING BEAUTY AND DETAIL.
NOW, NEARLY 175 YEARS
SINCE THE BOOKS COMPLETION,
THIS REMARKABLE BIRD'S TRUE IDENTITY
MAY NEVER BE DETERMINED.
THERE ARE SOME THAT WE SIMPLY CAN'T EXPLAIN
AND--AND PROBABLY NEVER WILL BE ABLE TO.
IN SPITE OF THIS ENDURING MYSTERY,
JOHN JAMES AUDUBON'S "THE BIRDS OF AMERICA,"
HERE IN THE COLLECTION
OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES
IN PHILADELPHIA,
REMAINS A CHERISHED AND BREATHTAKING VOLUME
AND ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR BOOKS EVER PUBLISHED.
THE FRONTIER TOWN OF GOLDEN, COLORADO,
IS A DESTINATION FOR TRAVELERS CRAVING BEAUTIFUL SCENERY
AND OUTDOOR ADVENTURES.
AND NO PLACE GIVES VISITORS
A BETTER TASTE OF THAT ADVENTURE
THAN THE BRADFORD WASHBURN AMERICAN MOUNTAINEERING MUSEUM.
THIS INSTITUTION SHOWCASES
EXAMPLES OF INNOVATIONS IN CLIMBING TECHNOLOGY
AND EVEN A SCALE MODEL OF MOUNT EVEREST.
BUT WITHIN ITS COLLECTION IS ONE SMALL ARTIFACT
THAT'S EASY FOR VISITORS TO OVERLOOK--
AN ICE AX.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU WALK UP TO THE AX,
IT LOOKS LIKE ANY OTHER WOODEN ICE AX
FROM DAYS GONE BY.
BUT AS HISTORIAN AND CLIMBER PHIL POWERS KNOWS,
THIS AX PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE
IN AN EVENT SO HARROWING
THAT ITS STORY IS NOW EMBEDDED IN MOUNTAINEERING LORE.
IT'S A TALE OF INCREDIBLE COURAGE
AND SURVIVAL AGAINST THE ODDS
IN ONE OF THE HARSHEST ENVIRONMENTS ON EARTH.
THIS WAS PETE SCHOENING'S ICE AX,
AND HE WAS THE YOUNGEST MEMBER
OF THE 1953 AMERICAN EXPEDITION TO K2.
WHAT ROLE DID THIS AX PLAY
IN A TRAGIC AND STILL UNSOLVED MYSTERY?
1953--
FOR CENTURIES, THE WORLD'S HIGHEST PEAKS
HAD LONG BEEN SEEN AS INSURMOUNTABLE.
BUT THAT CHANGES ON MAY 29th
WHEN SIR EDMUND HILLARY AND TENZING NORGAY
REACH THE SUMMIT OF MOUNT EVEREST.
NOW HILLARY'S RIVAL,
AMERICAN PHYSICIAN AND CLIMBER DR. CHARLES S. HOUSTON,
SETS HIS SIGHTS
ON THE 28,000-FOOT-TALL K2.
K2 IS THE SECOND-HIGHEST MOUNTAIN IN THE WORLD,
AND IT'S BEEN KNOWN AS THE SAVAGE MOUNTAIN.
FOR EVERY FOUR OR MAYBE FIVE PEOPLE
WHO SUMMIT ON K2, ONE HAS DIED,
AND THAT KIND OF A RATIO
MAKES K2 QUITE NOTORIOUS
IN THE REALM OF HIGH MOUNTAINS.
HOUSTON ASSEMBLES AN EXPERIENCED TEAM
FOR THIS DANGEROUS EXPEDITION.
AMONG THEM ARE GEORGE BELL AND ART GILKEY,
BOTH SCIENTISTS AND AVID MOUNTAINEERS.
AND THE YOUNGEST MEMBER IS 25-YEAR-OLD PETE SCHOENING.
THEY WERE ALL STRONG CLIMBERS, BUT PETE SORT OF STOOD OUT
AS THE YOUNG GUN ON THE TEAM, IF YOU WILL.
ON JUNE 26, 1953,
THE TEAM LEAVES BASE CAMP IN NORTHERN PAKISTAN
AND BEGINS THEIR ASCENT OF K2.
OVER THE NEXT MONTH AND A HALF,
THEY MAKE EXCELLENT PROGRESS
AND BY AUGUST 1st, ARE WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE
OF THE SUMMIT.
BUT THE NEXT DAY, A SEVERE AND SUDDEN STORM
SURROUNDS THEM, AND THEY HAVE NO CHOICE
BUT TO HUNKER DOWN IN THEIR TENTS
AT A HIGH AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY ELEVATION.
YOU'RE UP THERE ABOVE 26,000 FEET
IN AN ARENA WE CALL THE DEATH ZONE,
WHERE THERE'S JUST SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH AIR PRESSURE
FOR YOU TO SURVIVE VERY LONG.
THE HUMAN BODY DOESN'T FUNCTION UP THERE.
FINALLY, AFTER SIX LONG DAYS,
THERE'S A BREAK IN THE STORM,
AND THE TEAM CAN'T BELIEVE THEIR LUCK.
THIS WAS A HUGE PRIZE.
TO BE IN POSITION TO CLIMB K2
AND HAVE GOOD WEATHER
IS A VERY, VERY RARE THING.
SO THEY EXITED THOSE TENTS
THINKING, NOW WE HAVE OUR SHOT.
THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN,
THE CHARACTER OF THE TRIP CHANGES ENTIRELY.
ART GILKEY COLLAPSES,
COMPLAINING OF PAIN IN HIS LEG.
DR. HOUSTON EXAMINES HIS FRIEND AND FELLOW CLIMBER,
BUT THE PROGNOSIS ISN'T GOOD.
HE DIAGNOSES HIM WITH THROMBOPHLEBITIS.
AND THAT'S AN AILMENT WHERE YOU'VE GOT
THIS BLOOD CLOT IN YOUR LEG,
AND--AND JUST MOVING COULD DISLODGE IT
AND SEND THAT CLOT TO YOUR LUNG
OR TO YOUR BRAIN AND KILL YOU ON THE SPOT.
THEY SHIFT, SORT OF ON A DIME,
FROM THIS HOPEFUL OPTIMISM
ABOUT GETTING TO THE TOP OF THIS MOUNTAIN
THAT THEY'VE DREAMED OF FOR DECADES, IN SOME CASES,
TO, "WE'VE GOTTA SAVE OUR FRIEND ART."
BUT A NEW STORM IS FAST APPROACHING.
IF THEY LEAVE THE SAFETY OF THEIR TENTS
AND ATTEMPT TO BRING ART BACK TO BASE CAMP,
K2, THE SAVAGE MOUNTAIN, COULD KILL THEM ALL.
IT'S 1953.
A TEAM OF AMERICAN MOUNTAINEERS
IS ATTEMPTING TO SUMMIT THE WORLD'S SECOND-HIGHEST,
AND SOME SAY DEADLIEST, MOUNTAIN, K2.
BUT WHEN ONE CLIMBER NAMED ART GILKEY COLLAPSES
WITH A LIFE-THREATENING BLOOD CLOT IN HIS LEG,
THE EXPEDITION BECOMES A RESCUE MISSION.
WITH A STORM BREWING AND TIME RUNNING OUT,
CAN THE TEAM SAVE THEIR FELLOW CLIMBER
AND THEMSELVES?
ART GILKEY'S CONDITION
IS DETERIORATING FAST.
IT'S A HARSH REMINDER
OF WHAT WILL KILL THE MEN IF THEY STAY
AT THE HIGH ALTITUDE KNOWN AS THE DEATH ZONE
AND WITH THE WEATHER GROWING WORSE,
THE TEAM IS FACED WITH A DIFFICULT CHOICE.
HOUSTON IS ABLE TO RECOGNIZE
THAT THE CLOT HAS MOVED,
AND THAT GILKEY'S CONDITION HAS MOVED
FROM VERY BAD TO SUDDENLY CRITICAL.
THEY REALIZE THAT WHETHER THE WEATHER IS GOOD OR NOT,
THEY'VE GOTTA GET DOWN.
THEY CANNOT STAY WHERE THEY ARE.
THE TEAM LOADS GILKEY INTO A MAKESHIFT STRETCHER,
AND THE MEN, TIED TOGETHER IN PAIRS,
BEGIN THEIR DESCENT.
PETE SCHOENING, WHO'S TIED TO GILKEY,
LOWERS HIM WITH A MOUNTAINEERING TECHNIQUE
CALLED BELAYING, USING HIS AX--
THE VERY ONE NOW ON DISPLAY
AT THE AMERICAN MOUNTAINEERING MUSEUM.
(Phil) HE'S PLACED AN ICE AX-- THE ICE AX--
BEHIND A ROCK,
AND HE'S RUN THE ROPE AROUND HIS BODY
AND AROUND THE ICE AX
SO THAT THE FRICTION OF THE ROPE CAN HOLD A PERSON.
BUT WITH THE WIND WHIPPING AROUND THEM,
CATASTROPHE STRIKES.
GEORGE BELL, WHO'S ONE OF THE HIGHEST PEOPLE
ON THE SNOW SLOPE, SLIPS.
THAT FALL SENDS BELL AND HIS PARTNER
SLIDING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN.
THEY BOTH START TO FALL TOGETHER
WITH A ROPE BETWEEN THEM.
AND THAT ROPE TANGLES
AGAINST ART GILKEY.
SO PRETTY SOON, ALL SIX CLIMBERS,
INCLUDING ART, ARE FALLING DOWN THIS SNOW SLOPE...
ALL EXCEPT FOR PETE SCHOENING.
AS HE SEES HIS PARTNERS
ALL BEGIN TO FALL TO THEIR DEATH,
HE THROWS HIS WEIGHT ONTO THE ICE AX,
JAMMING IT IN MORE DEEPLY
AND MAKING THAT BELAY SECURE ENOUGH
TO HOLD THEM ALL.
PETE SCHOENING'S QUICK THINKING
AND THE STRENGTH OF THIS WOODEN ICE AX
SAVES HIS TEAM FROM A 6,500-FOOT FALL
AND CERTAIN DEATH.
SCHOENING HANGS ON TO HIS AX FOR DEAR LIFE
AS THE MEN UNTANGLE THEMSELVES.
HOUSTON HEARS GILKEY,
WHO'S SUSPENDED OVER AN ICE GULLEY, CRY OUT,
A REASSURING SIGN THAT HE'S STILL ALIVE.
MOMENTS LATER, HOUSTON AND TWO MEMBERS OF THE EXPEDITION
CLIMB DOWN TO RETRIEVE ART GILKEY.
AND AS THEY ARRIVE,
THERE'S NO ART. HE'S GONE.
THE HARSH CONDITIONS OF THE MOUNTAIN
MAKE FINDING GILKEY IMPOSSIBLE,
AND ALL THEY RETRIEVE ARE PIECES OF HIS GEAR.
5 DAYS LATER, ON AUGUST 15th,
THE REMAINING MEMBERS OF THE EXPEDITION
REACH BASE CAMP, FROSTBITTEN BUT ALIVE.
A HAUNTING MYSTERY REMAINS--
WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR INJURED FRIEND?
THERE'S TWO OR THREE THINGS
THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ART GILKEY.
ONE IS THAT THERE'S LOTS OF SNOW ON THE MOUNTAIN.
SOME OF THAT SNOW CAME LOOSE
IN AN AVALANCHE AND SWEPT HIM AWAY.
OTHERS OFFER A THEORY
THAT THE ROPES THAT HELD GILKEY FAILED,
SENDING HIM TO HIS DEATH.
BUT HOUSTON AND HIS FELLOW MOUNTAINEERS
HAVE ANOTHER EXPLANATION.
BUT THE ONE THEORY
THAT I THINK HOLDS THE MOST INTEREST
IS WHETHER ART ACTUALLY REACHED UP
AND PULLED THOSE ICE AXES
OUT OF THE SNOW AND ICE HIMSELF,
SENDING HIMSELF TO HIS OWN DEATH
TO PRESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY
FOR HIS PARTNERS TO MORE EASILY SAVE THEMSELVES
AND GET DOWN THE MOUNTAIN.
DID GILKEY SACRIFICE HIMSELF
SO THAT HIS FRIENDS COULD RETURN HOME ALIVE?
IT'S A MYSTERY THAT WE'LL NEVER KNOW THE ANSWER TO.
BUT THE BRAVERY OF PETE SCHOENING
AND THE MEMBERS OF THE 1953 EXPEDITION
IS WITHOUT A DOUBT.
AND THIS ICE AX, THE PHYSICAL SYMBOL OF THAT COURAGE,
IS ON DISPLAY HERE
AT THE BRADFORD WASHBURN MOUNTAINEERING MUSEUM
IN GOLDEN, COLORADO.
LIFE-SIZED REPLICAS
OF PENNSYLVANIA'S NATIVES AND EARLY SETTLERS,
A COLLECTION OF 19th-CENTURY CANNONS,
MUSKETS, AND WEAPONS--
THESE ITEMS AND MORE CAN BE FOUND
AT ONE OF PITTSBURGH'S PREMIER CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS,
THE HEINZ HISTORY CENTER.
BUT WITHIN THE MUSEUM'S ARCHIVES
IS A COLLECTION OF 66 TINY LEAD MUNITIONS
THAT TELL THE STORY OF A TRAGIC DAY
IN THIS REGION'S HISTORY.
THESE SMALL, LETHAL ORBS
ARE A POWERFUL REMINDER TO PRESIDENT ANDY MASICH
THAT IT ISN'T ALWAYS THE LARGEST WEAPONS
THAT CAUSE THE MOST HARM.
THIS MINI BALL NEVER MADE IT TO A BATTLEFIELD,
BUT IT CAUSED THE DEADLIEST DAY AMONG CIVILIANS
DURING THE CIVIL WAR.
SO IF THESE BULLETS WERE NEVER FIRED FROM A GUN,
WHAT PART DID THEY PLAY
IN ONE OF THE UNION'S DEADLIEST TRAGEDIES?
SEPTEMBER 1862--
THE CIVIL WAR HAS BEEN RAGING FOR OVER A YEAR.
(cannons firing)
WITH CONFEDERATE TROOPS MARCHING NORTH,
PITTSBURGH RESIDENTS ARE ANXIOUS.
PEOPLE WERE NERVOUS
ABOUT A CONFEDERATE INVASION,
AND FORTIFICATIONS WERE CONSTRUCTED ON THE HILLS
AROUND THE CITY.
ONE POSSIBLE TARGET FOR THE SOUTHERN SOLDIERS
IS PITTSBURGH'S ALLEGHENY ARSENAL.
THERE A LARGE STAFF OF CIVILIANS WORK,
PRODUCING THE MUNITIONS VITAL TO THE UNION ARMY.
AMONG THE ARSENAL WORKERS ARE HUNDREDS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS.
BECAUSE OF THEIR NIMBLE HANDS
AND THEIR ABILITY TO WORK WITH THREAD AND SMALL OBJECTS,
THEY'RE HIRED TO ROLL CARTRIDGES.
TO ASSEMBLE THESE LETHAL PACKAGES,
WORKERS PLACE MUSKET BALLS AND BULLETS JUST LIKE THESE
INTO PAPER ROLLS
AND TOP THEM OFF WITH GUNPOWDER.
THE IDEA WAS THAT THE SOLDIER
WOULD TEAR THE TAIL OFF WITH HIS TEETH,
THEN POUR THE CONTENTS INTO THE MUSKET,
RAM IT DOWN, AND THEN FIRE IT AT THE ENEMY.
(explosion)
AS EACH DAY'S WORK PROGRESSES,
THE FLOOR BECOMES COATED
WITH A FINE DUSTING OF GUNPOWDER,
WHICH MUST BE METICULOUSLY CLEANED
TO AVOID AN ACCIDENTAL EXPLOSION.
THE GIRLS SWEPT THREE TIMES A DAY,
JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE GUNPOWDER DIDN'T ACCUMULATE.
ON SEPTEMBER 17th,
JUST BEFORE 2:00 P.M.,
A DELIVERYMAN IN A HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE
PULLS UP IN FRONT OF THE WORKSHOPS
WITH A FRESH LOAD OF GUNPOWDER.
BUT AS HE HAULS THE BARRELS INSIDE,
HE NOTICES A WAVE OF BRIGHT ORANGE FLAMES
RUNNING ACROSS THE GROUND BENEATH HIS WAGON WHEELS.
THEN SUDDENLY, AN EXPLOSION RIPS
THROUGH THE ARSENAL'S MAIN FACTORY BUILDING
TWO MORE MASSIVE BLASTS TEAR THROUGH REMAINING WORKSHOPS,
IGNITING 125,000 CARTRIDGES
AND 175 ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION,
INCLUDING THESE VERY BULLETS AT THE HEINZ HISTORY CENTER.
PEOPLE FOUND PIECES OF MUNITIONS
LIKE THE ONES WE HAVE IN THE COLLECTION
SCATTERED NEARLY 1/2 A MILE AWAY.
HOURS LATER, THE TRUE HORROR OF THE CATASTROPHE SINKS IN.
78 PEOPLE,
ALMOST ALL WOMEN AND YOUNG GIRLS,
ARE DEAD.
SO WHAT CAUSED THE EXPLOSIONS?
WERE THEY THE RESULT OF A DEADLY ACCIDENT,
OR WAS THIS A DELIBERATE ACT OF CONFEDERATE SABOTAGE?
ON SEPTEMBER 17, 1862,
PITTSBURGH'S ALLEGHENY ARSENAL
WAS ROCKED BY THREE FIERY BLASTS.
SCORES OF WORKERS, MOSTLY YOUNG WOMEN AND GIRLS
PRODUCING AMMUNITION FOR UNION TROOPS,
ARE KILLED IN THE EXPLOSIONS.
SO WHAT HAPPENED AT ALLEGHENY ARSENAL?
COULD IT HAVE BEEN CONFEDERATE SABOTAGE?
IT'S SEPTEMBER 19th.
TWO DAYS HAVE PASSED
SINCE A KEY WEAPONS SUPPLY CENTER FOR THE UNION ARMY
WAS LEVELED BY A SERIES OF EXPLOSIONS.
IT WAS THE WORST DAY FOR CIVILIAN DEATHS
IN THE HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR.
HORRIFIED SURVIVORS ARE LEFT TO WONDER
ABOUT THE TRAGEDY'S CAUSE
AND IMMEDIATELY SUSPECT
THAT CONFEDERATE SYMPATHIZERS WERE INVOLVED.
BUT SOME POINT THE FINGER CLOSER TO HOME.
JUST WEEKS BEFORE,
SOME BOYS WERE FIRED
FOR PLAYING WITH MATCHES AND SMOKING CIGARS
AROUND THE ARSENAL.
MAYBE THEY WANTED TO GET BACK AT THEIR BOSSES.
OR PERHAPS IT WAS THE FEMALE ARSENAL WORKERS THEMSELVES
WHO INADVERTENTLY IGNITED GUNPOWDER RESIDUE
ON THE GROUND.
THEIR DRESSES WERE WORN WITH CRINOLINES.
THOSE SILK AND WOOL SKIRTS
COULD HAVE CREATED A STATIC CHARGE,
JUST AS YOU DO WALKING OVER A CARPET
AND THEN TOUCHING A *** OR A TABLE.
(imitates spark igniting) YOU GET THAT LITTLE SPARK.
AS RUMORS FLY, A CORONER'S JURY IS TASKED
WITH INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF THIS CALAMITY.
AND TEN DAYS AFTER THE DEADLY BLAST,
THEY ARRIVE AT A SHOCKING CONCLUSION.
THE CORONER'S INQUEST DETERMINED
THAT A HORSESHOE MIGHT HAVE SPARKED THE GUNPOWDER
THAT IGNITED THE CONFLAGRATION.
THE THEORY GOES
THAT THE DELIVERYMAN'S HORSE,
STAMPING ITS FOOT AGAINST THE COBBLESTONE ROAD,
SENT UP A SPARK WITH ITS IRON SHOE.
THAT SPARK IGNITED THE EXCESS POWDER
THAT THE WORKERS HAD SWEPT OUT OF THE FACTORY
DIRECTLY ONTO THE STREET.
BUT WITH NO WITNESSES AND NO CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE,
THE DEBATE ABOUT THE ACCIDENT'S TRUE CAUSE
RAGES ON TO THIS VERY DAY.
WHATEVER THE TRUTH, THESE MUSKET BALLS,
RECOVERED AFTER THE EXPLOSION
AND ON DISPLAY HERE AT THE HEINZ HISTORY CENTER,
SERVE AS A SMALL REMINDER
OF THE VICTIMS OF A TRAGIC DISASTER.
GLIDER PLANES, FIGHTER JETS,
AND STRANGE AERIAL NOVELTIES
ADORN SEATTLE'S MUSEUM OF FLIGHT,
BUT THERE IS ONE GIANT RELIC ON DISPLAY
WITHOUT WINGS.
(man) IT'S 28 FEET LONG AND 14 FEET IN DIAMETER,
IT HAS A STRANGE WAFFLE PATTERN
IN THE ALUMINUM WALLS OF IT,
AND HAS HANDRAILS
THAT, IF YOU COULD FLOAT AROUND IT,
MIGHT COME IN REAL HANDY.
MUSEUM EDUCATOR RON HOBBS CAN ATTEST
THAT THIS MODERN-DAY MARVEL PLAYED A CENTRAL ROLE
IN A THRILLING, LIFE-AND-DEATH OUTER SPACE MISSION.
IT'S A REMINDER
THAT EVEN THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENS SOMETIMES.
THIS IS A LIFE-SIZE MODEL
OF THE DESTINY SPACE MODULE.
2001--
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE I.S.S.,
HAS BEEN IN ORBIT FOR THREE YEARS.
EVERY YEAR, NEW MODULES ARE ADDED
TO EXPAND ITS CAPABILITIES,
AND ON FEBRUARY 7th,
NASA'S NEWEST EDITION IS READY FOR TAKEOFF.
IT'S CALLED THE DESTINY.
THE DESTINY MODULE COST
ALMOST A BILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS TO BUILD
AND WEIGHED ABOUT 16 TONS AT LAUNCH.
DESTINY WILL SERVE AS BOTH
A NEW CONTROL CENTER FOR THE STATION
AND THE PRIMARY LABORATORY FOR AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS.
IF THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION IN DESTINY
ONCE IT ARRIVED THERE,
IT COULD REALLY SET BACK
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION PROGRAM,
PROBABLY, FOR YEARS.
(man) Go for main engine start.
Four, three, two, one,
zero, and liftoff of space shuttle "Atlantis."
AT 6:13 P.M.,
NASA'S SPACE SHUTTLE "ATLANTIS"
BLASTS OFF FROM KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.
IT CARRIES FIVE ASTRONAUTS
AND A BILLION-AND-A-HALF-DOLLAR PAYLOAD,
AND FOR THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS,
THE MISSION PROCEEDS EXACTLY ACCORDING TO PLAN.
(Ron) THE DESTINY IS REMOVED
FROM THE CARGO BAY OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE
AND IS JOINED TO THE GROWING INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION,
AND SPACEWALKERS ARE SUCCESSFUL IN ACTIVATING
A NUMBER OF THE SYSTEMS ABOARD DESTINY.
BUT ON FEBRUARY 10th,
AN UNEXPECTED ACCIDENT OCCURS.
ASTRONAUTS ROBERT CURBEAM AND TOM JONES
ARE OUTSIDE THE SPACECRAFT CONNECTING COOLING LINES,
WHICH ARE CRITICAL TO KEEPING
THE SENSITIVE SYSTEMS ABOARD THE SPACECRAFT FUNCTIONING.
TOM JONES WAS WORKING
OUT OF SIGHT OF, UH, BOB CURBEAM
WHEN HE HEARS THE WORDS
NO SPACEMAN WANTS TO HEAR--
"UH-OH."
WHAT JONES SEES NEXT IS UNIMAGINABLE.
SNOWFLAKE-LIKE PARTICLES
ARE STREAMING FROM CURBEAM'S WORK AREA.
BUT THEY'RE NOT MADE OF WATER.
THEY CONSIST OF DESTINY'S VITAL COOLING SUBSTANCE,
AMMONIA.
IF TOO MUCH OF THE AMMONIA FLIES OUT OF CONTAINMENT,
IT'S NOT GONNA HAVE ITS COOLING FLUID,
AND THE DESTINY MODULE
WILL BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO OVERHEATING,
WHICH COULD DESTROY, UH, THE SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS INSIDE.
AND THAT'S NOT ALL.
IF THE MODULE OVERHEATS,
THE ASTRONAUTS' LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS COULD FAIL.
IF THE LEAK ISN'T FIXED IMMEDIATELY,
THE ENTIRE EXPEDITION COULD BE DOOMED.
IN FEBRUARY 2001,
FIVE ASTRONAUTS EMBARK ON A MISSION
TO ATTACH A HIGH-TECH LABORATORY
CALLED THE DESTINY MODULE
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION,
BUT WHILE ASTRONAUT BOB CURBEAM IS WORKING ON THE COOLING LINES,
AN UNEXPECTED CRISIS OCCURS.
AMMONIA, CRITICAL TO COOLING THE SPACECRAFT,
BEGINS LEAKING,
ENDANGERING THE LIVES OF THE ASTRONAUTS.
NOW TIME IS RUNNING OUT
TO SAVE THE CREW.
ASTRONAUT ROBERT CURBEAM SPRINGS INTO ACTION.
HE IMMEDIATELY BEGINS PULLING DOWN
ON A LOCKING DEVICE CALLED A BAILER BAR
IN ORDER TO CUT OFF THE FLOW OF AMMONIA,
BUT THE LOCKING DEVICE IS FROZEN AND WON'T MOVE
DUE TO THE COLD OF OUTER SPACE.
ACCORDING TO BOB CURBEAM,
IT FELT LIKE AN ETERNITY,
UH, THAT HE WAS PULLING ON THAT BAILER BAR.
FINALLY, AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, THE BAR GIVES,
AND THE AMMONIA STOPS STREAMING OUT.
IT APPEARS THE LEAK IS FIXED,
BUT CURBEAM ISN'T OUT OF THE WOODS JUST YET.
THE AMMONIA HAS CONGEALED AN INCH THICK
ONTO HIS SPACE SUIT.
IF HE GOES BACK INSIDE THE MODULE
AND LETS THE AMMONIA EVAPORATE INTO THE AIR SUPPLY,
THE TOXIC GAS COULD KILL THE ENTIRE CREW.
CURBEAM MUST RID HIMSELF
OF THIS LIFE-THREATENING CHEMICAL IMMEDIATELY.
HE RADIOS MISSION CONTROL FOR HELP,
AND THE ENGINEERS INSTRUCT HIS PARTNER JONES
TO WIPE THE DEADLY CHEMICAL OFF HIS SPACE SUIT,
BUT HE CAN'T GET RID OF IT ALL.
SO MISSION CONTROL COMMANDERS DEVISE
A RATHER UNCONVENTIONAL SOLUTION.
THEY INSTRUCT CURBEAM TO STAY OUTSIDE THE SHUTTLE
FOR ONE FULL ORBIT OF THE EARTH
TO BURN OFF THE REMAINING LIQUID.
THE CREW CAN ONLY HOPE AND PRAY
THAT THE PLAN WORKS.
WITH CURBEAM POSITIONED IN THE SUN,
THE SUN'S HEAT EVAPORATES THE AMMONIA OFF HIS SUIT.
AMAZINGLY, THE PLAN SUCCEEDS
AND THE CRISIS IS AVERTED,
OR SO THE ASTRONAUTS THINK.
ALL THIS TIME,
DESTINY DOESN'T HAVE A FUNCTIONING COOLING SYSTEM
AND IT'S SITTING OUT IN THE SUN,
AND THE TEMPERATURE INSIDE GOT UP TO OVER 100 DEGREES.
IF TOO MUCH AMMONIA HAS BEEN LOST DURING THE LEAK,
THE COOLING SYSTEM WILL NOT REACTIVATE,
AND THE MODULE IS RAPIDLY HEATING UP.
IF IT GETS ANY HOTTER,
DESTINY'S SENSITIVE COMPUTERS WILL FAIL.
MAKING SURE THE SYSTEM HAS ENOUGH AMMONIA TO OPERATE
IS NOW A TOP PRIORITY.
THE TEMPERATURE RISE INSIDE DESTINY
IS AN EMERGENCY,
AND SO THE ASTRONAUTS HAD TO SCRAMBLE
TO CHECK AND MAKE SURE
ALL THE SUBSYSTEMS ARE WORKING CORRECTLY.
BUT TO EVERYONE'S SURPRISE AND RELIEF,
95% OF THE AMMONIA IS STILL INTACT,
AND WITHIN LESS THAN AN HOUR,
THE COOLING SYSTEM IS FULLY FUNCTIONING,
REDUCING THE TEMPERATURE AND SAVING THE CREW.
ASTRONAUTS FINISH THEIR DUTIES SUCCESSFULLY AND HEAD HOME,
AND TODAY, AT THE MUSEUM OF FLIGHT,
THIS LIFE-SIZED MODEL SERVES AS A REMINDER
THAT ALTHOUGH MAN CONTINUES TO EXPLORE THE FINAL FRONTIER,
HE'S FAR FROM CONQUERED IT.
FROM A CONTROVERSIAL MOTOR TO AN ARMORED LIMOUSINE,
A SIMPLE ICE AX TO SPACE-AGE TECHNOLOGY...
I'M DON WILDMAN,
AND THESE ARE THE MYSTERIES AT THE MUSEUM.