Season 7, Episode 1

Elyse: WE'RE THE HISTORY DETECTIVES, AND WE'RE GOING TO INVESTIGATE SOME UNTOLD STORIES FROM AMERICA'S PAST.

Gwendolyn: THIS WEEK, DID THOMAS EDISON INVENT THIS MACHINE TO LISTEN TO THE DEAD?

Tukufu: DOES THIS LETTER REVEAL A TOP SECRET ARMY PROGRAM TO TURN MAN'S BEST FRIEND INTO A WEAPON OF WAR?

[ barking ] Man: AND COULD THE OWNER OF THIS MEDALLION HAVE BEEN AN EYEWITNESS TO PANCHO VILLA'S BLOODY INVASION OF NEW MEXICO?

Tukufu: THE INVESTIGATION BRINGS GUEST HOST EDUARDO PAGAN CLOSE TO HIS OWN ROOTS.

MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER AND HIS SON RODE WITH PANCHO VILLA.

Elvis Costello: ♪ WATCHIN' THE DETECTIVES ♪ ♪ I GET SO ANGRY WHEN THE TEARDROPS START ♪ ♪ BUT HE CAN'T BE WOUNDED 'CAUSE HE'S GOT NO HEART ♪ ♪ WATCHIN' THE DETECTIVES ♪ ♪ IT'S JUST LIKE WATCHIN' THE DETECTIVES ♪ Gwendolyn: THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

OUR FIRST STORY TAKES US TO THE EDGES OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY AT THE TURN OF THE 20th CENTURY.

THOMAS EDISON WAS THE MOST PROLIFIC INVENTOR IN AMERICAN HISTORY, MAKING BREAKTHROUGHS IN TELEPHONE TECHNOLOGY, MOTION PICTURES, ELECTRIC LIGHTING, AND, OF COURSE, THE PHONOGRAPH, OR SOUND-RECORDING MACHINE.

Newsreel announcer: The phonograph was an international sensation.

Brought Edison fame and a nickname: Wizard of Menlo Park.

HE CHANGED THE WAY WE LIVE.

BUT WAS EDISON ALSO INVESTIGATING WHAT HAPPENED AFTER DEATH?

VICKI AND DALLAS CHILDRESS OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, BELIEVE THEY HAVE A DEVICE THAT MAY REVEAL A DIFFERENT SIDE OF THOMAS EDISON.

THE THEORY OF IT IS IS THAT IT WAS INVENTED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE OTHER SIDE, OR THE DEAD.

I'M STARTING MY INVESTIGATION WITH A FEW QUESTIONS FOR VICKI AND DALLAS.

SO, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SHOW ME?

I HAVE A PSYCHOPHONE.

"PSYCHOPHONE," WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WELL, I'M NOT SURE.

I DID SOME SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET, BUT THE ONLY THING THAT CAME UP WERE THESE PARANORMAL WEB SITES.

DALLAS AND VICKI'S TIME ON THE INTERNET LED THEM TO BELIEVE THAT THEIR PSYCHOPHONE MAY HAVE BEEN INVENTED BY ED ISON FOR PARANORMAL PURPOSES.

"PARANORMAL," WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

THEY CLAIM THOMAS EDISON INVENTED THIS MACHINE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE DEAD.

SO WHERE DID YOU GET IT?

WE GOT IT IN AN AUCTION BECAUSE OF THE NAME.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE SOMETHING INTERESTING TO PUT IN OUR FAMILY ROOM JUST AS A CONVERSATION PIECE.

THE AUCTIONEER CALLED THE DEVICE A PHONOGRAPH.

IT CAME WITH THESE FOUR CYLINDERS, WHICH LOOK AS IF THEY ARE INTENDED TO PLAY BACK AUDIO.

BUT DALLAS HAS HAD ONLY LIMITED SUCCESS TRYING TO OPERATE THE PSYCHOPHONE.

I WAS ABLE TO GET IT RUNNING, BUT I WASN'T ABLE TO GET ANY SOUND OUT OF IT.

SO TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT YOU'D LIKE FOR ME TO FIND OUT ABOUT THIS PSYCHOPHONE.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW IT CAME KNOWN AS THE PSYCHOPHONE.

AND DID THOMAS EDISON IN FACT INVENT THIS MACHINE?

[ ♪♪♪ ] SO IT'S CALLED THE PSYCHOPHONE.

NOW, "PSYCHO" MEANS THE MIND AND "PHONE" MEANS A SOUND.

I CAN'T REALLY TELL HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK.

I WONDER WHAT THIS LITTLE CLOCK DOES, FOR EXAMPLE.

THERE SEEMS TO BE NO PATENT NUMBER, NO MANUFACTURER'S MARK.

I WANT TO FIND OUT WHO MADE THIS... WHY?

BORN IN 1847, THOMAS EDISON'S INVENTIONS RECEIVED MORE THAN 1,093 U.S.

PATENTS: ELECTRICAL PRINTING MACHINES, MOTION PICTURE TECHNOLOGY, PRIMARY AND STORAGE BATTERIES; THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.

THE PSYCHOPHONE ISN'T LISTED IN OFFICIAL PATENT RECORDS.

I PRINTED OUT SOME RESEARCH MATERIALS WITH SOME STARTLING DETAILS, INCLUDING THIS ONE FROM SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN IN 1920... AN INTERVIEW WITH THE FAMOUS INVENTOR REGARDING HIS ATTEMPT TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE NEXT WORLD.

AND THIS NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE FROM THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

"THOMAS EDISON HAS ANNOUNCED HIS ENTRANCE INTO A NEW SPHERE, THAT OF PSYCHIC RESEARCH."

AND HE SAYS, "I HAVE BEEN THINKING FOR SOME TIME "OF A MACHINE OR APPARATUS WHICH COULD BE OPERATED "BY PERSONALITIES WHICH HAVE PASSED ON TO ANOTHER EXISTENCE OR SPHERE."

WELL, THIS IS A SIDE OF EDISON I'VE NEVER HEARD OF.

IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE PSYCHOPHONE IS THE APPARATUS THESE ARTICLES WERE REFERRING TO?

I'M HEADED TO MENLO PARK IN NEW JERSEY.

EDISON MOVED HERE IN 1876 AND SET UP WHAT MAY BE THE WORLD'S FIRST INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH LABORATORY, WHERE HE COMPLETED THREE OF HIS MOST FAMOUS INVENTIONS.

I'M MEETING HISTORIAN PAUL ISRAEL OF THE THOMAS A. EDISON PAPERS PROJECT AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY.

WELL, I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THE PSYCHOPHONE, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT AROUND 1920, EDISON ACTUALLY SPECULATED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF BUILDING A MACHINE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE DEAD.

THERE WERE A COUPLE OF ARTICLES, AND THEY EVEN TALK ABOUT THIS SEANCE THAT TOOK PLACE IN EDISON'S LABORATORY WITH THIS MACHINE.

THIS IS REALLY SOMETHING.

"EDISON'S OWN SECRET."

AND HERE HE IS TRYING TO LURE SPIRITS FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE.

PAUL TELLS ME THAT EDISON'S FABLED SPIRIT COMMUNICATION MACHINE HAS YET TO SHOW UP, AND HE DOUBTS THESE DRAWINGS ARE ANYTHING BUT A MEDIA CONCOCTION.

IT SEEMS TO ME FROM THESE ARTICLES THAT MAYBE HE WAS THINKING YOU COULD POSSIBLY COMMUNICATE WITH THE FORCES THAT MAKE US HUMAN, IS THAT RIGHT?

YES, WELL, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE WAS SPECULATING ABOUT.

AS EARLY AS 1890, HE ACTUALLY GAVE AN INTERVIEW WHERE HE TALKED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL, THAT ATOMS THAT MAKE UP THE UNIVERSE WERE ANIMATE AND THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE AT THE TIME OF DEATH, AS THESE ATOMS LEAVE THE BODY, THAT THEY MAY RETAIN KNOWLEDGE OF THE INDIVIDUAL IN SOME SENSE, AND SO IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THESE ATOMS.

HOW DID THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND OTHER SCIENTISTS RESPOND TO THESE SPECULATIONS?

WELL, CLEARLY THERE WERE MANY IN THE PUBLIC WHO HAD A VERY DEEP BELIEF IN THE POSSIBILITY OF SPIRITUALISM... PAUL EXPLAINS THAT SPIRITUALISM IS A BELIEF IN THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE DEAD.

IT GAINED APPEAL AS THE NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF RAPID INDUSTRIALIZATION, URBANIZATION, AND WAR GENERATED STRONG FEELINGS OF ALIENATION.

ESPECIALLY AFTER WORLD WAR I, THERE WAS GREAT INTEREST IN POTENTIALLY BEING ABLE TO TALK WITH LOVED ONES WHO HAD LOST THEIR LIVES AND SO FORTH.

Man: Clasp your hands together tightly with a key between your palms.

THE DRIVING FORCE IN THE SPIRITUALIST MOVEMENT WERE HUMAN MEDIUMS WHO CLAIMED THEY COULD CONTACT THE DEAD.

PAUL EXPLAINS THAT AS SCIENCE OVERTURNED ESTABLISHED PRESUMPTIONS ABOUT REALITY, IT SEEMED POSSIBLE TO BELIEVE THAT A MAGICAL MACHINE COULD CONNECT PEOPLE WITH THE AFTERLIFE.

ESPECIALLY SINCE THE MACHINES MUST HAVE SEEMED MAGICAL TO MANY PEOPLE AT THAT TIME.

RIGHT, ESPECIALLY ELECTRICAL TECHNOLOGY, RIGHT?

THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE BLACK BOX, WHERE YOU HAVE A MACHINE THAT YOU REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT WORKS, BUT IT DOES THESE WONDROUS THINGS; HERE ARE THESE VOICES COMING OUT OF THE ETHER.

I'M MEETING JERRY FABRIS, MUSEUM CURATOR AND EDISON EXPERT, TO COMPARE OUR PSYCHOPHONE WITH KNOWN EDISON PHONOGRAPHS.

[ music playing on phonograph ] SO THIS IS WHERE EDISON INVENTED THE PHONOGRAPH.

YEAH, 1877.

AND THE INVENTION OF THE PHONOGRAPH WAS VERY MUCH A DISCOVERY.

EDISON HAD BEEN INVESTIGATING HOW TO RECORD TELEPHONE MESSAGES.

HE DISCOVERED HE COULD USE A NEEDLE TO INDENT SOUND VIBRATIONS ONTO A TINFOIL-WRAPPED CYLINDER.

JERRY EXPLAINS HOW EDISON LITERALLY LEFT HIS MARK ON HISTORY.

ONE THING THAT HE ALWAYS DID WAS PUT HIS NAME REALLY PROMINENTLY ON WHATEVER IT WAS HE WAS SELLING, LIKE THIS AMBEROLA PHONOGRAPH.

THIS ONE SAYS "PSYCHOPHONE," BUT I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER IDENTIFICATION ON IT.

EDISON MADE MANY MODIFICATIONS TO HIS ORIGINAL PHONOGRAPH, RIGHT UP TO HIS DEATH IN 1931, BUT NONE RESEMBLE THE PSYCHOPHONE.

THE THING THAT JUMPS RIGHT OUT IS THIS CLOCK.

THAT'S A BIG QUESTION MARK.

IT'S UNUSUAL.

I'VE NEVER SEEN A CLOCK MOUNTED LIKE THAT ON AN EDISON PHONOGRAPH.

ANOTHER THING, THIS IS A REALLY UNUSUAL PART HERE.

I WONDER IF IT'S A REPEATER DEVICE FOR REWINDING AND REPLAYING REPEATEDLY THE RECORD.

JERRY POINTS OUT THAT THE ELECTRIC MOTOR, CORD, AND PLUG DATE THE PSYCHOPHONE TO THE 1920s.

BUT, HE ADDS, EDISON PHONOGRAPHS FROM THAT PERIOD DIDN'T USE ELECTRICITY.

THE EDISON MACHINES HAD A SPRING-POWERED MOTOR.

SO YOU SEE THIS CRANK ON THE SIDE, YOU'D WIND THAT UP TO START AND THEN YOU'D RELEASE THE SPRING, AND THAT'S WHAT WOULD TURN THE RECORD.

ALTHOUGH HE'S CURIOUS ABOUT THE CLOCK AND THE UNUSUAL APPARATUS ON THE TOP OF THE PSYCHOPHONE, IN MOST RESPECTS, IT IS A BASIC PHONOGRAPH FROM THE PERIOD.

WELL, IT'S CLEARLY FOR RECORDING SOUND.

THIS PART PLUGS IN HERE AND IT'S WHAT TOUCHES THE RECORD, AND IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY AT IT, IT SAYS "RECORDER" RIGHT ON IT.

THERE WOULD BE A HORN THAT COMES OUT OF THIS PIECE, AND ANY SOUND THAT WENT INTO THE HORN WOULD RECORD ON THE RECORD, AS LONG AS IT WAS LOUD ENOUGH.

YOU'LL BE SURPRISED AT WHAT THE OWNERS THINK.

THEY'VE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS MACHINE WAS USED TO RECORD VOICES OF THE DEAD IN THE AFTERLIFE.

NOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

YOU LITERALLY HAVE TO SHOUT TO GET YOUR VOICE TO CUT CLEARLY ONTO THE RECORD, SO IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A REALLY LOUD GHOST.

JERRY'S NOT SURE HOW THE MACHINE WAS USED, BUT HE SPOTS WHAT MAY BE A POSSIBLE CLUE.

SO I SEE GROOVES AND I SEE RIPPLES, WHICH LOOK LIKE, CLEARLY, SOUND WAVE CUTTINGS.

YOU COULD PLAY THIS BACK AND THAT WOULD PROBABLY TELL YOU SOMETHING ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF THIS MACHINE.

I'VE SENT THE PSYCHOPHONE AHEAD TO TIM FABRIZIO, WHO HAS 40 YEARS' EXPERIENCE RE BUILDING ANTIQUE PHONOGRAPHS.

HE'S ATTEMPTING TO SEE IF ANY AUDIO RECORDINGS SURVIVE ON THE PSYCHOPHONE CYLINDERS.

ANY LUCK?

WELL, THE GOOD NEWS IS THE MACHINE ITSELF HAS BEEN RESTORED AND NOW IT'S FULLY FUNCTIONAL.

THAT'S EXCITING!

BUT I COULDN'T GET ANY SOUND OUT OF THE CYLINDERS.

THEY WERE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR.

TIM OFFERS TO SHOW ME HOW SOUND WOULD HAVE BEEN RECORDED ON THE WAX CYLINDERS.

WE'LL PUT THE RECORD ON LIKE THIS, PUT IT ON THE MANDREL.

WE'LL PUT THE RECORDING HEAD ON, OKAY?

ALL RIGHT, IT'S ALL SET.

NOW, YOU SHOULD SPEAK DIRECTLY INTO THIS HORN AND REALLY PROJECT.

TIM SUGGESTS I RECITE THE VERY WORDS EDISON SUPPOSEDLY UTTERED INTO HIS FIRST PHONOGRAPH.

"MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB, ITS FLEECE WAS WHITE AS SNOW.

AND EVERYWHERE THAT MARY WENT, THE LAMB WAS SURE TO GO."

NOW, WHAT WE'LL DO IS REPLACE THE RECORDING HEAD WITH A REPRODUCING HEAD.

WE'LL JUST RESET THE MECHANISM AND, VOILA!

[ Gwen's voice on scratchy recording ] IT SOUNDS A LITTLE WOBBLY, BUT YOU CAN CERTAINLY HEAR IT.

TIM'S BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT SOME OF THE UNUSUAL FEATURES OF THE PSYCHOPHONE, INCLUDING THE CLOCK.

IT'S A VERY SPECIALIZED DEVICE.

THE RECORD IS SET TO PLAY CONTINUOUSLY EVERY HOUR ON THE HOUR.

IT HAS A RETURN MECHANISM THAT DRAWS THE CARRIAGE BACK, AND WHEN THE CLOCK TRIGGERS THE MECHANISM, IT PLAYS IT AGAIN.

TIM HAS SEEN A PSYCHOPHONE ONCE BEFORE.

WHILE WORKING ON IT, HE DISCOVERED THE ORIGINAL PATENT FILED UNDER A DIFFERENT NAME, THE AUTOMATIC TIME-CONTROLLED SUGGESTION MACHINE.

IT WAS INVENTED BY A GUY NAMED A.B.

SALIGER, AND IT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE: $235 IN 1929 OR '30.

THAT'S ABOUT $3,800 IN TODAY'S MONEY.

"AUTOMATIC TIME-CONTROLLED SUGGESTION MACHINE."

WELL, THE "TIME-CONTROLLED" REFERS TO THE CLOCK, BUT "SUGGESTION"?

YOU SEE, "PSYCHOPHONE" DOESN'T REFER TO "PSYCHIC" OR "PSYCHIC ACTIVITY," IT REFERS TO "PSYCHOLOGY."

LET ME PLAY SOMETHING FOR YOU, AND I THINK IT WILL EXPLAIN A LOT.

TIM HAS AN AUDIO FILE THAT I KNOW VICKI AND DALLAS WILL BE EXCITED TO HEAR.

YOUR FIRST QUESTION WAS IF THOMAS EDISON INVENTED THE PSYCHOPHONE.

AND WHILE HE DID INVENT THE PHONOGRAPH AND ALL KINDS OF MARVELOUS MACHINES, THE PSYCHOPHONE WAS NOT ONE OF THEM.

I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED, BUT I'M NOT SURPRISED.

YOU ALSO WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THE PSYCHOPHONE DID, AND I CAN PLAY SOMETHING FOR YOU.

LISTEN TO THIS.

Announcer: This is the great PsychoPhone talking to you.

It will not disturb your sleep.

On the other hand, it will induce restful slumber.

THIS WAS A DEVICE FOR SELF-IMPROVEMENT.

IT PLAYED MESSAGES OF POSITIVE SUBLIMINAL NATURE WHILE YOU WERE ASLEEP.

THE CLAIM WAS IT COULD HELP YOU FIND HAPPINESS, FIND LOVE, FIND WEALTH, FIND HEALTH.

IT WAS THE CLASSIC AMERICAN QUICK FIX.

You are being rejuvenated in perfect health.

Your weight is normal.

Your hair is growing in luxurious abundance.

I am now having a wonderful rest.

THAT IS WILD!

THAT IS A VOICE FROM THE AFTERLIFE.

I TELL DALLAS AND VICKI THAT THE VOICE IS THAT OF A.B.

SALIGER, THE INVENTOR OF THE GREAT PSYCHOPHONE.

HE WAS PART OF A SELF-IMPROVEMENT FAD ALL OVER AMERICA IN THE 1920s.

AND THIS WAS A RECORDING OF HIS MANTRA OF HOW YOU COULD INSTANTANEOUSLY TRANSFORM YOURSELF, ACHIEVE HEALTH AND VIGOR AND HAPPINESS AND BEAUTY AND SUCCESS IN BUSINESS WITH NO EFFORT WHILE YOU SLEPT.

I WAS JUST THINKING HERE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE I NEED TO LISTEN TO THIS TONIGHT.

[ laughing ] REJUVENATE MYSELF, ESPECIALLY ABOUT GROWING THE HAIR BACK.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS KIND OF NICE.

[ laughs ] IT'S A PRETTY NEAT PIECE OF HISTORY.

I'M THRILLED.

SO AM I. I THINK THIS IS GREAT.

THIS IS GREAT.

IF YOU WANTED A CONVERSATION PIECE, YOU SURE HAVE ONE NOW.

I'M SO TICKLED.

WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SELF-HELP MESSAGES WERE RELATIVELY NEW WHEN THE PSYCHOPHONE WAS MARKETED.

IN 1922, A FRENCH PSYCHOTHERAPIST, EMILE COUE, PUBLISHED THE FIRST POPULAR SELF-IMPROVEMENT BOOK IN AMERICA, SELF MASTERY THROUGH CONSCIOUS AUTOSUGGESTION.

HE RECOMMENDED CHANTING 20 TIMES EACH MORNING AND NIGHT: THE BOOK WAS WILDLY POPULAR AND OPENED THE DOOR FOR COUNTLESS OTHERS, INCLUDING DALE CARNEGIE'S HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE.

CARNEGIE'S BOOK HAS NOW REPORTEDLY SOLD 50 MILLION COPIES WORLDWIDE.

SELF-HELP BOOKS, VIDEOS, TAPES, AND SEMINARS NOW CONSTITUTE A $2.5 BILLION INDUSTRY.

FOR MORE OF MY INTERVIEW WITH PAUL ISRAEL, GO TO HISTORY DETECTIVES ON THE WEB AT pbs.org.

AT MENLO PARK, THOMAS EDISON CREATED AMERICA'S FIRST INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH LABORATORY.

BY UNITING ASSEMBLY-LINE EFFICIENCY WITH TEAMS OF TALENTED INVENTORS, EDISON WOULD BUILD SOMETHING THAT HE COULDN'T PATENT BUT WHICH WOULD TRANSFORM THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN INGENUITY.

BEGINNING IN 1876, TEAMS OF ASSISTANTS WORKED AROUND THE CLOCK IN THE FIRST-FLOOR MACHINE SHOP AND THE UPSTAIRS LABORATORY.

THEY BUILT, TESTED, AND REWORKED EDISON'S IDEAS INTO VIABLE INVENTIONS.

A DECADE LATER, EDISON HAD MOVED HIS WORK TO NEW YORK.

MENLO PARK WAS ALL BUT FORGOTTEN UNTIL ANOTHER ASSEMBLY-LINE PIONEER, AUTOMAKER HENRY FORD, TOOK AN INTEREST.

HE WANTED EDISON'S ENTIRE LAB RELOCATED TO DEARBORN, MICHIGAN, BUT THE SITE LAY IN RUINS.

SO FORD RE-CREATED THE LAB FROM RECOVERED SCRAPS AND PHOTOGRAPHS.

THE REBUILT FACILITY CAN BE SEEN TODAY AT THE HENRY FORD MUSEUM IN GREENFIELD VILLAGE.

Tukufu: OUR NEXT STORY EXPLORES A STRANGE USE OF DOGS DURING WORLD WAR II.

[ barking ] AS THE SMOKE CLEARS OVER PEARL HARBOR IN DECEMBER 1941, THE U.S. ARMY KNOWS THAT A COSTLY WAR IN THE PACIFIC IS NOW INEVITABLE.

BUT THE OPENING MONTHS OF 1942 GO BADLY FOR THE ALLIES, AND MORE AND MORE TERRITORY IN THE PACIFIC IS LOST TO THE JAPANESE.

THERE'S A GROWING SENSE OF DESPERATION.

HOW WILL THE MILITARY DEFEAT AN ENEMY THAT IS NOW DUG IN ON ISLANDS ALL ACROSS THE SOUTH PACIFIC?

MORE THAN 60 YEARS LATER, ANDREW TURNER FROM KANSAS CITY, KANSAS, HAS A DOCUMENT THAT MAY REVEAL A CLASSIFIED ATTEMPT TO GIVE NEW BITE TO THE NATION'S ARMED FORCES.

I SEEM TO HAVE STUMBLED UPON A BIT OF MYSTERIOUS WWII HISTORY.

HONORED TO MEET YOU.

COME ON IN.

THANK YOU.

SO WHAT DO YOU HAVE HERE FOR ME?

WELL, I HAVE A BUNCH OF DOCUMENTS, 1940s, WWII-ERA, FORMERLY BELONGING TO A SERGEANT HENRY SIMPSON.

HOW DID YOU COME ABOUT THIS STUFF?

I WORKED FOR AN ONLINE AUCTION COMPANY, AND THIS STUFF CAME IN ON CONSIGNMENT.

THE DOCUMENTS APPEAR TO BE ABOUT A SECRET PROGRAM TO TRAIN ATTACK DOGS OFF THE COAST OF MISSISSIPPI.

WHAT'S REALLY COOL ABOUT THESE DOCUMENTS IS THEY DEAL WITH K-9 SERVICE IN WORLD WAR II, BUT AS I WAS GOING THROUGH THE DOCUMENTS, IT KIND OF SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS AN EXTRA LEVEL TO IT, LIKE IT WASN'T JUST SIMPLE DOG TRAINING.

WHAT LED YOU TO THAT CONCLUSION?

MOST OF THE DOCUMENTS ARE BUREAUCRATIC AND NOT TERRIBLY INTERESTING, BUT ONE LETTER CAUGHT ANDREW'S EYE.

TO SERGEANT SIMPSON FROM A SOLDIER HE HAD SERVED WITH NAMED DON REYNOLDS.

IT APPEARS THAT THERE'S SOME SORT OF OFFICIAL ARMY INVESTIGATION GOING ON.

OH, REALLY?

YEAH.

HE SAYS, "WE HEARD ON THE ISLAND THAT TWO FULL COLONELS WERE COMING DOWN FROM WASHINGTON TO INVESTIGATE AFFAIRS."

IT'S NOT CLEAR WHAT THE INVESTIGATION IS ABOUT, BUT THE TARGET IS A MAN NAMED PRESTRE.

"IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THE COLONEL KNOWS "THAT MR. PRESTRE IS AFTER HIS HIDE, SO HE IS GOING AFTER MR.

PRESTRE'S."

WHO IS MR. PRESTRE?

APPARENTLY, HE HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH TRAINING THESE DOGS.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MR. PRESTRE AS A DOG TRAINER?"

WHATEVER THE INVESTIGATION IS ABOUT, THE LETTER WRITER SEEMS VERY NERVOUS.

OH, LOOK AT THIS: "PARDON MY TERRIBLE TYPING.

"I'M IN THE ORDERLY ROOM IN GULFPORT AND WAS AFRAID "ONE OF THE OFFICERS WOULD COME IN ANY MINUTE.

"HOWEVER, I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY FEAR "OF YOUR LETTERS BEING OPENED, AND I THINK YOU CAN WRITE TO ME SAFELY."

THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON.

SOMETHING SHADY IS HAPPENING HERE.

OKAY.

I CONSIDER MYSELF AN AMATEUR WWII HISTORIAN, BUT I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE.

NOW, WHAT IS IT YOU WANT ME TO FIND OUT FOR YOU?

WELL, BASICALLY, WHAT WAS THE ARMY DOING TRAINING THESE DOGS AND WHO IS THIS MR. PRESTRE AND WHY WAS THE ARMY INVESTIGATING HIM?

WELL, I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST.

I'M A CAT GUY MYSELF, BUT I'LL TRY TO FIND OUT AS MUCH ABOUT YOUR DOG STORY HERE AS I CAN, ALL RIGHT?

OKAY, GREAT, THANKS.

SO I'LL GET BACK TO YOU.

I LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

ALL THE DOCUMENTS IN THE FOLDER DATE TO WORLD WAR II.

THE LETTER BETWEEN SIMPSON AND REYNOLDS DISCUSSING THE INVESTIGATION OF MR. PRESTRE IS CERTAINLY THE MOST CURIOUS.

IT APPEARS THEY GAVE A QUESTIONNAIRE TO ALL THE MEN: "DID MR. PRESTRE EVER PROMISE OR OFFER YOU A COMMISSION?"

"WHAT THREATS DID YOU EVER HEAR MR. PRESTRE MAKE AGAINST FELLOW OFFICERS OF THIS COMMAND?"

BUT IT DOESN'T REALLY TELL US WHAT HE DID OR EVEN WHAT HE WAS ACCUSED OF.

WHAT THE DOG TRAINING IS FOR IS NOT CLEAR EITHER.

LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE WE'VE GOT HERE.

SO THIS IS LIKE A LIST OF DOGS ASSIGNED TO THE PROJECT AND THE DATE THAT THEY WERE ACQUIRED BY THE MILITARY.

ACCORDING TO THESE DOCUMENTS, THE DOGS ARE BEING TRAINED OFF THE COAST OF GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI, AT A PLACE IRONICALLY CALLED CAT ISLAND.

I DON'T HAVE MUCH LUCK ONLINE RUNNING DOWN ANY OF THE PEOPLE MENTIONED IN THE DOCUMENTS, BUT THE ENTRY "WAR DOGS" THROWS UP A COUPLE OF INTERESTING ITEMS.

LISTEN TO THIS FROM MARCH 1942.

THIS IS JUST THREE MONTHS AFTER THE BOMBING OF PEARL HARBOR.

"THE ARMY WILL ACCEPT DOGS OF GOOD HEALTH AND INTELLIGENCE TO BE TRAINED FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE."

AND CALLED UPON "OWNERS OF SUITABLE DOGS TO VOLUNTEER THEIR PETS FOR SELECTIVE SERVICE."

IT WAS A TIME OF GROWING NATIONAL PARANOIA: GERMAN U-BOATS HAD BEEN SPOTTED OFF THE AMERICAN COAST AND THERE WERE REPORTS AND WORRIES ABOUT SPIES COMING ASHORE.

THE MILITARY WAS WORRIED ABOUT SABOTAGE OF THEIR COASTAL SUPPLY DEPOTS AND DECIDED THEY WANTED TO USE SENTRY DOGS TO HELP GUARD AGAINST THESE KINDS OF ATTACKS.

THE U.S. ARMY TURNED TO ITS QUARTERMASTER CORPS TO TRAIN THE DOGS.

BUT THERE'S NO MENTION OF WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS CONNECTED TO WHAT WAS GOING ON ON CAT ISLAND.

LET ME TRY TO DIG A LITTLE BIT MORE HERE.

LISTEN TO THIS: "THE CAT ISLAND WAR DOG RECEPTION AND TRAINING CENTER."

"CASUAL VISITORS ARE NOT WELCOME.

TRAINING SECRETS REMAIN SECRET."

CAT ISLAND IS ABOUT EIGHT MILES OFF THE COAST OF GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI.

I'VE ARRANGED TO MEET A GULFPORT NATIVE, BARRY FOSTER.

SO YOU'VE BEEN OUT TO THIS CAT ISLAND?

THIS CAT ISLAND IS VERY SPECIAL TO ME.

HE SAYS HE STARTED RESEARCHING CAT ISLAND AS A TEEN AFTER HEARING RUMORS ABOUT ITS SECRET WARTIME PAST.

I ALWAYS HAVE TIME FOR AMATEUR HISTORIANS; THEY OFTEN TURN UP INFORMATION THAT PROFESSIONAL HISTORIANS HAVEN'T COME ACROSS.

LOCAL CAPTAIN KIM FULTON HAS AGREED TO FERRY US OUT TO THE ISLAND.

CAPTAIN KIM, HOW YOU DOING, MAN?

IT'S ABOUT A HALF-HOUR TRIP FROM SHORE.

BARRY TELLS ME HE WAS SO TAKEN WITH THE MYSTERY OF CAT ISLAND THAT HE SPENT YEARS DOING RESEARCH AND TRACKING DOWN EYEWITNESSES.

THAT'S IT, SEE IT?

IF THE MILITARY WANTED A SECLUDED HARD-TO-REACH PLACE TO RUN A SECRET PROGRAM, THIS WAS DEFINITELY A GOOD CHOICE.

THERE'S NOT EVEN A DOCK WE CAN LAND AT.

THEY PROBABLY BELIEVED THAT THE TERRAIN HERE WAS SOMEWHAT SIMILAR TO THE ISLANDS IN THE PACIFIC.

WE COME ACROSS REMNANTS OF THE ARMY'S PRESENCE HERE: RUSTED HULKS OF MACHINERY AND FOOTPRINTS WHERE BUILDINGS ONCE STOOD.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE THE KENNELS HERE, TUKUFU.

I TELL BARRY WHAT I'VE READ ABOUT THE ARMY QUARTERMASTER CORPS PROGRAM TO TRAIN DOGS AS SENTRIES, SCOUTS, AND MINE DETECTORS.

IS THIS PART OF THAT?

NO, ACTUALLY, AT THE TIME THIS STARTED, THERE WERE FOUR SITES WHERE THEY WERE TRAINING DOGS.

THIS WAS A FIFTH THAT WAS KIND OF OFF THE RADAR.

OFF THE RADAR?

BARRY EXPLAINS THAT THE TOP SECRET PROGRAM ON CAT ISLAND STARTED AROUND NOVEMBER 1942.

IT WAS RUN BY THE ARMY GROUND FORCES AND HEADED UP BY A CIVILIAN, A SWISS REFUGEE FROM NEW MEXICO.

HIS NAME WAS WILLIAM A. PRESTRE.

YES, THIS IS THE GUY IN MY LETTER.

BUT WHAT WAS HE TRYING TO DO?

HE CONVINCED SOMEBODY HIGHER UP IN THE MILITARY THAT HE COULD TRAIN DOGS TO SCENT AND ATTACK PEOPLE WITH JAPANESE BLOOD.

BARRY TELLS ME THAT PRESTRE'S PLAN TO WIN THE WAR WAS TO TRAIN A FEROCIOUS ASSAULT FORCE OF 20,000 OR 30,000 DOGS.

PACKS WOULD BE TRAINED TO SNIFF OUT THE JAPANESE AND HUNT THEM DOWN IN A FI RST WAVE OF ISLAND INVASIONS.

OKAY, IT SOUNDS KIND OF FARFETCHED, BUT I -- IT SOUNDS VERY FARFETCHED NOW, BUT REMEMBER DURING THAT TIME THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR ANY ADVANTAGE WE COULD GET TO WIN A WORLD WAR.

BARRY SAYS THE ARMY GREEN-LIT PRESTRE'S PLAN AND GAVE HIM THREE MONTHS HERE TO TEST HIS THEORY.

THE LETTER THAT I'M INVESTIGATING SUGGESTS THAT PRESTRE WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE MILITARY.

DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT?

YOU KNOW, I DON'T.

BARRY SAYS SIMPSON AND REYNOLDS WERE SIMPLY SOLDIERS STATIONED ON CAT ISLAND.

HE SUSPECTS THAT THE INVESTIGATION THEY ARE DISCUSSING MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH PRESTRE'S TRAINING METHODS.

WELL, HIS IDEA WAS TO TAKE AMERICAN SOLDIERS WHO WERE OF JAPANESE DESCENT, AND THE JAPANESE AMERICANS WERE BROUGHT HERE NOT AS DOG TRAINERS, TUKUFU, BUT DOG BAIT.

AS WHAT?

AS DOG BAIT.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, THEY WERE DOG BAIT?

BARRY TELLS ME THAT SOME OF TH E EYEWITNESSES HE INTERVIEWED WERE THESE JAPANESE-AMERICAN SOLDIERS.

HE'S ARRANGED A MEETING FOR ME BACK ON SHORE.

[ ♪♪♪ ] BARRY SENT ME TO A LOCAL VFW WATERING HOLE TO MEET A VETERAN NAMED RAYMOND NOSAKA.

NOW 92, RAY WAS 26 AND TRAINING IN WISCONSIN WITH THE ALL-JAPANESE-AMERICAN 100th INFANTRY BATTALION WHEN HE AND 24 OTHERS SUDDENLY RECEIVED NEW ORDERS.

THEY TOOK US TO GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI.

NOW, THEY DIDN'T EXPLAIN TO YOU WHY THEY WERE DOING THIS?

ALL WAS SO SECRET.

WE STAYED THERE ABOUT THREE WEEKS ON THE ISLAND, AND THEN THEY TOLD US WE WERE GOING TO TRAIN DOGS, BUT ACTUALLY US GUYS, WE WERE THE BAIT, DOG BAIT.

ACCORDING TO RAY, THE DOGS SOON GREW ACCUSTOMED TO THE 25 JAPANESE AMERICANS, SO HE WAS ORDERED TO USE BRUTAL METHODS TO TRY TO TEACH THE DOGS TO, QUOTE, "HATE."

"YOU HIT THE DOG!"

I HIT THE DOG TILL HE BLEEDS.

RAY WAS GIVEN PROTECTIVE PADS AND ORDERED BY THE DOG'S HANDLER TO RETREAT 30 PACES AND WAIT.

AND HE TOLD THE DOG, "KILL HIM!"

NOT TO ATTACK, HE SAID, "KILL!"

THAT'S THE COMMAND THEY GAVE.

SO WHEN THEY COME FOR YOU, THEY MEAN BUSINESS.

THE DOG'S SO MAD ALREADY BECAUSE I HIT HIM AND BITE ME ALL OVER THE PLACE.

SO IT'S NOT A PLEASANT THING, BUT I ALWAYS SAY, "WELL, THAT'S OUR DUTY, WE HAVE TO DO IT."

SO WHY DID THEY SELECT JAPANESE-AMERICAN SOLDIERS TO BE THE LIVE BAIT?

THAT SWEDISH GUY TOLD US THAT WE SMELLED LIKE THE ENEMY JAPANESE.

THIS IS WRONG.

THE THEORY IS NOT RIGHT.

I'M DOING AN INVESTIGATION TRYING TO FIND OUT ABOUT HIM.

DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MR. PRESTRE?

I REALLY CAN'T SAY TOO MUCH ABOUT HIM, BECAUSE WE HARDLY -- WE HARDLY SEE HIM.

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION OF MR. PRESTRE?

NO, I NEVER -- MAYBE THEY WERE INVESTIGATING HIM, BUT THEY DON'T WANT US TO BE FRIENDLY WITH THE TRAINERS NOR THE DOGS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT HELP.

RAY NEVER HEARD ABOUT PRESTRE AFTER THE WAR.

HE SAID PRESTRE HAD LOOKED AT LEAST 20 YEARS OLDER THAN THE ENLISTED MEN, SO HE'S ALMOST CERTAINLY PASSED AWAY.

I'M HEADING TO FORT LEE, VIRGINIA, HOME TO THE U.S. ARMY'S QUARTERMASTER MUSEUM AND SOME MODERN-DAY MILITARY WORKING DOGS.

I'M MEETING THE MUSEUM'S CURATOR, LUTHER HANSON, AND DOG HANDLER, STAFF SERGEANT NATHAN GIBSON.

AH!

WHOO, GOOD GIRL!

THE DOG CAN SNIFF OUT A FUGITIVE IN THE WOODS OR NARCOTICS HIDDEN IN A VEHICLE.

I ASKED SERGEANT GIBSON IF THEIR DOGS COULD BE TRAINED TO IDENTIFY AND ATTACK CERTAIN RACES BASED ON THEIR SCENT.

NO, SIR, IT WON'T BE BY SCENT.

SO THE DOG DOESN'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ASIAN, A CAUCASIAN, AN AFRICAN AMERICAN?

NOT BY SCENT, SIR.

I TELL BOTH MEN ABOUT MY INVESTIGATION.

LUTHER CONFIRMS WHAT BARRY TOLD ME ABOUT THE SECRET MISSION ON CAT ISLAND.

I'VE HEARD SOME UNBELIEVABLE STORIES ABOUT HOW JAPANESE-AMERICAN SOLDIERS WERE TREATED ON CAT ISLAND.

IS THAT WHY MR. PRESTRE WAS BEING INVESTIGATED?

NO, I DON'T BELIEVE SO.

THE ARMY LOOKED AT IT AS A WAY OF SAVING AMERICAN LIVES.

THEY TRIED IT FOR 90 DAYS AS AN EXPERIMENT ONLY.

WHY DID THE ARMY END PRESTRE'S EXPERIMENT?

IT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL.

THE DOGS WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE BETWEEN THE JAPANESE AMERICANS AND ANY OTHER SCENTS THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND IN THE WOODS.

THEY WERE ALSO UNABLE TO KEEP THE PACKS TOGETHER.

UNLESS YOU HAD A HANDLER THERE POINTING AND GIVING DIRECTION TO THE INDIVIDUAL DOGS, THE DOGS WENT AFTER DIFFERENT SCENTS AND ESSENTIALLY EITHER LOST OR DIDN'T FIND THE SOLDIERS.

HE EXPLAINS THAT AFTER PRESTRE WAS FIRED, THE ARMY QUARTERMASTER CORPS TOOK OVER THE CAT ISLAND TRAINING PROGRAM.

SO IF THEY WEREN'T INVESTIGATING HIS METHODS, WHY WAS MR. PRESTRE INVESTIGATED BY THE MILITARY?

I'M NOT SURE, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THE PAPERS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN DECLASSIFIED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND THERE MAY BE SOME MORE ANSWERS THERE FOR YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I'VE REQUESTED THE DECLASSIFIED CAT ISLAND FILES FROM THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES IN WASHINGTON, D.C. MY OFFICE HAS FORWARDED THEM TO ME IN THE FIELD.

IT APPEARS THAT AS PRESTRE'S 90-DAY EXPERIMENT WOUND DOWN IN JANUARY 1943, AN INSPECTION WAS HELD TO SHOW ARMY BRASS THE RESULTS.

AND IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT WENT WELL AT ALL.

LISTEN TO THIS: "THERE WAS NO ACTUAL FEROCITY DISPLAYED BY THE DOGS.

IT WAS MORE NEARLY COMPARABLE TO A VAUDEVILLE ACT."

IT SOUNDS LIKE THINGS WENT DOWNHILL FAST FOR PRESTRE.

CHECK THIS OUT.

"MR. WILLIAM A. PRESTRE WAS NOTIFIED "THAT HIS EMPLOYMENT WITH THIS PROJECT TERMINATES FEBRUARY 2, 1943."

BUT, YOU KNOW, I STILL DON'T SEE A REASON FOR THE ARMY TO HAVE STARTED AN OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION.

WAIT A MINUTE, IT LOOKS LIKE PRESTRE'S FIRING WASN'T THE END OF THE MATTER.

"SUBJECT: INVESTIGATION OF CAT ISLAND TRAINING PROGRAM, CONDUCTED MARCH 30-31, 1943."

PRESTRE HADN'T GONE DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT.

HE CLAIMED THE ARMY HAD HAMPERED HIS ABILITY TO GET RESULTS FROM HIS DOGS, AND HE MADE SEVERAL ALLEGATIONS OF INCOMPETENCE AGAINST HIS ARMY BOSSES.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE IN EACH CASE THE ARMY INVESTIGATORS RULED AGAINST MR. PRESTRE.

BUT THE INVESTIGATION HAD SUDDENLY TAKEN A FAR MORE SERIOUS TONE.

I FOUND WHAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR.

LISTEN TO THIS.

SO YOU WERE RIGHT.

THERE WAS CONTROVERSY.

THERE WAS TENSION AROUND MR. PRESTRE AND THE CAT ISLAND TRAINING FACILITY.

I TELL ANDREW ABOUT WILLIAM PRESTRE'S PLAN TO TRAIN ATTACK DOGS AND THE MEN LIKE RAYMOND NOSAKA WHOSE DUTY IT WAS TO SERVE AS HUMAN BAIT.

AS DEGRADING AND DISTASTEFUL AS THAT MAY SOUND, THESE MEN REALLY DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES IN THIS MISERABLE CIRCUMSTANCE.

THEY STILL SERVED THEIR COUNTRY EVEN THOUGH THEY WEREN'T EXACTLY TREATED VERY WELL BACK HOME.

BUT YOU WANTED TO KNOW SPECIFICALLY ABOUT MR. PRESTRE, AND OUR DECLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS HAVE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THAT AS WELL.

THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE FAILED DOG TRAINING PROGRAM HAD TURNED INTO SECRET SCRUTINY OF ITS UNSTABLE PROMOTER.

PRIOR TO HIS DEPARTURE, MR. PRESTRE MADE SEVERAL THREATS, THE GIST OF WHICH WERE THAT UNLESS THE PROJECT IS CONTINUED, HE WOULD MAKE PLENTY OF TROUBLE "FOR ANY AND ALL THAT OPPOSED HIM, UP TO AND INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT."

LISTEN TO THIS: "IT IS BELIEVED ADVISABLE "TO APPOINT THE FBI WITH HIS ACTIONS AND ATTITUDE "AND REQUEST THAT HE BE PLACED UNDER SURVEILLANCE IF DEEMED NECESSARY."

I CAN FIND NO MENTION OF MR. PRESTRE AFTER THIS.

WOW, I'M REALLY GLAD THAT I WAS ABLE TO STUMBLE UPON SOMETHING THAT BRINGS A LITTLE-KNOWN PIECE OF WWII HISTORY TO LIFE.

AND FOR THAT I THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NICE WORK.

ALTHOUGH THE CAT ISLAND EXPERIMENT WAS A FAILURE, THE ARMY'S OVERALL WAR DOG PROGRAM WAS A SUCCESS.

BY THE END OF THE WAR, THE ARMY HAD TRAINED CLOSE TO 10,500 DOGS AND CREATED 15 WAR DOG PLATOONS.

ALMOST 1,900 DOGS SERVED OVERSEAS, MOSTLY AS SENTRIES, SCOUTS, MESSENGERS, AND DRAFT DOGS.

THEIR SUCCESS PROVED HOW VALUABLE MAN'S BEST FRIEND COULD BE TO SOLDIERS AND SOLIDIFIED THE ROLE OF THE WORKING DOG IN THE MILITARY.

U.S.

TROOPS APPRECIATED THE SERVICE AND BRAVERY OF DOGS DURING THE VIETNAM WAR, MOSTLY GERMAN SHEPHERDS.

MORE THAN 4,000 OF THESE WAR DOGS SERVED AS SCOUTS, SENTRIES, TRACKERS, AND MINE DETECTORS.

CANINES SERVED ON OVER 88,000 ARMY MISSIONS.

THEY'RE CREDITED WITH SAVING 10,000 LIVES.

THE WAR DOGS WERE SO EFFECTIVE THAT THE VIET CONG OFFERED $20,000 BOUNTIES FOR THEIR CAPTURE.

NEMO WAS ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS.

WHILE PATROLLING A VIETNAMESE GRAVEYARD IN 1966, NEMO AND HIS HANDLER, AIRMAN SECOND CLASS BOB THORNEBURG, WERE ATTACKED.

DESPITE A GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE HEAD, NEMO THREW HIMSELF AT THREE GUERRILLAS, GIVING THORNEBURG TIME TO RADIO FOR HELP.

WHILE WAITING, NEMO SPREAD HIMSELF OVER THORNEBURG'S INJURED BODY.

RETIRED WITH HONORS BUT BLIND IN ONE EYE, NEMO WAS THE FIRST VIETNAM WAR DOG TO RETURN HOME FROM ACTIVE DUTY.

HE WAS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES.

WHEN THE U.S. MILITARY LEFT VIETNAM, THEY DESIGNATED MOST OF THESE DOGS AS "EXCESS EQUIPMENT."

MANY WERE EITHER ABANDONED, EUTHANIZED, OR GIVEN TO THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE ARMY.

THE VIETNAM DOG HANDLERS ASSOCIATION IS LOBBYING CONGRESS FOR A NATIONAL MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON HONORING THESE CANINE HEROES.

Eduardo: OUR FINAL STORY INVESTIGATES THE CONNECTION BETWEEN A SOUVENIR WATCH FOB AND AN OLD MAN'S TALE OF ESCAPING PANCHO VILLA'S BLOODY RAID ON COLUMBUS, NEW MEXICO.

IN THE EARLY HOURS OF MARCH 9, 1916, 300 RESIDENTS OF THE BORDER TOWN OF COLUMBUS, NEW MEXICO, WAKE TO FIND THEIR TOWN UNDER SIEGE.

FOR SIX YEARS, THE BITTER CONFLICT OF THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION HAS BOILED CLOSE BY.

BUT ON THAT NIGHT, DESPITE THE PROTECTION OF U.S.

TROOPS STATIONED NEARBY, PANCHO VILLA AND A BAND OF 400 MEN SLIP INTO TOWN.

HISTORIANS STILL DEBATE VILLA'S MOTIVATION, BUT THE DEATH AND DESTRUCTION OF THAT NIGHT LEAVE INDELIBLE SCARS.

NEARLY A CENTURY LATER, DEDRA KOLSTE OF BREMERTON, WASHINGTON, HOLDS A TINY MEDALLION THAT MAY BE LINKED TO A SURVIVOR OF THE COLUMBUS RAID.

IT WASN'T JUST AN OBJECT TO HIM.

IT WAS A MEMORY.

I'M EDUARDO PAGAN.

I'M A PROFESSOR OF HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST.

ON MY MOTHER'S SIDE, WE HAVE A PERSONAL CONNECTION TO PANCHO VILLA'S HISTORY, SO I'M VERY INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT DEDRA HAS TO SHOW ME.

DEDRA?

YES.

HI, I'M EDUARDO.

SO WHY HAVE YOU INVITED ME HERE?

I HAVE A WATCH FOB.

AH, THESE ARE MEDALLIONS THAT WOULD SIT AT THE END OF A GENTLEMAN'S CHAIN, AND THEY WOULD PUT A WATCH IN THEIR VEST POCKET AND THEY WOULD USE THESE FOBS TO HELP PULL THEM OUT.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR FOB THAT CAUGHT YOUR ATTENTION?

ITS INSCRIPTION.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

"SOUVENIR OF VILLA RAID ON COLUMBUS, NEW MEXICO, MARCH 9, 1916."

ON THE BACK IT SAYS, "NINE CITIZENS AND SEVEN SOLDIERS "OF THE 13th CAVALRY KILLED, "TOWN LOOTED AND BURNED, "RAIDERS DRIVEN INTO MEXICO AFTER TWO HOURS, FIGHT LEAVING MORE THAN 80 DEAD."

HOW DID YOU COME INTO POSSESSION OF THIS FOB?

IT WAS GIVEN TO US BY OUR NEIGHBOR, LIN BURKHEAD.

DEDRA TELLS ME THAT LIN DIED IN 1993 AND THEY PUT THE FOB AWAY FOR SAFEKEEPING.

SO WHAT MADE YOU THINK ABOUT IT AFTER ALL THAT TIME?

WE WERE WATCHING OUR FAVORITE PROGRAM, HISTORY DETECTIVES.

IN THAT EPISODE, WES COWAN INVESTIGATED A MYSTERIOUS POSTER PROMOTING NEWSREELS OF THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION.

Wes: ROBERT POINTS OUT A PICTURE OF THE REBEL LEADER PANCHO VILLA.

Eduardo: AS SHE WATCHED, DEDRA'S MIND KEPT GOING BACK TO THEIR LONG-AGO GIFT.

DID YOUR NEIGHBOR LIN TELL YOU ANYTHING ABOUT THE SOUVENIR?

HE TOLD US THAT HE WAS ACTUALLY THERE AT THE RAID.

HIS FATHER WORKED FOR THE RAILROAD.

THEY HEARD A LOUD NOISE, SO THEY RAN TO THE RAILROAD TRACKS, THEY FOUND A CULVERT WHERE THEY COULD HIDE, AND THEY FOLLOWED THE RAILROAD OUT OF TOWN.

SO WHAT DID YOU THINK OF HIS STORY?

I THOUGHT HE WAS KIDDING, ACTUALLY.

SO MANY MOVIES HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT PANCHO VILLA, AND I THOUGHT, "OH, SURE."

I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT I HAVE KIND OF A PERSONAL CONNECTION TO THIS.

MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER AND HIS SON RODE WITH PANCHO VILLA.

REALLY?

ODDLY ENOUGH, VILLA WASN'T SP OKEN ABOUT MUCH IN MY FAMILY, BUT AS AN HISTORIAN, I'VE SPENT MANY HOURS RESEARCHING HIS LIFE AND IMPACT.

SO WHAT CAN I FIND OUT FOR YOU ABOUT THIS?

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN IT WAS MADE AND MORE OF THE DETAILS OF HIS SURVIVAL STORY.

I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT HE WAS ACTUALLY THERE.

I WILL SEE WHAT I CAN FIND OUT ABOUT THIS.

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE THIS WITH ME, BUT I WILL TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF IT.

I'M ANXIOUS TO HEAR WHAT YOU FIND OUT.

LET'S TAKE A GOOD CLOSE LOOK AT THIS.

IT HAS ENOUGH DETAIL ON IT TO LOOK LIKE A TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

IN FACT, I CAN SEE THE NAME OF SEVERAL CITIES AND TOWNS IN NEW MEXICO.

IN THE EARLY 20th CENTURY, PANCHO VILLA'S FIGHT FOR LANDLESS PEASANTS DURING THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION EARNED HIM A PLACE OF HONOR IN NATIONAL FOLKLORE, AND MANY AMERICANS NORTH OF THE BORDER ALSO IDENTIFIED WITH HIS ROBIN HOOD-LIKE EXPLOITS.

BUT EVERYTHING CHANGED WHEN VILLA CROSSED THE AMERICAN BORDER AND ATTACKED COLUMBUS, NEW MEXICO.

FOR MANY IN THE UNITED STATES, VILLA WENT FROM HERO TO VILLAIN OVERNIGHT.

THE RAID ON COLUMBUS WAS A WATERSHED MOMENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

COULD IT HAVE BEEN A DEFINING MOMENT IN LIN BURKHEAD'S STORY, TOO?

I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH ALL THE DETAILS ON THE RAID, BUT I KNOW WHERE I NEED TO START: COLUMBUS, NEW MEXICO.

AT THE PANCHO VILLA STATE PARK IN COLUMBUS, A BULLET-STREWN CAR ILLUSTRATES THE HORROR OF THAT NIGHT.

THE TOWN HAS ATTEMPTED TO MEMORIALIZE EVERY OBJECT AND STORY CONNECTED TO THE RAID.

SYLVIA BRENNER IS THE HERITAGE EDUCATOR.

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THIS FOB BEFORE?

NO, HERE IN OUR ARCHIVES WE HAVE NOTHING LIKE THAT.

SHE'S NEVER HEARD OF THE BURKHEAD FAMILY, EVEN THOUGH SHE HAS RESEARCHED THE ORAL HISTORIES OF THOSE WHO FLED THE RAID AND THOSE WHO DIDN'T GET AWAY.

MANY OF THOSE STORIES ARE HORRIFIC.

BESSIE JAMES, PREGNANT, FLEEING FOR HER LIFE, HEADED FOR THAT HOOVER HOTEL, WAS SHOT AS SHE GOT TO THE DOORWAY.

ANOTHER CASUALTY WAS THE GROCER, JAMES DEAN.

HE WAS MOWED DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.

TWO HOURS LATER, SCORES LAY DEAD, INCLUDING CIVILIANS, SOLDIERS, AND MANY REBELS.

WAS LIN A WITNESS?

I'M EDUARDO.

GOOD MORNING, EDUARDO.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

SYLVIA SUGGESTS THAT I SPEAK WITH MILITARY HISTORIAN JOHN HAMILTON.

HE'S STUDIED VILLA'S MOVEMENTS THAT NIGHT AND CAN CONFIRM IF LIN'S FAMILY'S ESCAPE ROUTE WAS POSSIBLE.

WE'RE MEETING AT COOTES HILL, THE HIGHEST POINT IN COLUMBUS, WITH A VIEW OF THE TOWN AND ITS BORDER WITH MEXICO.

SO, JOHN, HOW DID THIS RAID ALL PLAY OUT?

WELL, VILLA AND HIS FORCE HAD MOVED UP FROM THE SOUTH BEHIND THE SIERRA PRIETA, THE LOW HILLS THERE ON THE HORIZON.

YOU COULD HIDE BACK THERE AND YOU COULDN'T BE SEEN.

AND THEN AFTER NIGHT FELL, VILLA WAS ABLE TO FEED GROUPS OF HIS SOLDIERS THROUGH JUST SHORT OF HIS OBJECTIVE, WHICH WAS THE CAMP IN COLUMBUS.

INSTEAD OF ACTING AS A DETERRENT, JOHN SAYS THE U.S. CAVALRY CAMP IN COLUMBUS WAS A CRITICAL DRAW FOR VILLA.

THEY HAD EXACTLY WHAT HE NEEDED: HORSES, SUPPLIES, AND MACHINE GUNS.

SO WHEN THE VILLISTAS SWEPT PAST HERE, HOW DID THEY PROCEED INTO TOWN?

LET'S LOOK AT THE MAP.

JOHN EXPLAINS THAT THE VILLISTAS BROKE INTO FOUR DIVISIONS AND ENVELOPED THE UNSUSPECTING TOWN.

TWO GROUPS USED THE RAILROAD TRACK AS A GUIDE TO ATTACK THE BARRACKS AND THE STABLES.

JUST AFTER 4:00 A.M., THE INVADERS STRUCK.

AS THE U.S. CAVALRY SCRAMBLED TO OVERCOME THE SURPRISE, THE DOWNTOWN BECAME A DEADLY SHOOTING GALLERY.

WHAT TURNED THINGS AROUND FOR THE AMERICAN MILITARY?

THE REAL BLUNDER WAS WHEN THE VILLA FORCES SET FIRE TO THE COMMERCIAL HOTEL, AND ESSENTIALLY THAT ALLOWED THEM TO BE SILHOUETTED AGAINST THE FIRE AS TARGETS FOR THE RIFLEMEN AND THE MACHINE GUNNERS IN THE CAVALRY REGIMENT.

AT SUNRISE, THE CAVALRY DROVE THE RAIDERS BACK OVER THE BORDER.

IN THE END, VILLA LOST BETWEEN 75 AND 100 MEN, AND THE RAID WAS FOREVER ETCHED IN THE TOWN'S HISTORY.

JOHN HAS NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE OUR FOB BEFORE.

WELL, THE STORY IS, IS THAT THE OWNER OF THIS PARTICULAR WATCH FOB ESCAPED WITH HIS FAMILY BY HIDING ALONG A CULVERT THAT RAN ALONG A RAILROAD.

DO YOU KNOW IF THAT STORY IS EVEN POSSIBLE?

WELL, THE CULVERT AND THE DITCH ARE STILL HERE, AND WHY DON'T WE GO DOWN THERE AND TAKE A LOOK?

JOHN EXPLAINS THAT THE FAMILY MAY HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY LUCKY.

AT 4:00 A.M., ONE GROUP OF VILLISTAS HAD ENTERED THE TOWN ALONG THE RAILROAD TRACKS.

THIS IS THE DRAINAGE DITCH THAT RAN NORTH AND SOUTH AND THE CULVERT THAT RAN UNDER THE RAILROAD BED.

IT WAS HERE IN 1916.

THE BURKHEADS CLAIM THEY FLED ALONG THE SAME TRACKS IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

THAT MEANS THEY MAY HAVE MISSED THE BANDITS BY MERE MINUTES.

SO DO YOU THINK IT'S POSSIBLE THAT A FAMILY COULD HAVE USED THIS ROUTE TO ESCAPE FROM THE VILLISTAS?

CERTAINLY THIS WAS A WAY TO GET AWAY FROM THE COMMOTION IN TOWN.

SOMEONE WHO KNEW THE RAILROAD, WHO KNEW THE TOWN, COULD HAVE USED THIS AS A WAY TO ESCAPE.

LIN HAD TOLD DEDRA HIS FATHER HAD WORKED FOR THE RAILROAD, SO I'M HEADING TO THE RAILROAD AND TRANSPORTATION MUSEUM IN NEARBY EL PASO, ACROSS THE TEXAS BORDER, TO SEE WHAT RECORDS THEY MAY HAVE HELD ONTO.

PRINCE McKENZIE IS DIRECTOR OF THE MUSEUM.

I'M INVESTIGATING THE HISTORY OF THIS WATCH FOB.

THE STORY IS THE ORIGINAL OWNER SURVIVED THE RAID ON COLUMBUS, NEW MEXICO, IN 1916, AND HIS FATHER MAY HAVE WORKED FOR THE RAILROAD.

HE HAD TO HAVE WORKED FOR THE EL PASO AND SOUTHWESTERN RAILROAD, WHICH RAN THROUGH COLUMBUS.

AND THIS LOCOMOTIVE ACTUALLY RAN ON THAT LINE.

IN 1924, IT BECAME PART OF THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC.

IN THESE TIME BOOKS, WE HAVE SENIORITY TABLES AT THE FRONT AND THE BACK, AND THESE TELL US WHO WORKED FOR THE RAILROADS AT THE TIME.

EVERY MAN HAD TO CARRY A TIME BOOK WITH HIM WHEN HE WAS ON THE TRAIN.

HERE'S ANOTHER ONE HERE.

THANK YOU.

B-A, B-E, LET'S KEEP GOING.

I'M NOT FINDING ANY BURKHEADS HERE.

ARE YOU HAVING ANY LUCK?

I DON'T SEE ANY HERE.

I'M HEADED BACK TO NEW MEXICO TO MEET RICHARD DEAN, PRESIDENT OF THE COLUMBUS HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

HE HAS ASKED TO MEET ME AT THE OLD LUNA COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN DEMING.

HI, RICHARD.

HOW DO YOU DO?

GLAD TO MEET YOU.

NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO.

SO WHY HAVE YOU BROUGHT ME HERE?

WELL, WE ARE RIGHT AT THE MOMENT IN THE COURTROOM THAT WAS WHERE THE TRIAL WAS HELD FOR THE SEVEN VILLISTAS THAT WERE CONVICTED OF MURDER IN THE PANCHO VILLA RAID.

RICHARD TELLS ME THAT EVEN THOUGH NONE OF THE WITNESSES FOR THE STATE COULD PLACE THESE MEN AT THE SCENE, THEY WERE CONVICTED, AND SHORTLY AFTER, SIX OF THE REBELS WERE HANGED IN THE COURTYARD.

I'M SEARCHING FOR DOCUMENTATION ON THE BURKHEAD FAMILY.

THEIR STORY IS, IS THEY WERE THERE IN COLUMBUS ON THE NIGHT OF THE RAID.

I SENT YOU A PICTURE OF THIS WATCH FOB THAT THE SON KEPT AS A SOUVENIR.

OH, I WAS TOTALLY AMAZED WHEN YOU SENT ME THAT PHOTO BECAUSE THERE IS ANOTHER ONE THAT I THINK IS IDENTICAL.

TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THIS WAS THE ONLY ONE I KNEW OF.

SO NOW I'VE SEEN TWO OF THEM.

THAT IS AMAZING.

ISN'T THAT AMAZING?

SO THIS WATCH FOB IS ATTACHED TO A WATCH THAT MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER, JAMES T. DEAN, WAS CARRYING WHEN HE WAS KILLED IN THE VILLISTA RAID.

DEAN WAS THE GROCER WHO DIED TRYING TO DEFEND THE BUSINESSES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

THAT'S TRUE.

RICHARD POINTS OUT THAT THE WATCH FOBS WERE MADE FROM TWO DIFFERENT METALS.

HIS IS BRONZE, WHILE DEDRA'S WAS CAST IN SILVER.

THE IMPRINTS AND EVERY OTHER DETAIL ARE IDENTICAL.

DO YOU KNOW WHERE THE WATCH FOBS CAME FROM?

LET'S GO DOWN TO THE ARCHIVE... INCREDIBLY, THE ARCHIVES TODAY ARE HOUSED IN THE OLD JAIL CELLS DIRECTLY ABOVE THOSE WHERE VILLA'S MEN HAD BEEN INCARCERATED.

ONE OF THE FIRST ITEMS I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU IS A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE THAT WAS PUT IN THE COLUMBUS COURIER NEWSPAPER IN JULY OF 1916.

READ THAT.

"MR. L.L.

BURKHEAD HAS GOTTEN OUT A REALLY BEAUTIFUL SOUVENIR "OF THE VILLA RAID ON COLUMBUS, NEW MEXICO, "WHICH IN ADDITION TO BEING "A HANDSOME REMINDER OF THE TRAGEDY, IS A PRACTICAL WATCH FOB."

THE FACT THAT YOU CAME UP WITH ONE IS JUST OUTSTANDING.

AND RICHARD HAS ANOTHER SURPRISE.

I HAVE A PHOTOGRAPH HERE OF THE DINNER PARTY AT MY RELATIVE'S HOUSE, AS A MATTER OF FACT.

AND HERE'S MRS. BURKHEAD, AND THIS IS MR. BURKHEAD, MR. L.L.

BURKHEAD.

AND THESE OTHER PEOPLE, THIS IS MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER... RICHARD SAYS THE DEANS AND THE BURKHEADS MOVED IN THE SAME SOCIAL CIRCLES.

HE KNOWS THAT L.L.

AND ANNA BURKHEAD HAD A SON NAMED LINGURN, DEDRA'S NEIGHBOR LIN.

NOW, DO WE KNOW THEY WERE THERE ON THE NIGHT OF THE RAID?

I THINK WE CAN CLEAR THAT LITTLE ITEM UP.

INVESTIGATION OF MEXICAN AFFAIRS...

THE HEARINGS WERE HELD IN 1919 AND 1920 TO ESTABLISH A LEGAL CASE AGAINST THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT FOR DAMAGES THEY CAUSED IN U.S. BORDER AREAS.

YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE THIS.

IN THESE FEDERAL DOCUMENTS ALMOST A CENTURY OLD, WE MAKE A DISCOVERY THAT WILL CERTAINLY INTEREST DEDRA.

DEDRA, FIRST I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO BE A PART OF THIS INVESTIGATION.

IT'S BEEN A VERY FASCINATING JOURNEY.

I TELL DEDRA ABOUT RICHARD'S DISCOVERY IN A COLUMBUS NEWSPAPER SHOWING THAT LIN'S FATHER HAD MADE THE FOB.

THAT IS REALLY AMAZING.

AND I REALLY LIKE THIS LAST STATEMENT: "THIS LITTLE MEMORIAL WILL DOUBTLESS BE MUCH APPRECIATED BY THOSE WHO HAVE COME TO LOVE THE TOWN OF TRAGIC HISTORY."

BUT HAD LIN BEEN THERE THAT NIGHT AND FLED VILLA'S TROOPS AS HE HAD TOLD HIS NEIGHBORS?

RICHARD'S CLOSE READING OF THE GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION INTO THE COLUMBUS RAID TURNED UP A STARTLING PIECE OF INFORMATION.

L.L.

BURKHEAD WAS CALLED TO TESTIFY.

POSTMASTER.

NO WONDER WE COULDN'T FIND HIM IN THE RAILROAD RECORDS.

LIN'S FAMILY HAD LIVED IN COLUMBUS DURING THE RAID, AND WE CAN READ ABOUT THEIR ESCAPE IN HIS FATHER'S OWN WORDS.

"AS SOON AS WE FOUND OUT FROM THE HOLLERING "AND THE BREAKING OF WINDOWS OVER IN THE CORNER DRUG STORE, WHICH IS JUST A BLOCK FROM ME, I TOOK MY WIFE AND BOY..." THERE, HE HAS A SON.

"AND WE WENT OVER THE BACK FENCE AND GOT INTO A DITCH BY THE RAILROAD EMBANKMENT."

OH, NOW I CAN SEE IT MORE CLEARLY.

I CAN JUST VISUALIZE WHAT HE SAID.

"FOLLOWED THAT UNTIL WE GOT UP TO A FREIGHT TRAIN."

A FREIGHT TRAIN.

THERE'S ONE LAST PIECE THAT I WANT YOU TO READ ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED, RIGHT HERE.

"WE REMAINED ON THE CABOOSE OF THE TRAIN UNTIL MORNING.

"WE COULD SEE IN THE DIM LIGHT THE SUN HAD GOTTEN UP.

"WE COULD SEE THE DUST OF THE SOLDIERS CHASING THE BANDITS DOWN INTO MEXICO."

THEY ACTUALLY SAW THE BANDITS.

SO YOUR NEIGHBOR WAS A WITNESS TO HISTORY.

HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS WATCH FOB NOW?

OH, IT EVEN HOLDS MORE VALUE TO US.

IT'S EVEN MORE PRECIOUS.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ASKING ME TO BE A PART OF THIS INVESTIGATION.

IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.

REALLY, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE DOCUMENTATION THAT MAKES THE STORY SO REAL, THIS PART OF HISTORY THAT HE ACTUALLY LIVED.

THANK YOU.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE RAID ON COLUMBUS, PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON SENT GENERAL "BLACK JACK" PERSHING IN SEARCH OF VILLA.

THE SO-CALLED PUNITIVE EXPEDITION INCLUDED THE FIRST USE OF U.S. AIR POWER AND MOTORIZED VEHICLES AND JUMP-STARTED THE CAREER OF A BRILLIANT YOUNG LIEUTENANT, GEORGE S. PATTON.

BUT PERSHING AND PATTON COULD NOT FIND VILLA.

MANY MEXICANS SAW PERSHING AS AN INVADER AND HELPED THE VILLISTAS EVADE CAPTURE.

PERSHING WAS ORDERED BACK TO COLUMBUS IN JANUARY OF 1917, EMPTY-HANDED.

PANCHO VILLA WAS ASSASSINATED IN MEXICO IN JULY 1923.

THE CHAOS OF COUP ATTEMPTS AND UPRISINGS THAT CHARACTERIZED THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION WOULD CONTINUE FOR MANY MORE YEARS.

THE SIX VILLISTAS WHO WERE CONVICTED AND HUNG FOR THE RAID ON COLUMBUS ARE BELIEVED BURIED IN UNMARKED GRAVES ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN.

IT TOOK A RAILROAD TRAGEDY TO CREATE AN ACCURATE POCKET WATCH.

BEFORE 1883, EVERY TOWN IN AMERICA CHOSE ITS OWN TIME ZONE.

BUT WITH OVER 50 TIME ZONES, THE DANGER OF CONFUSION IN TRAIN SCHEDULES WAS EVER PRESENT.

IN 1891, A FAULTY POCKET WATCH LED TO DISASTER.

ON THE LAKE SHORE AND MICHIGAN SOUTHERN RAILWAY LINE, AN ENGINEER'S WATCH STOPPED FOR FOUR MINUTES.

THE ERROR CAUSED A TWO-TRAIN COLLISION AND EIGHT PEOPLE WERE KILLED.

PUBLIC CONCERN ABOUT RAILROAD SAFETY LED CHIEF TIME INSPECTOR WEBB C. BALL TO CREATE A SET OF GENERAL RAILROAD TIMEPIECE STANDARDS.

THE 1893 MANDATE REQUIRED ALL RAILROAD EMPLOYEES TO HAVE RAILROAD-GRADE POCKET WATCHES.

THESE WATCHES COULDN'T LOSE MORE THAN 30 SECONDS PER WEEK AND NEEDED A MINIMUM OF 17 JEWELS.

WATCH FACES MUST BE WHITE, NUMERALS BLACK, AND MUST PERFORM PERFECTLY IN WEATHER BETWEEN 34 AND 100 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

RAILROAD COMPANIES KEPT JEWELERS ON CONTRACT WHO CONDUCTED REGULAR EMPLOYEE WATCH INSPECTIONS.

AMERICAN WATCHMAKERS ROSE TO THE CHALLENGE.

FOR MANY YEARS, THE AMERICAN RAILROAD POCKET WATCH WAS CONSIDERED THE MOST ACCURATE TIMEPIECE IN THE WORLD.

HISTORY DETECTIVES WILL RETURN IN A MOMENT, BUT FIRST... 10,000.

15?

15, YOU THINK?

20-, 21,000.

600.

20.

18,500.

24.

IT'S AT LEAST 40.

FORTY-FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND.

650.

20.

650.

This textile would be worth about a half a million dollars.

HALF A MILLION?

NO WAY!

I KNEW IT.

IT'S JUST A BLANKET.

Laying on the back of a chair.

Well, sir, you have a national treasure.

Wow.

A national treasure.

Congratulations.

I can't believe this.

ON THE NEXT HISTORY DETECTIVES: WERE ATOMIC SECRETS FILED AT THE U.S. PATENT OFFICE?

Wes: WOW, LOOK AT THAT, RESTRICTED!

Man: CONGRESS DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT, AND EVEN VICE PRESIDENT TRUMAN DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT.

DID TREASURE FROM A SPANISH GALLEON WASH UP ON AN OREGON BEACH?

Man: THE SPANISH KEPT RECORDS OF EVERY SHIP THAT SAILED.

THE CARGO WAS THAT VALUABLE.

AND ARE THESE LOVE POEMS OR ILLEGAL ACTS OF REBELLION?

THIS DOCUMENT COULD LEAD TO SLAVE REVOLTS.

NO SECRET IS SAFE, NEXT TIME ON HISTORY DETECTIVES.

Tukufu: BE A HISTORY DETECTIVE YOURSELF.

GO TO pbs.org AND LEARN MORE ABOUT INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES OR SUBMIT YOUR OWN MYSTERY TO THE TEAM.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT TONIGHT'S INVESTIGATIONS ONLY AT pbs.org.

THIS EPISODE OF HISTORY DETECTIVES IS AVAILABLE ON DVD.

THE COMPANION BOOK TO THE PROGRAM IS ALSO AVAILABLE.

TO ORDER, CALL PBS HOME VIDEO AT... OR VISIT US ONLINE AT... Captions by LNS Captioning Portland, Oregon www.LNScaptioning.com Elvis Costello: ♪ WATCHIN' THE DETECTIVES ♪ ♪ IT'S JUST LIKE WATCHIN' THE DETECTIVES ♪ ♪ WATCHIN' THE DETECTIVES ♪ ♪ WATCHIN' THE DETECTIVES ♪ Gwendolyn: THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

WE ARE PBS.

[ New Radicals' "You Get What You Give" plays ]