The Harvey’s Casino Bomb, Prince Bernhard’s Bribes, and Orellana’s Accidental Epic

On 26 August 1980, the FBI accidentally detonated one of the most sophisticated extortion bombs in American history whilst trying to defuse it. The Harvey’s Resort Hotel device, built by John Birges, contained a thousand pounds of dynamite and multiple anti-tamper mechanisms. The blast caused twelve million dollars in damage, but remarkably, no casualties. Also on this date: in 1976, letters confirmed Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands had accepted 1.1 million dollars in bribes from Lockheed, prompting Queen Juliana to threaten abdication if he faced prosecution. In 1542, Francisco de Orellana reached the Atlantic after accidentally navigating the entire length of the Amazon, a 4,800-kilometre journey that began as a supply run. And in 1642, Dutch forces expelled the Spanish from northern Taiwan, ending a sixteen-year colonial presence most people have never heard of. Four stories of ambition, overconfidence, and the universe’s very dry sense of humour.

Chapters

• Intro A bomb so sophisticated the FBI accidentally detonated it whilst trying to defuse it. Welcome to 26 August.
• The Bomb That Beat the FBI The Harvey’s Resort Hotel bombing of 1980. John Birges built a thousand-pound device with elaborate anti-tamper mechanisms, demanded three million dollars, and warned explicitly against disarming it. The FBI tried anyway. The resulting explosion caused twelve million dollars in damage but no deaths. Birges was caught, convicted, and died in prison.
• A Prince, a Bribe, and a Queen’s Ultimatum In 1976, letters confirmed Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands had accepted 1.1 million dollars in bribes from Lockheed. Queen Juliana threatened to abdicate if he faced prosecution. He resigned from public life but was never charged.
• Francisco de Orellana and the River That Shouldn’t Have Fitted On 26 August 1542, Orellana reached the Atlantic after navigating the entire Amazon, a 4,800-kilometre journey that began as a food supply run. He had crossed a continent not because he planned to, but because the river gave him no choice.
• The Dutch Take Taiwan (Briefly) In 1642, Dutch forces defeated the Spanish garrison at San Salvador in northern Taiwan, ending a sixteen-year colonial presence few remember. The Dutch held the island until 1662, when they were expelled by Ming loyalist commander Koxinga.
• Outro A bomb that beat the bomb squad, a prince who took the money, an explorer who accidentally crossed a continent, and a colonial footprint so brief it barely left an indent. History is rarely short of ambition, just working exit strategies.

Links

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey%27s_Resort_Hotel_bombing
• https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/harveys-casino-bombing
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Birges
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_bribery_scandals
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Bernhard_of_Lippe-Biesterfeld
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_de_Orellana
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Formosa
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Formosa
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koxinga