In the 1980s, Reno, Nevada, witnessed an event that captured the world’s attention over several days. A large bomb had been placed in the town’s largest casino, Harvey’s Wagon Wheel. It included many failsafes to prevent diffusing and was so well constructed that the Bomb Squad could do nothing to prevent an explosion. Finally, they tried a shape charge to separate the controls from the main bomb, this after they cleared an area about a mile wide around the building. The result was not as hoped,but at least no one was killed.
Our story is told by the grandson of Harvey’s owner and by the son of the man who designed and built the bomb, and it focuses on the bombers. Rather than talking heads, the story is dramatically re-enacted, and the 33 hours that the thousand-pound bomb ticked in the casino are especially exciting.
John Birges Sr. and his wife came to the US after World War II, where he was an outstanding Hungarian soldier who survived a Soviet gulag. Settling in the California area, they prospered, had two sons, and became wealthy from the landscaping service he built and owned. Over the years, John senior developed a gambling problem, lost the business interests he owned, and went bankrupt. He blamed the casino. The couple divorced when the boys were young, and the mother continued to live separately on the same property to be close to her children. When the boys, John Jr. and Jim, were about twelve, their mom was found dead on the property, supposedly a suicide.
John Sr. was hard on his sons, both mentally and physically, but they strove to please him and win his love. So, as teens, when he ordered them both to help with his bomb plan to extort thirty million dollars, they thought they had no choice but to obey. The bomb was delivered to the office floor of the casino, supposedly a large IBM product, and included a ransom letter. They go to the ransom drop, but balk at some demands the dad makes.
Jim and John Jr. were competitive with each other in motocross, but otherwise, we’re not close. They were also competitive in seeking their father’s approval, which played a role in their decision to help with the plot. Years later, Jim reflects on his upbringing and all the damage done to the siblings; he even suspects his dad actually killed their mom.
I never lost interest in this twisted tale from the past; it never drags and keeps you guessing.