5. The Dynamite Conspiracy of the Queensboro Bridge

After a series of grievances during the Queensboro Bridge’s long construction period, the workers union conspired to blow it up with dynamite. George E. Davis, who was arrested and confessed to the conspiracy in 1908, stated that he planned to use over 200 pounds of dynamite to complete the job.

The only thing that saved the bridge was a late discovery by the criminal himself: a firehouse located at the base of the bridge, where at any time would be “20 to 30 firemen at work.” Refusing to kill anyone, he removed the dynamite and only confessed to the crime later.