While floating on an offshoot of the River Thames, Charles Dodgson (A.K.A Lewis Carroll) came up with an improvised tale that would one day morph into the classic book, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
Last of the Great Auks
It was an excellent swimmer, but rather clumsy on land, which made it easy prey for eagles, polar bears and humans.
Sickles' Leg
During the Battle of Gettysburg, a Confederate cannonball mangled the right leg of General Daniel Sickles. He would go on to lead an illustrious and controversial life.
The Lost Comet
In 1770, Lexell's Comet blazed a brilliant path across the evening sky. It is noted for being the comet that came closest to the earth.
Gulliver's Inferno
A nightclub fire in Port Chester, New York claimed 24 lives.
All-American Hero
One by one, three boys fell off the underwater cliff. None of them could swim, and neither could Joe Delaney.
Mianus
In 1983, a 100-foot section of the Mianus River Bridge collapsed and 4 vehicles plunged into the shallow water below.
The Captain
Bob Keeshan started his performing career in 1948 as the horn-honking Clarabell the Clown on the Howdy Doody Show. His landmark show, Captain Kangaroo, premiered in 1955 and would run for 30 years.
Radioactive Boy Scout
A hazmat crew rolled into the suburban address and carefully dismantled a workspace that had been used by a 17-year-old Eagle Scout to create a primitive nuclear reactor.
Martin and Mitchell
Two cryptographers working for the National Security Agency left the United States and never returned. William Martin and Bernon Mitchell defected to the Soviet Union.
Dancing Mania
In 1374, hundreds (maybe thousands) of Germans suddenly started dancing in the streets.
Isner and Mahut
In the world's longest tennis match, John Isner defeated Nicoloas Mahut in the first round at Wimbledon after 11 hours and 5 minutes of play that stretched over 3 days and 183 games.
Almost Perfect
For over 90 years baseball fans have debated whether or not Ernie Shore should get credit for a perfect game.
The River that Burned
In June of 1969, Cleveland's heavily polluted Cuyahoga River caught fire. The fire quickly spread and at its peak the flames were 5 stories high.
The Maury Island Incident
4 or 5 doughnut-shaped crafts were flying in formation directly above Harold Dahl's boat when one of them started dropping strange, rocky, slag-like material.
Attack on Fort Stevens
No lives were lost in the Fort Stevens attack but it goes down in history as the only attack on a mainland military installation during World War II.
Feodor II
In 1605 the 16-year-old tsar of Russia was murdered, along with his mother.
The Last Emperor of Mexico
Maximilian's rise to power was the ill-conceived brainchild of Napoleon III who sought to extend French imperial power
Eratosthenes
Eratosthenes was the guy who came up with the science we know as Geography, and he was the first person to prove that the Earth was round.
The Fiji Mermaid
This half-woman, half-fish oddity would become one of his most popular sideshow attractions of all time.