In 1838, Edgar Allan Poe released a book called The Narrative of Arthur Gordon, his only full novel. The book was about a ship lost at sea with 4 crewmen. Out of food, the men drew lots to decide who would be eaten, the decision landing on the cabin boy named Richard Parker. 46 years later, there was a REAL LIFE disaster at sea involving the ship called The Mignonette. It became famous due to the legal events surrounding the cannibalism of the young cabin boy the other crewmen were forced to eat... The cabin boy was named Richard Parker.

Henri Trange of France fought FIVE duels between 1861 and 1878. In the first FOUR his opponents fell dead before a single shot was fired. In his FIFTH duel, Henri himself died... once again before shots had been exchanged.

Twin brothers separated at birth were adopted by different families. Unknown to each other, both families named the boys James. One was named James Lewis and the other James Springer. Both of them grew up and sought out law-enforcement training, both were skilled with mechanical drawing and carpentry, and both married a woman named Linda. Both had sons, one who was named James Alan, and the other named James Allan. Both of the twins also divorced their wives and married another... Each named Betty. They both also had dogs named Toy.

Shortly after Mark Twain's birth in 1835, Halley's comet made its first appearance. In 1909, Twain was quoted saying "I came in with Halley's comet in 1835. It's coming again next year, and I expect to go out with it." His prediction was disturbingly correct... He died on April 21st, 1910... A day after Halley's comet made its closest approach to Earth.

In 1883, Henry Ziegland broke up with his girlfriend who, out of distress, committed suicide. The girl's enraged brother hunted Henry down and shot at him. Her brother, believing he'd committed a capital offense, killed himself as well. In fact, the bullet only grazed Henry's face and lodged into a tree. Years later, Henry decided to cut down that exact tree. The huge tree wouldn't give, so he decided to use a quarter stick of dynamite. The explosion sent the old bullet flying out of the tree and sent it right into Henry's head, killing him instantly.

Police in Italy caught a thief after he sped past a woman on his mortorcycle and snatched her purse. The woman turned out being his mother, who recognized him and reported him immediately.

Two sisters driving separate vehicles on the same highway collided head-on, and both were killed. It turned out they were travelling to see each other. State troopers said Sheila Wentworth, 45, and Doris Jean Hall, 51, were driving cars in opposite directions on Alabama 25 when one of the vehicles crossed over the median and collided with the other.

A kimono owned by three different teenage girls, each of whom died before she had a chance to wear it, was believed to be so unlucky that it was cremated by a Japanese priest in February of 1657. As the garment was being burned, a violent wind sprang up, fanning the flames and spreading them beyond control. As a result of the droughts during the past year, the dry environment was more than enough for disaster. The fire destroyed three quarters of Tokyo, nearly leveling the city and killing over 100,000 people.

King Louis XVI of France was warned by an astrologer that he should always be on guard on the 21st of every month. It terrified him, and as a result he refused to undertake anything important on that day. Unfortunately, fate took ahold of him. On 6-21-1791, Louis and his queen were arrested as they tried to escape the revolution. On 9-21-1792, France abolished royalty and claimed itself a republic. On 1-21-1793, Louis XVI was executed.