Eccentric Histories: Unearthed Bizarre Stories from the Past

 Ale-pocalypse: the London beer flood of 1814

Step into a captivating journey through the annals of history, where we explore the most unique and surprising stories left behind by time. From mysterious automatons to explosive maritime accidents, each story highlights the unusual, the unexpected, and the utterly bizarre moments that have shaped our world. Join us as we uncover these captivating narratives, highlighting the strange and wondrous aspects of our shared human heritage. Prepare yourself for an adventure through the strangest corners of history, where the extraordinary and the inexplicable take center stage.

Imagine this: a giant tidal wave of beer hitting the streets of London. The London Beer Flood of 1814 seems like a tall tale, a bizarre and tragic event that shook the city. When a massive tank filled with more than 135,000 gallons of beer burst at a local brewery, it released a torrent of alcohol that flooded nearby streets, homes, and even killed people . The immense power of the bear wave destroyed structures, causing chaos and panic.

In the 18th century, the marvel of technology and deception known as "The Turk" enthralled audiences across Europe. The automaton, which resembled a mechanical chess player, amazed audiences as it competed against opponents and demonstrated remarkable strategic skills. The real shock came when it was finally revealed that Turk had hidden a hidden human chess master within himself to master his moves. This ingenious hoax, blending technology and human ingenuity, fascinates historians and enthusiasts alike, reflecting both the fascination with automata in the 18th century and the enduring fascination of human-machine interaction.

In May 1780, a surprising and disturbing event occurred in New England, which became known as the "Dark Day of 1780." Imagine waking up one morning where the sun has inexplicably disappeared, plunging the entire area into eerie darkness. The birds fell silent, candles were lit at noon and the fear of impending apocalypse spread like wildfire. With primitive communication technology, most people found the event shocking and turned to religious explanations for answers. However, the primary cause of this terrible phenomenon is believed to be a strange combination of factors – smoke from distant forest fires, dense fog and dense clouds.

The Underground Catacomb Saints represent a unique phenomenon of devotion and reverence in the field of Catholicism from the 16th to the 19th centuries. These were preserved remains of early Christians that were carefully extracted from Rome's catacombs and sent throughout Europe, later venerated as relics of saints. While the identities of these individuals had no historical significance, Loyalists decorated their exhumed bodies with lavish decorations, including gold and precious stones, in an elaborate effort to transform them into representations of Catholic saints. The devotion to this practice was evident, with some churches even spending large sums of money, such as 75 gulden, to adorn their chosen saints.

Few events have astounded scholars and spectators as the Dancing Plague of 1518. In the center of Strasbourg, a city in modern France, a mysterious and inexplicable phenomenon has gripped the people. Hundreds of people, overcome by an indomitable desire, danced madly through the streets, unable to stop for days, and sometimes even weeks. As exhaustion, dehydration and fatigue increased, some dancers fainted and some even died.

A poem taken from a contemporary history describes "women and men who danced and jumped.../in the public market, in the alleys and streets,/day and night" until the "disease" finally stopped .

This inexplicable phenomenon is one of the most bizarre and perplexing in the history of human behavior, forcing us to contemplate the strange and unexplained quirks of the human mind and body.

The averted duel between Abraham Lincoln and James Shields is a remarkable testament to the power of reason, friendship, and conflict resolution by peaceful means. In the midst of a tumultuous period of political tension and personal grievances in Springfield, Illinois, Lincoln found himself embroiled in a potentially fatal confrontation. Her inflammatory letter, written under the pseudonym Aunt Becca, had incensed Shields, leading to a challenge that could have ended in tragedy.

Nevertheless, when the moment came on "Bloody Island" (a sandbar in the Mississippi River, opposite St. Louis, Missouri, which became densely forested and a meeting place for duelists because it was considered "neutral" and Missouri or was not in control of Illinois), it was not the clash of swords or gunfire that would define their encounter. Instead, the intelligence of Lincoln and Shields, as well as John J. Hardin and R.W. English intervention prevailed. Whether through threats, apologies or explanations, both opponents left the island without bloodshed. This not only averted personal tragedy from the duel but also led to a deep and lasting friendship between two remarkable men.

On November 9, 1970, a massive, 45-foot, 8-ton whale washed ashore in Florence, Oregon, creating an immediate dilemma. The state highway division responsible for coastal management at the time decided to remove the whale with an unconventional approach – by blasting it with half a ton of dynamite, describing it as akin to clearing a highway blockage.

However, this plan failed spectacularly. When the explosion occurred on November 12, 1970, it surprised bystanders, resulting in a surreal scene of blood, dust and sand shooting skyward. Fortunately, there were no injuries, but a three-foot piece of whale collided with a parked car, seriously damaging its roof. Even more persistent than the spectacle was the foul smell, which clung to the witnesses for several days and made them feel nauseous. The strangest thing is that the engineer behind the explosion, George Thornton, considered it a success despite the devastation that followed.

At the beginning of the 20th century, two young cousins from Cottingley, England, captured the world's imagination with a series of photographs depicting themselves with fairies. The images of Francis Griffith and Elsie Wright with these supernatural beings sparked a frenzy of belief in the supernatural. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, also became a strong advocate of his authenticity. The truth did not come out until decades later. The Cottingley fairies were nothing more than carefully staged pictures using paper cutouts.