Our world is full of the unexplainable.

And if history is an open book, all of these amazing tales are right there on display,

just waiting for us to explore.

Welcome to the Cabinet of Curiosity's.

Or require sacrifice.

Of course, lives are lost, but war takes its toll on everyone, from the soldier's mother

waiting for that fateful knock at her door to the unemployed workers in the recession

that follows.

That even forces people to adapt.

Spies assume new identities so they can infiltrate enemy lines, while taxi cabs and libraries

turn into ambulances and infirmaries when the real things are in short supply.

That's what happened with two ships during a maritime battle at the start of World War

1.

In September of 1914, two ships, the British HMS Carmania and the German Captrefolger,

engaged in a contentious duel in the South Atlantic.

Dozens died, and by the end, it was Britain's pride and joy, the Carmania that had defeated

the German Captrefolger and sent it to the bottom of the ocean.

I know I'm kind of giving away the ending right up front, but bear with me.

All will become clear in a moment, I promise.

You see, both vessels had begun life as passenger ships, carrying folks to various ports

all over the world.

In Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay had all been intended destinations, but in August of

...