This is an IHeart podcast.

Guaranteed Human.

Welcome to Aaron Menke's Cabinet of Curiosity's, A Production of IHeart Radio and Grim and Mild.

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 Curiosities. There's an old saying that no good deed goes unpunished. Most of us can probably think of a time when

someone took advantage of our kindness and made us regret ever trying to help. That's all one C-Captain

was trying to do, step up in a moment of crisis and save the day,

but he would soon learn that sometimes doing the right thing can land you in a world of trouble,

or in this case, in the ocean.

In early April of 1813, Richard Brooks woke up to a beautiful sight, a ship on the horizon, its white sails billowing in the breeze.

Brooks shouted with joy and raced out of the crude shelter he had built from fallen palm fronds.

He barreled down the beach, desperately waving his arms, trying to attract the ship's attention.

Other members of his crew realized what Brooks was doing

and ran down the beach to help him.

Soon, the distant ship changed course

and began sailing directly for them.

The entire crew erupted in cheers.

Finally, after months of being marooned,

struggling to survive on a deserted tropical island,

they were being saved.

...