This episode of "Behind the Headlines of History" untangles two historical tales where nothing is quite as it seems. First, a sea captain vanishes from his vessel in the middle of a storm in the unforgiving Alaskan waters. Was it a tragic accident, or did something more mysterious happen on board? The answer may lie in his incredibly unusual name. Then, journey to the front lines of the Boer War, where two inseparable best friends enlist side-by-side. When a telegram arrives announcing one has been killed in action, it devastates their families back home. But a shocking twist reveals a case of mistaken identity so profound, it forces one wife to deliver an impossible, life-altering message to her grieving neighbor.

All newspaper articles referenced in this episode were sourced on Newspapers.com, with additional research conducted by Brad and Michala using Ancestry® and other resources.