Historical truth is a complicated and nuanced thing, so while there might be elements of truth to the popular story you know, it's rarely the complete truth.
Human history can -- and constantly does -- produce stories that are far more creepy and gruesome than any horror-movie hellbeast or latex-mask-sporting serial killer could ever aspire to be.
The little ploys that modern faith healers and shady preachers use to fleece the masses have been around for thousands of years, and if anything, they've only gotten less inspired over time.
History is full of shipwreck survivors so bizarrely unkillable that they seemed to go out of their way to mock Death itself, right to his stupid, bony face.
If you're ever reading about a historical event and something just doesn't seem to add up, it's because the editors cut the line 'and, of course, they were all wasted.'
