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N0KFQ > TODAY 27.11.12 17:22l 42 Lines 1757 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 31930_KB0WSA
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Subj: Today in History - Nov 27
Path: IZ3LSV<IK2XDE<ON4HU<CX2SA<ZL2BAU<XE1FH<N0KFQ<KB0WSA
Sent: 121127/1505Z 31930@KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA BPQK1.4.53
...
Nov 27, 1703:
Freak storm dissipates over England
On this day in 1703, an unusual storm system finally dissipates
over England after wreaking havoc on the country for nearly two
weeks. Featuring hurricane strength winds, the storm killed
somewhere between 10,000 and 30,000 people. Hundreds of Royal
Navy ships were lost to the storm, the worst in Britain's
history.
The unusual weather began on November 14 as strong winds from the
Atlantic Ocean battered the south of Britain and Wales. Many
homes and other buildings were damaged by the pounding winds, but
the hurricane-like storm only began doing serious damage on
November 26. With winds estimated at over 80 miles per hour,
bricks were blown from some buildings and embedded in others.
Wood beams, separated from buildings, flew through the air and
killed hundreds across the south of the country. Towns such as
Plymouth, Hull, Cowes, Portsmouth and Bristol were devastated.
However, the death toll really mounted when 300 Royal Navy ships
anchored off the country's southern coast_with 8,000 sailors on
board_were lost. The Eddystone Lighthouse, built on a rock
outcropping 14 miles from Plymouth, was felled by the storm. All
of its residents, including its designer, Henry Winstanley, were
killed. Huge waves on the Thames River sent water six feet higher
than ever before recorded near London. More than 5,000 homes
along the river were destroyed.
The author Daniel Defoe, who would later enjoy worldwide acclaim
for the novel Robinson Crusoe, witnessed the storm, which he
described as an "Army of Terror in its furious March." His first
book, The Storm, was published the following year.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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