ashley's blog

A Freak of Nature, or is Mother Nature Really Aware of her Surroundings?

January 9, 2010

Not many know about the war of 1812, but even fewer know about how Mother Nature interfered with the British’s destruction. On the day of August 25,1814, the British were burning the villages in Washington D.C. They had marched in the night before and entered the empty White House and feasted on the food they found in the dining hall.When they had finished the feasting,they burnt down the White house. They were very pleased and clueless about what was in store for them the next day. On the 25th, the White House was still on fire, and they continued to burn the city, failing to notice that there was a change in the air. It started as a thunderstorm in the distance, with loud cracking thunder and streaks of lightning. As the thunderstorm approached, the wind picked up immensley, and the thunderstorm transformed into a hurricane.  The pooring rain had doused out the fires set by the British, but the hurricane was causing worse damage in one hour then the British could in a day. The hurricanes winds picked up even more, why? Because a tornado had formed in the distance, and headed straight for Washington D.C. AKA, where the British were! The storms struck so fast that the British did not have enough time to take cover, and many were killed by flying debris and collapsing building and trees. When the storms calmed down two hours later, the soldiers that remained re-grouped and left Washington. It was told that three hurricanes had struck  near or over Washington that day, and though they caused a great amount of destruction, it saved parts of the most important building standing; the  White House. Sources:

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/images/crp/education/weather.jpg  

http://www.weatherbook.com/1814.htm

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