The Great Gale

wooden ships are swept into Providence, RI during a storm
(By Schell and Hogan in The History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations by Thomas Williams Bicknell 1920)

The Great September Gale of 1815 in New England occurred well before the ability to distinguish hurricanes, however, accounts of the storm supply strong evidence that it was a hurricane. At least 38 people died, trees were leveled, and houses reduced to shambles. Here, storm surge sends ships into the streets of Providence, Rhode Island. 

Tags: Hurricanes