XVI as the 255th pope. He will reign for 31½ years (the longest definitely confirmed). September 19, 1846 – The Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to two children in La Salette, France. 1848 – John Bird Sumner becomes archbishop of Canterbury. March 28, 1849 – Four Christians are ordered burnt alive in Antananarivo, Madagascar by Queen Ranavalona I and 14 others are executed. Disasters, natural events, and notable mishaps January 13, 1840 – The steamship Lexington burns and sinks in icy waters, four miles off the coast of Long Island; 139 die, only four survive. May 7, 1840 – The Great Natchez Tornado: A massive tornado strikes Natchez, Mississippi, during the early afternoon hours. Before it is over, 317 people are killed and 109 injured. It is the second deadliest tornado in U.S. history. January 30, 1841 – A fire ruins and destroys two-thirds of the villa (modern-day city) of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. February 20, 1841 – The Governor Fenner, carrying emigrants to the United States, sinks off Holyhead (Wales) with the loss of 123 lives. March 12, 1841 – under the command of the legendary captain Richard Roberts founders in rough seas with all passengers and crew lost. October 30, 1841 – A fire at the Tower of London destroys its Grand Armoury and causes a quarter of a million pounds worth of damage. October 29, 1842 – The Iberian Peninsula is struck by a category 2 hurricane. 1842 – Dzogchen Monastery is almost completely destroyed by an earthquake. February 8, 1843 an earthquake causes La Soufriere volcano to erupt in Caribbean Island of Guadeloupe and kill over 5000 people. February 28, 1844 – A gun on the explodes while the boat is on a Potomac River cruise, killing 2 United States Cabinet members and several others. June–July – The Great Flood of 1844 hits the Missouri River and Mississippi River. February 7, 1845 – In the British Museum, a drunken visitor smashes the Portland Vase, which takes months to repair. April 10, 1845 – A great fire destroys much of the American city of Pittsburgh. May 2, 1845 – the Yarmouth suspension bridge in Great Yarmouth, England, collapses leaving around 80 dead, mostly children. May 19, 1845 – HMS Erebus and HMS Terror with 134 men, comprising Sir John Franklin's expedition to find the Northwest Passage, sail from Greenhithe on the Thames. They will last be