January 13, 1742: During the Anglo-Spanish War, the HMS Tyger ran aground on a coral reef near Garden Key, Florida. The wreck was rediscovered 1993, and was firmly identified in 2024.
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On January 13, 1842, Dr. William Brydon, a surgeon in the British Army during the First Anglo-Afghan War, became famous for (reputedly) being the sole survivor of an army of 16,500 men when he reached the safety of a garrison in Jalalabad.
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On this day in 1912, a state record low temperature of -40°F (also -40°C), was observed in Oakland, Maryland.
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This is also the birthday of actor and competitive shooter Robert Stack (1919-2003.)
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Our feature article today was written by SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson. But first, an announcement on the annual SurvivalBlog archive waterproof USB sticks.