After almost three months, the body of former Mexican Emperor Maximilian I, held at the Hospital of St. Andres in Querétaro, had been released to Austrian officials to be returned for royal burial in the Hapsburg crypt of the Capuchin Chapel in Vienna where his brother Franz Joseph ruled as Emperor. The ill-fated Maximilian had been tried before a public military tribunal at the Itirbede Theater in Querétaro in mid-June, found guilty of bearing arms against the Republic of Mexico, and given the mandatory sentence of death.  The sentence was carried out by firing squad on June 19, 1867. On this day, his remains arrived aboard an Austrian Naval frigate at the port of Trieste. (By John Osborne)

The beautiful Academy of Music building had began life in 1825 as the South Pearl Street Theater and had been converted to a church in 1839.  It had reverted back to a theater under the direction of John Trimble in 1863.  When Trimble retired soon after, his daughter, Miss A.G. Trimble, became one the nation's few female theater directors.  Sadly, a devastating fire in the early hours of this day completely destroyed the building.  No-one was reported harmed but the damage was estimated at $40,000 and Miss Trimble's career as a theater manager ended.  (By John Osborne)

Around seven in the evening a fire broke out in Chicago just west of the river on Lake Street.  Flames from a bookstore and a boot and shoe factory spread quickly and took hold across several blocks.  Firefighters struggled to contain the blaze but were able to do so thanks to the recent fall of snow on many neighboring roofs.  Nevertheless, the damage was the greatest the city had suffered from fire up to that point.  Fortunately no serious injuries were reported but the overall cost of the disaster was estimated at $3,000,000. (By John Osborne)

The active volcano of Mount Vesuvius, near Naples in southern Italy, had been rumbling ominously throughout the final months of 1867 and on this day heavy eruptions and accompanying local earth tremors recommenced and lasted for several weeks.  Lava flows were heavy along the western side of the mountain but no serious damage or loss of life was reported.  (By John Osborne)