A heavy storm struck in and around Oswego, New York during the morning. Lighting strikes ignited fires, burning at least one barn to the ground, and the streets of the town were flooded along with some basements and first floor businesses. Nearby, the washing out of a section of railroad caused the derailment of part of a passenger train though no-one was seriously hurt. (By John Osborne)

Large political meetings were held in Harrisburg and Philadelphia as Pennsylvania Republicans met to ratify the platform and the nominations of the Republican National Convention.  Simon Cameron spoke in Harrisburg and Senator Lyman Trumbull of Illinois and Representative John Sherman of Ohio gave speeches at the larger gathering in Independence Hall in Philadelphia.  (By John Osborne) 

On hearing of the Apache attacks on the Mimbres River settlements, Dr. Lewis Owings, the unofficial territorial "governor," asked for military help from Fort Fillmore but no troops were available.  A group of fifteen volunteers from the town of Mesilla under Samuel S. Jones, a former Kansas sheriff, armed and mounted themselves and reached the settlement but the Apache attackers had long been withdrawn before they arrived.  (By John Osborne)

Starting at around noon, a devastating series of tornadoes struck northwestern Pennsylvania causing destruction and deaths in Armstrong, Clarion, and Jefferson Counties.  Touching down near Adams, Pennsylvania, the tornado traveled twenty miles, killing seven people and injuring thirty more. The belt of storms then moved into western New York's Cattaraugus County, killed one person and destroyed buildings and businesses there. (By John Osborne)

Several hundred Apaches launched a morning attack on the settlements of the Mimbres River in southern New Mexico.  Mexican and American settlers organized a defense and drove off the assault but lost eleven men killed and eight wounded.  Trouble had been evident for some time and all the women and children among the settlers had been evacuated earlier.  Apache losses were estimated at around twenty-five killed or wounded.  (By John Osborne)

During the late night, on Lake Superior and in a heavy fog, the wooden side wheel steamship Arctic ran hard aground on one of the Huron Islands.  A storm developed and waves soon smashed the vessel into pieces.  The passenger and the crew took shelter on the island and though they were without shelter for two days, there were no fatalities or serious injuries.  (By John Osborne)

The 673 ton ship R.M. Mills, built and registered in Augusta, Maine in 1854, got into difficulties in the Bay of Biscay during a voyage from Argossen in Scotland to Genoa in Italy.  Leaking badly, passing vessels took off the passengers and crew and the ship was abandoned.  Two days later, the American ship Scotia found her still afloat and transferred a crew to her. They then sailed the "lost" ship back to dock in London.  (By John Osborne)

President Buchanan entertained the Japanese diplomatic mission at dinner.  Also attending at a gathering of around forty people, were the Naval Commission, and several cabinet officers and their wives.  (By John Osborne) 

The Japanese Embassy visiting Washington, D.C., having been welcomed at the Senate already in the week, toured the Washington Naval Yard under the escort of its commander, Captain Franklin Buchanan.  They toured workshops, saw a live firing display of rifled cannon and other ordnance, and sat for a photograph.  (By John Osborne) 

U.S. Navy seizures of slave ships in the Caribbean had swelled the number of Africans in holding areas, mostly in Key West, Florida.  President Buchanan had asked for a bill to authorize and pay for a contract with the American Colonization Society to transport these men, women, and children to Liberia as soon as possible.  The bill was passed and the contract immediately negotiated.  (By John Osborne)