South-east winds of gale force augmented the normally high spring tides on the Hudson River flooding docks and damaging the railway track that ran along the riverside. A train derailed near Coxsackie, New York in the early hours of the Saturday morning and the engine and cars were thrown into the river. The dock at Poughkeepsie was flooded the same day. No one was hurt in this or other incidents. Similar damage was reported through much of New England, particularly along the upper Connecticut Valley, and bridges were carried away in New Hampshire. (By John Osborne)

Dr. Balfour Stewart at the Kew Observatory in London, and others, connected the erratic behavior of Earth's magnetic field directly to two solar flare events on the face of the Sun eighteen hours before. The discovery took place during one of the most spectacular magnetic storms of the century. Telegraph lines shorted out and caused fires in Europe and the United States and the display of the "Northern Lights" was unprecedented and seen as far south as Rome and Hawaii. (By John Osborne)

One of the most spectacular magnetic storms of the nineteenth century took place from August 28 to September 7, 1859. The storm was at its most intense during the first two days of September. Magnetic compasses were rendered useless, arcing in telegraph wires disrupted communications and caused numerous fires in Europe and the United States, and the "Northern Lights" were seen as far south as Rome and Hawaii. (By John Osborne)

George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr., was born this day on a dairy farm near Galesburg, Illinois. Thirty-four years later he erected the first Ferris Wheel at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The attraction opened on June 21, 1893 and carried an estimated one and a half million people in a 4000 ton wheel to a height of 265 feet above the ground. Ferris died of typhoid in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on November 22, 1896 at the age of 37. (By John Osborne)

The army of the Italian kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia had mobilized the month before, claiming the threat of an Austrian invasion. In fact, Piedmont knew full well that they had been promised French assistance, if the larger power could generally be seen as the aggressor. Austrian took the bait and this day mobilized its own army in response.  Before the end of the month, Austria was at war with both Piedmont-Sardinia and France. (By John Osborne)

The army of the Italian kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia mobilized this day under the perceived threat of an Austrian invasion. In fact, Piedmont knew full well that they had been promised French assistance should such an incursion take place, if the larger power could generally be seen as the aggressor. Austrian took the bait the following month and mobilized its own army in response.  Within weeks, war began in earnest.  (By John Osborne)

The French government publication Moniteur reported on this day that Russia had proposed a Great Power conference designed to cool the warlike preparations of the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia and the Austrian Empire. Most in Europe were certain that such a war would bring France to the aid of the Italians; in fact, the two governments had, in secret, planned for just such a outcome providing that the Austrians could be made out to be the aggressor. Despite this, the Moniteur went on to say that France would acquiesce to such a conference. Such a summit never took place and the Austrians were at war with the French and the Italians within weeks.(By John Osborne)