Charles Dickens sailed from Liverpool aboard the Cunard liner Cuba for his second visit to the United States and arrived in Boston, Massachusetts on November 19, 1867.  He began a series of scores of live readings in New York, Baltimore, Washington and Philadelphia with the first in Boston, on December 2, 1867.  After almost five months in which he earned around $19,000, although at the cost of his health, Dickens sailed for home on April 23, 1868. (By John Osborne)

In London, the literary friends of Charles Dickens hosted a large "farewell" banquet for him and four hundred and fifty guests at the Freemasons' Hall.  Entertainment was provided by a band from the Grenadier Guards.  A week later, Dickens sailed from Liverpool aboard the Cunard liner Cuba for his second visit to the United States and a series of wildly popular and sold-out live readings, the first in Boston, Massachusetts on December 2, 1867.  (By John Osborne)

Just before daybreak, a freight train encountered difficulties near Lockland, Ohio and was forced to stop. This halted the New York Express behind it and before warning lights could be rigged, a local passenger train ploughed into the rear of the extress train's rear carriages which included the sleeping car.  The point of collision caught fire and, reportedly, four sisters sleeping there were all killed, as was a young man who made an attempt to rescue them and died in the fire. (By John Osborne)