Solar storm of 1859

Solar storm of 1859 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
"On September 1–2, 1859, the largest recorded geomagnetic storm occurred.
Aurorae were seen around the world, even over the Caribbean; those over the Rocky Mountains were so bright that their glow awoke gold miners, who began preparing breakfast because they thought it was morning.[3] People who happened to be awake in the northeastern US could read a newspaper by the aurora's light.[5]
The aurora was visible from as far from the poles as Cuba and Hawaii.[6]
Telegraph systems all over Europe and North America failed, in some cases shocking telegraph operators.[7] Telegraph pylons threw sparks. [8]
Some telegraph systems continued to send and receive messages despite having been disconnected from their power supplies.[9]"