In this week's event the great Chicago fire of 1871 started on Oct 8th......
How it started: The fire started in a barn owned by Patrick and Catharine O’Leary. Rumor has it that a cow kicked over a lantern in the barn while Ms. Catherine was milking it. Another theory of how the fire started was that peg leg Sullivan snuck away from his misses so he could indulge in some drinking and he wouldn’t be caught. In his intoxication it is said that he kicked over a lantern. What propelled this fire so much was the drought that was occurring during the time. Many other fires were happening in Chicago and Towns around the area. The day before Oct 8th many of the fire fighters were busy fighting another fire at a lumber mill.
How it spread: The fire spread so widely and quickly because the city was built mostly of wood. Some of the fires raged so hot that they melted nails. The fires raged so hot that even the houses built of brick and stone caught on fire because of the immense heat radiating from it that it caught the mostly wood interior on fire. The fire even crossed the river due to it being polluted so much even the water burned. No one could find refuge from the blaze. Horrifically only 185 firefighters were all the city had to combat the fire
Damage done: Roughly ⅓ of the city was in ruins. 300 lives were lost on this horrific day. 18000 structures were lost. A partial reason the fire burned for so long is because it burned for over 24 hours! Over 200 million dollars in damages. Though many buildings burnt a few buildings were made ‘fire proof’ including the Rookery, the water tower, the pumping station, old St. Patrick's Church on Adams St. the walls of the St. Michael's church, part of the city's first court house, and ironically the O'Leary house survived the inferno
Recovery: A very large saying after the fire said that Chicago shall rise again. The US military placed Chicago under martial law to combat looting and rioting from the rubble of peoples lost homes and or businesses Happily the merchants quickly reopened shop. Some just placing a table on the side of the road to try and sell cigars, cider, food Etc.
written 10/08/21
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