Mrs. Olearys Cow, The Great Chicago

by Photo Researchers

Title

Mrs. Olearys Cow, The Great Chicago

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Photo Researchers

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Photograph - Photograph

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On the evening of October 8, 1871, just after nine o'clock, a fire broke out in the barn behind the home of Patrick and Catherine O'Leary at 13 DeKoven Street. How the fire started is still unknown today, but an O'Leary cow often gets the credit. Firefighters were initially sent to the wrong neighborhood. When they finally arrived at the O'Leary's, they found the fire raging out of control. The blaze quickly spread, burning for two days, and only dying out once rain began to fall. Chicago was devastated. At least 300 people were dead,100,000 people were homeless, and $200 million worth of property was destroyed. The entire central business district of Chicago was leveled. The fire was one of the most spectacular events of the nineteenth century, and it is recognized as a major milestone in the city's history. Though the fire was one of the largest U.S. disasters of the 19th century, the rebuilding that began almost immediately spurred Chicago's development into one of the most populous and economically important American cities. Illustration originally captioned Before the flames died, the Chicago Evening Journal of October 9 reported that a cow Mrs. O'Leary had been milking kicked over a kerosene lamp, igniting some hay. In reality, the O'Leary's were never accused of starting the fire. The cause of the fire is still a matter of debate.

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July 7th, 2014

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