Chicago fire presentation 2

• 1. The Great Chicago Fire and the Myth of Mrs. OLearys Cow By Richard F. Bales Benjamin Spees PAD 5398

2. The Great Chicago Fire Occurred on October 8, 1871 Killed at least 300 people Left over 100,000 people homeless Caused approximately $192,000,000 million in property damage Burned 3 square miles of the city in less than 2 days 3. Factors Leading up to the Great Fire Extremely hot and dry Summer 22 day drought Chicago consisted of over 561 miles of wooden sidewalks. 28 significant fires during the first week of October Fire at the Lull & Holmes planing mill occurred October 7, 1871 Firefighters worked throughout the night to extinguish this fire, only to learn about the fire at Mrs. OLearys barn early the following morning 4. Chicago Fire Department Employed by 193 Firemen Utilized: 16 steam engines 6 hose carts 4 hook-and-ladder companies 1 hose elevator Fire Marshal Robert Williams requested more resources but was declined In 1871, each steam engine was responsible for more than 2 square miles of combustible territory 5. Mrs. Catherine OLeary Married to Patrick OLeary Lived at 137 DeKoven Street, on Chicagos West Side Ironically, little is known about Mrs. OLeary personal life Owned 5 cows and sold the milk for income 6. Why was Mrs. OLeary Blamed? The story was first reported by Chicago Evening Journal, claiming the fire broke out on DeKoven street near OLearys barn Mrs. OLearys cows were blamed by kids in the neighborhood and then reported in the newspapers Many post-fire newspaper editions supported this claim Mrs. OLeary was an easy scapegoat Mrs. OLearys defense: she was in bed with her husband and only milked her cows in the morning. This was supported by several witnesses 7. Great Chicago Fire Investigation Conducted by the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners 50 people were interviewed The investigation of the fire is viewed as a complete failure by the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners Awful selection of questions Key witnesses were only asked general questions Investigators issued their final report with no clear explanation for the fires cause The real mystery of the Chicago Fire is not its cause, but rather, why the fire officials chose to conduct their investigation in this manner. -Bales 8. Real Cause of the Great Fire Conflicting theories Daniel Peg Leg Sullivan Dennis Regan Mystery Someone else from the McLaughlin party 9. Rebuilding After the Great Fire New laws in place to prevent fires Many citizens could not afford fire insurance Due to strict rebuilding laws, many businesses were forced out of Chicago Ironically, a CFD training facility was built where Mrs. OLearys barn previously stood 10. How the Great Fire Effects us Today New responding methods to Fires Preventative measures in dry seasons Larger Fire Departments and more resources More thorough and effective investigative commissions 11. Richard F. Bales Cleared Mrs. OLearys name of any wrongdoing in 1997 Maintains the only set of land records that survived the 1871 fire Currently employed by Chicago Insurance Title Company 12. Resources Bales, R. (2007). The great chicago fire and the myth of mrs. o'lear'ys cow. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. Chicago Fire of 1871. (2013). The History Channel website. Retrieved 10:53, November 19, 2013, from http://www.history.com/topics/great-chicago-fire. Schons, M. (2011, January 25). Chicago fire of 1871 and the great rebuilding. Retrieved from http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/news/chicago-fire-1871and-great-rebuilding/?ar_a=1 Soniak, M. (2012, October 25). Did a cow really cause the great chicago fire?. Retrieved from http://mentalfloss.com/article/12864/did-cow-reallycause-great-chicago-fire The Great Chicago Fire and the Myth of Mrs. O'Leary's Cow by Richard F. Bales Review by: Ann Durkin Keating. Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society (1998-) , Vol. 97, No. 2 (Summer, 2004), pp. 159-160. Published by: University of Illinois Press on behalf of the Illinois State Historical Society. Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40193641 13. Resources Continued www.aptosfire.com homicide.northwestern.edu www.cardcow.com www.thechicagofire.com chicago-outdoor-sculptures.blogspot.com