Still Smoldering: Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow, The Great Chicago Fire, and a Myth that Never Died

 

 The Great Chicago Fire is one of the most remembered disasters in American history. While the cause of the fire has never been determined the possible explanation that has most often been remembered is that it began when a cow owned by a Mrs. O’Leary kicked over a lantern while being milked. Even though this has been proven untrue the legend lived on and is still remembered today.

The Great Chicago Fire began on the evening of October 8, 1871 in the barn of Patrick & Kate O’Leary, an Irish family that lived on DeKoven Street. Chicago and much of the surrounding areas had experienced a very dry summer and fall. The weather was also abnormally warm making for an environment conducive to fire. This coupled with the fact that most buildings, streets, and sidewalks in the city were wooden provided tinder to feed the flames. 

Rain on the morning of October 10, 1871 helped in the firefighting efforts and the fire was finally contained after two days of carnage. The fire left behind a “Burn District” about four miles long and ¾ of a mile wide. The tragedy left 100,000 people homeless and killed 300 people. 18,000 buildings were destroyed resulting in around $200 million worth of damage. As the city started to clean up from the disaster an answer as to what caused it all was on the minds of residents. A possible explanation was soon found in Mrs. Kate O’Leary. More than 50 other individuals in the neighborhood were interviewed in the investigation and all corroborated the O’Leary’s story. The fire did indeed start in their barn, but Kate was not in the barn when it happened. The investigators released their findings in December 1871 concluding, “There is no proof that anybody had been in the barn after nightfall that evening. Whether it originated from a spark blown from a chimney on that windy night, or was set on fire by human agency, we are unable to determine. Mr. [O’] Leary, the owner, and all his family, prove to have been in bed and asleep at the time...more