Connolly_Case_Analysis_2nd-attempt

The Great Chicago Fire and the Myth of Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow :

The Great Chicago Fire and the Myth of Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow The Great Chicago Fire and the Myth of Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow By Richard F. Bales Presented by Jennifer Connolly

Chicago Before the Fire (Prior October 8th, 1871):

Chicago Before the Fire (Prior October 8 th , 1871) Population: approx. 334,000 Approximately 36 square miles in size 4 th largest city in the country Industrial/Commercial/Cultural Mecca of the Mid-West Nestled along Lake Michigan & Chicago River By 1870, more vessels docked at Chicago than at the Ports of NY, Baltimore, SF, Charleston & Mobile combined

Chicago :

Chicago Chicago River divided city into 3 parts: South side - main business section & slums North side - finest residential district West side - industrial section & working class

Fire Dept. Structure & Resources:

Fire Dept. Structure & Resources Managed by a Board of Police & Fire Commissioners City’s Common Council controlled fire dept’s budget. 1 platoon of firemen (no backup) 193 firefighters & 23 additional @ Dept. HQ In 1871, the fire dept resources: 16 steam engine companies 1 additional engine in reserve 6 hose carts 4 hook and ladder 1 hose elevator.

Warnings & Requests:

Warnings & Requests Through next few years, Board lobbies for: more fire hydrants limitation on the use of wood as a building material elimination of tar as a roofing material. Increase fire limits (areas no framed buildings allowed). More enforcement of ordinances governing fire limits. Citizens oppose laws that would regulate the use of their property. Requested hybrid boat/fire engine capable of throwing up to 12 steams of water with a dockside fire alarm telegraph connection. Board’s Annual Report of 1868: style of constructing buildings is generally to unsubstantial Aesthetics are substituted for strength safety is scarified for cheapness.

Conditions Before Oct. 8th :

Conditions Before Oct. 8 th Summer of 1871 – exceptionally dry & hot Between Sept. 17 th & Oct. 8 th only 0.11 in. of rain. Very little rain fall since July 4 th Many industries had stockpiles of coal for steam powered boilers. 1 st 7 days of Oct., 28 significant fires MOST serious fire – Lull & Holmes Planning Mill Fire *F.D. fought 16 acre Lull & Holmes Planning Mill fire from 11pm on Oct 7 th to the afternoon of Oct. 8 th) The O’ Leary barn fire (aka T.G.C.F.) started a little after 9pm that same day.

Fire Progression:

Fire Progression Barn fire started - Shortly after 9pm Sun. Oct. 8 Blaze spread quickly to adjoining buildings Shed near barn containing 2 tons of coal (in preparation for winter) catches fire. In less than an hour, fire crossed parallel ST About 10pm, debris 2x1 whirling N strikes St. Paul Steeple Engulfing the church in flames almost instantaneously. Church within several feet of the shingle mill, box factory, and furniture factory. Fire quickly spreads through the properties.

Progression (cont.):

Progression (cont.) By 10:30pm, fire has moved through the South side. At 11:30, burning debris was blown across the Chicago River and ignited the Par mêlée Omnibus & Stage Company (horse stables). Half an hour later, a burning shingle blows across the River & dropped into the tar tank (manufacturer of roofing material). Within seconds the flames spread to an adjoining coal shed of the Chicago Gas, Light & Coal Company (Gas Works) Approx. 200,000 cubic ft. of gas in the gas holders Shortly after 12am Oct. 9 th , more burning debris blows across the River & landed on the roof of a 3 story tenement house. The fire quickly spread to Conley’s Patch (1 block of Gas Works) The courthouse near Conley’s Patch caught fire Sparks enter Courthouse Cupola’s broken window and set the woodwork ablaze.

Continued Progression:

Continued Progression At 2:05 am, courthouse bell, used to inform citizens of a fire, crashes to the ground. At 2:20 am the roof of the courthouse crashed in. Approx. 2:30am, a train of railroad cars containing oil caught fire. Railroad cars were about 3/8 of a mile from courthouse. Railroad fire touched off nearby stables. Fire spread & continued to trek Northward. By then, Water Works remained only hope for Chicago. The Water Works & adjourning water tower were essentially a pumping facility.

Progression (cont.):

Progression (cont.) At 3:20am, Mon. morning, debris about 12 ft. long struck Water Works & caught fire. By 4am, everyone was forced to abandon the facility. Once pumps stopped working, only water available was “dead water” left in the mains and in the only slightly damaged water tower. When that was exhausted streams from firemen’s hoses ceased. With hydrants useless, fire engines were ineffective EXCEPT along the river and the lake shore. From the Water Works fire spread across the North side. North side residents went to bed Sun. night thinking fire would never spread to the North side.

Remaining Hours:

Remaining Hours Mon. AM (Oct 9 th ) as fire consumed the North Side, thousands of men/women/children took refuge on the shores of Lake Michigan. Fire soon encircled the refuges, smoke & flames in every direction. Some people drove their horses/wagons into the lake & got on top. Others stood in the lake for hours, scorching heat above the water line, chilling cold below it. Eventually when heat & smoke subsided somewhat Chicagoans began a slow exodus out of the water. At 11pm Mon., rain began to fall but fire had run its course by then. Approx. 100,000 homeless Property valued at $192,000,000 was destroyed Approx. 300 people lost their lives

7 Factors that transformed an ordinary barn fire :

7 Factors that transformed an ordinary barn fire 1. Firefighter exhaustion 2. Eqp. disrepair & hose shortage 3. An error in judgment 4. Wrong location given 5. Store owner who refused to sound alarm & impeded others from doing so. 6. Inattentive neighbors 7. Lack of engine support

Bovine innocent or guilty?:

Bovine innocent or guilty? The cow kicking over a lantern was merely the combined product of the overly imaginative minds of neighborhood children and the overly gullible mind of an unknown and long forgotten Chicago Evening Journal reporter.