October 8: Great Chicago Fire, Part 1

October 8: Great Chicago Fire, Part 1

For the 149th Anniversary of the infamous fire, we’re following the flames in real-time over three days.

The myth that snowballed out of control was that the fire began when Mrs. Catherine O’Leary was milking a cow at night. The cow was startled as Catherine was milking her improperly and she kicked over a lantern that would ignite a stack of hay.

None of this is true. In fact, the reporter who made-up the whole story, Daniel Sullivan, admitted to it a few years later. But by then it was too late. The story had been fueled by anti-Irish sentiment in the city. Like the fire, it would not be contained.

It’s easier to have someone to blame and much harder to admit that this was just a freak occurrence; that we do not and will not ever know what started the fire. But, both experts and conspiracy theorists have pointed to the several neighboring fires around Lake Michigan as evidence that something bigger was going on.

Fires of October 8th, 1871:

-The Peshtigo Fire: In NE Wisconsin, a large forest fire consumed 12 cities. It is the deadliest wildfire in recorded history as it killed anywhere from 1500 to 2500 people! Cause of fire is unknown.

-The Port Huron Fire: Starting in Port Huron, MI, this fire killed at least 50 people. While not along Lake Michigan nominally, Lake Huron and Lake Michigan are technically the same body of water. Cause of fire is unknown.

-The Holland Fire: Destroyed town of Holland, MI. Cause of fire unknown.

-Additional terrific fires occurred that night in Manistee, MI and Alpena, MI.

On the night of October 8th, witnesses in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, & Indiana reported seeing “balls of flames” in the sky.

Help me out: What do YOU think caused all these mysterious fires?

Nervous by Kevin MacLeod