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N0KFQ > TODAY 08.10.14 15:39l 57 Lines 2525 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 37723_N0KFQ
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Subj: Today in History - Oct 8
Path: IW8PGT<F1OYP<F1OYP<PI8SNK<N0KFQ
Sent: 141008/1330Z 37723@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQ1.4.60
Oct 8, 1871:
Fire rips through Chicago
The Great Chicago Fire begins on this day in 1871. It goes on to
kill 250 people, leave 100,000 people homeless and destroy
thousands of buildings. All told, the fire was responsible for an
estimated $200 million in damages (more than $3 billion in
today's money), approximately one-third of the city's entire
worth. At the time, slightly more than 300,000 people lived in
Chicago, which was quickly becoming a transportation hub for
goods and people traveling between the East Coast and the
burgeoning frontier.
The fire began near the home of Patrick and Catherine O'Leary at
137 De Koven Street in southwest Chicago at about 9 p.m. Legend
holds that the fire started when the family's cow knocked over a
lantern, but it is unknown whether this is actually true. What is
known is that within 90 minutes, the fire was completely out of
control and rapidly moving toward the city center.
Blinding hot ash and dust swirled as the blaze grew_at its
height, it was as much as a mile wide. The winds were so strong
and unpredictable that firefighters found it virtually impossible
to establish safe positions from which to battle the blaze. Lake
Michigan proved to be the only thing that could halt the fire as
it raced four miles west. The fire continued to burn wildly
throughout the following day, finally coming under control on
October 10, when rain gave a needed boost to firefighting
efforts.
Of the 18,000 buildings that were destroyed by the fire, the most
notable was the city's courthouse, which had cost over $1 million
to build. The Field and Leiter department store was also lost,
with an estimated $2 million of merchandise inside.
The fire prompted an outbreak of looting and lawlessness. Five
companies of soldiers stationed in Nebraska and Kansas were
summoned to Chicago and martial law was declared on October 11,
ending three days of chaos. The military stayed for two weeks
restoring order. Meanwhile, refugees filled the beaches of Lake
Michigan, waiting until they could safely return to the city.
The following month, Joseph Medill was elected mayor after
promising to institute stricter building and fire codes, a pledge
that may have helped him win the office. His victory might also
be attributable to the fact that most of the city's voting
records were destroyed in the fire, so it was next to impossible
to keep people from voting more than once.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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