MRS. O'LEARY 'AND HER COW' EXONERATED 126 YEARS AFTER THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE
Chicago, Illinois (JFK+50) On October 6, 1997, the Committee on Police and Fire of the Chicago City Council exonerated Mrs. Catherine (Kate) O'Leary* "and her cow" of starting The Great Chicago Fire 126 years after the fact.
The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 started at 9 p.m. on October 8th and continued to burn until October 10th. The fire destroyed 2000 acres, 73 miles of roads, and 17,500 buildings. 100,000 persons were left homeless and the death toll was between 120 and 300. Total property loss was estimated to be $222 million.
Kate O'Leary later testified that she was in bed when the fire started and an official inquiry found no proof of her guilt. It was a city reporter, Michael Ahern, who claimed that the Great Fire spread through the city after Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicked over a lantern setting her barn afire.
Forty years later, Mr. Ahern admitted that he and "two cronies" had "made the whole thing up."
"Late one night, when we were all in bed, Mrs. O'Leary lit a lantern in the shed, Her cow kicked it over, Then winked her eye and said, 'There'll be a hot time in the old town tonight."
lyric from a popular song
JFK+50 NOTE
It is believed that the anti-Irish sentiment prevalent at the time gave credence to the story that Mr. Ahern 'made up.' His admission that the story was false and support of the Ahern family led to the Chicago City Council's decision to exonerate Mrs. O'Leary 'and her cow.'
*Catherine Donegan O'Leary (1827-1895) was born in Ireland & immigrated to Chicago where she became famous when it was alleged that her cow knocked over a lantern that resulted in the Great Fire of 1871.
SOURCES
"The Great Chicago Fire and The Web of Memory: The O'Leary Legend," www.greatchicagofire.org/
"Today in Chicago History: Catherine O'Leary and her cow exonerated by Chicago City Council 126 years later," www.chicagotribune.com/
