The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-11-29
who Burned Chicago /?
LRs. o'LBIEY AND HER CoW-WHAT TIL
OLD LADY knows ABOUT TIE COEPLAGRA

MRS. o'LsIEY AND HER CoW-wHAT THU
OLD LADY KNOWS ABOUT TIE COEPLAGRA-
TON.
The Board OF Police of Chicago have
commenced q systematic investigation OF
the facts In relation to the history Of the
great fire. On Friday Mrs. CLeary, in
whose barn the fire Is said to have COM
meuced, was before the Board. She was
dressed 10 u clean face and a plaid black
and white calico, with hair a Ia neghgee. A
warm wosilen shawl bound her babe closer
TO ker breast, and q knit hood confined in
Il very Indifferent manner the many raven
locks that adorned Ger thoughtful and care
worn brow. "Will, Fir, was IN my bed,
and my husband and i've children, and
Owned six cows, one good horse snd
wag.in aud harness, aud had two tons OF
ccal and two tons OF hay, and l couldn't
for the life Of me save fye cents
worth from it all, except Mr.. Sullivan
brought out q burned calf that / was Of
lered $l1 for on saturday, and l could git
but SS4 for it. Two men came near the door,
and my husband rim out O. doors and came
back to me bedroom, and he says, kate,
the barns afre, - and couldn't tell nothing
more nor couldn't do nothing, was 80 e1-
cited and tried to save something from
the barn, but couldn't do anything for
the fire. Mr.. Sullivan made the first alarm
to nae. He lives just across the ROAD forninSt
US, and its drayman he is-a one-lcgsed
man that works at the oil works; and when
7 looked the fire was all along-three or
four barns Gil on fire. There was mine ana
Mrs. Aurray's and Mr.. Dalten's little shed !;
and I catchsd up one OF the children ana
put it out on the sidewalk. Then l SAW
the fire breaking from the inside OF Tur-
uer Block, facing on Jefferson street, and
gave up vii hope, for was sure our little
house would burn up. They kept 1t wet
with the water running into the Wash-tuos.
Mrs. Laughlan was living in the front part
OF my house, and they had little bit OF
parLy, and there was music and llttle
dancing, and her husband was fiddler,
aud had some company, and l couldn tell
whether 1t was her that made the lire or
not. l did not hear any Of them gong BACK
and forth outside. None OF uS hao been III
the other part, sure, but heard next uay
Mrs. White say, "sure WASN'T PITY tna1
Ar. OLeary had to lose every thing he c naa'
and l says, why" and she says, "Sure,
wasn't somebody IN your, Darn nn'Alns
your cows last night % Some one
said thew wanted the milk for oys-
tiers. but never saw them milking any
of NV COWS, and asked Mrs. Lausblan,
and she said she had no supper tnat
Tight, and didn't 30 near the stable ~ aii.
The wind bowed everywhere you, cou!o
think; you'd hear the roar of The IRE Ike
cannons it ro2red like everything. There
were sAavings under almost every mouse.
and I had some in my barn. Sure qua.
and took basinful aud spread under me
cows to keep me shoes clean. The 1rst en-
CINE l seen was on Turner'S block, and It
wasn't very quick at all. bly, whole barn
was burned down before seen az engine.
There was new Vaughn between our barn
aud the other side OF the ally, and both
sides of the alley was on fire, and the new
Vaughn WAS all afre. / got SO excited |
couldn't tell them things that happened.
and didn't know the fire went down I'LL
next day. never had cent OF insurance,
and one Of our COWS was in the alley. and
il went away, and my husband was looking
for it two weeks, and never sight did he
get at it, at ALL" Mrs. OLesry finished her
peroration in tears, and the commissioners
sobbed audibly upon their manly breasts,
and their relator folded her shawl about
her and went her way narVellng Al The
presence of the dignitaries to whom sue
had untolded her taio.