The Irish standard., 1895-10-12
!. MRS. O LfARY' S RAGE.
The Woman Whose Innocent Act
Brought Her Reputation.

Mrs. Catherine O'Leary. whose name
will be linked with tbs story of the great
fire as long as history lives, no matter
what her part in it, died a couple of
months ago, says the Chicago Tribune
Her husband, Patrick. died a year ago
last summer, leaving her a comfortable
little home on Ralsted street, beyond the
stock yards.
The story of the origin Of the fire in the
act Of her COW kicking over the lamp was
told and published the day after the oc-
currence and was accepted as authentic
at that time. 1t remained for the ten
>derfeet'' who came to Chicago long after
the fire to call that historic incident into
controversy. Enough has been published
on both sides of the question to fill lib
rary, but the original story will always
be accepted by the burnt outer" as good
enough for him.
That it should be denied by the o.
Learys and those who took part in the
dance on that memorable night was to be
expected. AS a waggish lawyer remarked
at the time of the investigation into the
origin of the fire: "Mrs. O'Leary is afraid
she will be compelled to make good the
loss of 200,O0O,000 if she tells the truth. y
Mrs. O'Leary declared in her own
sworn testimony that the family, COM
posed of herself, husband and five chill
dren were in bed at the time of the fire,
although they were not asleep. But much
and convincing evidence to the contrary
was given.
The subject Of the fire had terror for
Mrs. O'Leary to the last, and her friends
came unsettled on, that point There is
have declared that her mind finally be-
no doubt but that she was subjected to
terrible annoyance by "tenderfeet' his
torians and curiosity mongers. just a
year ago she was visited by newspaper
man from the East, who told the expert
ence Of his attempted interview yesterday
for the first time.
s'She was remarkable woman in phys
ical appearance" he said "My knock at
the door Of the pretty little white cottage
was answered by a young girl. From the
coy little parlor could see Mrs O'Ieary
sitting in the kitchen, drinking something
from cup. She rose from her chair with
difficulty and evident pain. But once on
her feet she looked giantess of strength
as she certainly was of frame, notwith-
standing her more than 70 years of age.
Her hair was black as a crows wing and
her eyes snapped with the fire of youth.
Her voice was robust. harsh and gut
tural, and when raised in anger it was
terrible. Her eyes glared at me from I'M
der shaggy eyebrows as she demanded
my business.
II attempted to be jocular and told her
that had called to have little chat
about the little incident of % years before
What we mean?' she Numbered. The
great fire. I replied. Then her fury
broke. She waved her long arms over
her head and shouted torrent of words
at me that was something terribleo. -ao
at me that was simply blood curdling
All that could catch was that she was
DO beggar, she had friends and go see
the priest I tried to mollify her, but
whenever tried to speak the more VIC
lent she became and finally fled to the
door for confess that I was afraid Of her.
The little girl followed me and told me
she always behaved like that whenever
the fire was mentioned