The Monmouth inquirer., 1926-10-07

rOaQS, the Developments
strategic location as aRtradng center had caused
Chicago to forge ahead until it was becoming
truly wonder city" by 1871 it had a popula-
ton of 350,000-from 1900 to $4,000 in "a years
In its appearance tia Chicago of 1871 said
to have resembled somewhat the great city OF
Paris Mansard roofs, imported from Partisan
architecture. were much in evidence, as was also
the nght-colored building stone which had the
appearance of the famous Paris marble. 1t had
many beautiful homes and gardens and an elab-
crate park system so that 1t often re-
ferred to the Garden City"
Into the midst of all this peace and prosperity
came the fire dragon one Sunday evening. AS
churchgoers returning to their homes they
were startled to hear the alarm of fire from the
courthouse bell. 1t was the second alarm that had
been sounded within "a hours, for the night
before the city fremen had batted stubborn blaze
all night long before they had succeeded in sub
DUNG it.
Cackling geese once saved Rome and kicking
COW destroyed Chicago. The fire of october
originated in the barn of Mrs Patrick OLeary,
an Irishwoman living at 1877 De Koven street,
who kept COW and sold milk to her neighbors.
Tradition has always had it that Mrs. OLeary
was milking her COW that fateful night, but
cent researches into the history of the event
shows that 1t was one Of the neighbors and not
Mrs. OIeary, who milking the cow at the
unseemly hour of $50 p. m. Perhaps If Mrs.
O'Leary had been doing 1t, the history of Chicago
would have been different.
However that may be, the fact remains that
the COW kicked over the lantern, the barn was
ignited and the great Chicago fire had begun.
1t made strong Roadway despite the efforts of
the 6remen, weared to exhaustion by their
experience Of the night before, and was soon out
of all control The flames swept east toward the
river and there it paused, though selecting its
point Of attack On the east side Of the river
str
South Side Gas works. A blazing plank
blown across the river and lighted on these build
ings A moment later there was terrific explo
sion and the South side was in darkness, save
for the glare of the flames.
Blown by terrific gale the fire had enjoyed a
devastating sweep of four miles through a line
Of wooden buildings which dry the
proverbial tinder for there had been rain for
weeks The FIRE department, driven back steadily
bv the onrushing flames, had hoped that the bar
rier of the river would check the flames. But
when the fire reached this barrier about mid
night and leaped across they all but abandoned
hope Buildings Of stone, brick and Iron In what
is now the loop district, which were supposed
to be hreproof, crumbled and melted before the
terrific heat.
Apparently aiming at the courthouse, the ire
now selected as its avenue Of approach La Sale
street. the financial center of the city, and stead
lily ate Its way along Madison and Monroe streets.
Only one structure the Nixon building, proved to be
really hreproof. AS for the others, the limestone
and even harder stone melted before the terrific
heat and ran down like lava from volcano. The
cupola of the courthouse was framework and
burst In flames long before the remainder of the
structure succumbed. Long after two o'clock in
the morning, when the framework burned, the
bell, operated by mechanical device, continued
to toll its warning to the citizens but 1t was
sounding the knell of a doomed city.
On the North side stood the Chicago water
works containing the powerful engines which
pumped the lake water for distribution through
the city While the courthouse was burning a
brand from it went hurting through the air and
lighted upon wooden outbuIIding Of brewery