Great Chicago Fire (8 photos) Bashny.Net

The fire started at 9 pm Oct. 8, 1871 in a small barn houses 137 twin deck Street. According to one version of the fire was the culprit cow hooves overturned a kerosene lamp. On the other hand, a thief Daniel Sullivan, who tried to steal milk from the barn burned hay there. The third version says that the fire started a Louis Cohn during a game of craps, he again knocked over a lantern in the barn.
Whatever it was, the fire burned the entire Chicago (Eng). And it so happened that this fire helped spur the development of the city in the future.



When the flames enveloped the barn, neighbors rushed to the house O'Leary, trying to save him from the fire. This house, in fact, was hardly damaged by fire. However, fire alarm sounded at 9:40 just in time, as a strong southwest wind attributed the fire to the heart of the city. Soon the flames spread to the surrounding buildings and houses. The hot wind carried the fire in the north-east. By midnight flames had spread through the southern arm of the Chicago River. Firmly standing wooden houses, moored along the river ships, wooden sidewalks, coal stocks contributed to the rapid spread of fire. Heated air burned rooftops at a great distance from the fire.



In the fire killed hotels, shops, churches, opera and theaters in the city center. The fire continued to spread, residents sought refuge in the northern part of the city, the bridges passing through the northern branch of the Chicago River. Soon the fire reached and there, burning expensive homes in the north of the city. Thousands of residents gathered at the Lincoln Park and the shores of Lake Michigan.



By Monday evening breeze at last verse and went drizzling rain. The fire faded away, leaving behind almost completely destroyed 48 blocks away from the house O'Leary to Fullerton Avenue on the north of the city.