Catherine O’Leary.

On the evening of October 8, 1871, a fire consumed the O’Leary family’s barn at 137 DeKoven Street. Due to a high wind and dry conditions it spread rapidly, eventually burning a large percentage of the city, an event known today as the Great Chicago Fire. The fire burned from October 8 to October 10, 1871, and destroyed thousands of buildings, killed an estimated 300 people and caused an estimated $200 million in damages. (1871 figures)

After the Great Fire, Chicago Tribune reporter Michael Ahern published a claim that the fire had started when a cow kicked over a lantern while it was being milked. The owner was not named, but Catherine O’Leary was soon identified, since the fire had begun in her family’s barn. Illustrations and caricatures soon appeared depicting Mrs. O’Leary with her cow. The idea captured the popular imagination and is still widely circulated even today. However, in 1893 Ahern finally admitted he had made the story up.

The official report simply states: “Whether it originated from a spark blown from a chimney on that windy night, or was set on fire by human agency, we are unable to determine”.

Mrs. O’Leary testified that she had been in bed when the fire began, and she had no idea what caused it. Daniel “Pegleg” Sullivan, the first person to raise the alarm, said that on seeing the barn on fire, he ran to free the animals, which included a cow owned by Sullivan’s mother. He then informed the O’Learys, who were in their home and were unaware of the fire.

Anti-Irish attitudes at the time encouraged making scapegoats of the O’Leary family. It was soon claimed that the alleged accident happened because she was drunk, or that she had hidden the evidence of her guilt. Neighbors were reported to have claimed that they saw broken glass from the lamp, though these “reports” were all unverified. One man claimed he had found the damaged lamp, but it had been stolen by another Irishman to protect the O’Learys.

Other rumors insisted that Daniel Sullivan himself had started the fire, or perhaps it was Louis M. Cohn, who claimed to have been gambling in the barn with the O’Learys’ son and others.

Catherine O’Leary died on July 3, 1895 of acute pneumonia, at her home at 5133 Halsted Street, and was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery. In A documentary, Chicago: City of the Century, a descendant of O’Leary’s stated that she spent the rest of her life in the public eye, and she was constantly blamed for starting the fire. Overcome with much sadness and regret, she “died heartbroken”.

The last living relative of Catherine O’Leary died in 1936. Amateur historian Richard Bales was able to gather enough evidence on Sullivan to convince the Chicago City Council (in 1997) to exonerate Mrs. O’Leary of any guilt.

This story should alert us to the danger of Spreading rumors. Even God is not immune from the spreading of lies. He has been blamed and vilified for so much evil, when it is in fact the devil who inspires or causes this world’s woes. This is a planet in rebellion against God and most of this world’s tragedies have been caused by ourselves.