Great Fire of 1871

One dark night when we were all in bed
Mrs. O’Leary lit a lantern in her shed,
The cow kicked it over, winked its eye and said
There’ll be a hot time in the old town tonight.

Popular Rhyme
Concerning the Great Chicago Fire
October 8-9, 1871

From the very beginning Catherine O’Leary and Daisy, her cow, were blamed for starting the Great Chicago Fire.

Mrs. O’Leary swore she was in bed when the fire started, but her testimony didn’t change people’s opinions. She'd made too many statements earlier - when she told her neighbors it was an accident.  At least ... that’s what her neighbors remembered.

Ironically, although 17,450 buildings were destroyed, the O’Leary’s house survived. The cow (and the barn) didn’t.

ISSUES AND QUESTIONS TO PONDER:  When people "jump to a quick conclusion," that is sometimes referred to as a "rush to judgment."  Soon after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, people rushed to judgment about Catherine O'Leary and her cow, Daisy.  Do you think that was fair? 

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Author: Carole D. Bos, J.D.

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Original Release Date:  September, 2002
Substantially Updated:  September 2012