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Article: MRS. O'LEARY'S COW OFF THE HOOK FOR CHICAGO FIRE, AUTHOR SAYS HISTORIAN BLAMES WOMAN'S NEIGHBOR, `PEG LEG' SULLIVAN.(News/National/International)
- Article from:
- Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO)
- Article date:
- January 8, 1997
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 Rocky Mountain News. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Dialog LLC by Gale Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Reuter
CHICAGO -- Contrary to the findings of an official board shortly after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the fire was probably started by a neighbor of the infamous Mrs. O'Leary, whose cow was blamed for the devastating blaze.
Chicago lawyer and historian Dick Bales, whose research will be published in the Illinois Historical Journal, said Tuesday the fire began in O'Leary's barn, but the often-told tale blaming the poor Irish immigrant and her latern-kicking cow was flawed.
The fire killed 250 people and left the city in ashes, causing nearly $200 million damage.
Bales put the blame on Daniel ``Peg Leg'' Sullivan, who ...