not in the barn with her cow, she will spend the rest of her life — 24 years — a virtual recluse. Over time, her alleged role in the Great Fire passes into legend. In 1997 the Chicago City ...

There are several versions of the legend of the Great Fire ... Leary left the lantern in the barn and the cow kicked it over and started the fire. Chicago at that time was still a new city.

O ver the span of just a few days in October 1871, the Great Chicago Fire devastated the city, claiming the lives of more than 300 people and leaving over 100,000 residents homeless.The fire ...