The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 PDF
Preview The Great Chicago Fire of 1871
TM TM For action-packed nonfiction, turn to Capstone’s Graphic Library. These vivid, dynamic books present high-interest nonfiction in graphic novel format. An additional information TM section provides key facts for further understanding. TM True–Life tragedies jump off the page in TT the graphic library set HE HE disasters in history. GG RR Check out these other EAEA TM disasters in history titles: T T CC HH II CC AA The Apollo 13 Mission GG OO The Attack on Pearl Harbor TM FF The Challenger Explosion II RR EE The Donner Party OO FF The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 11 88 The Hindenburg Disaster 77 11 Shackleton and the Lost Antarctic Expedition The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire O l s o n / M RL: 4 IL: 3-9 i l ISBN 0-7368-5480-0 le 9 0 0 0 0 r / B a r n e t www.capstonepress.com t by Kay Melchisedech Olson I Reinforced Library Binding 9 780736 854801 II illustrated by Phil Miller and Charles Barnett III TM TM TM bbyy KKaayy MMeellcchhiisseeddeecchh OOllssoonn iilllluussttrraatteedd bbyy PPhhiill MMiilllleerr aanndd CChhaarrlleess BBaarrnneetttt IIIIII CCoonnssuullttaanntt:: RRiicchhaarrdd FF.. BBaalleess,, aauutthhoorr TThhee GGrreeaatt CChhiiccaaggoo FFiirree aanndd tthhee MMyytthh ooff MMrrss.. OO’’LLeeaarryy’’ss CCooww Mankato, Minnesota Graphic Library is published by Capstone Press, 151 Good Counsel Drive, P.O. Box 669, Mankato, Minnesota 56002. www.capstonepress.com Copyright © 2006 by Capstone Press. All rights reserved. Chapter 1 No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher. 4 First Flames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . For information regarding permission, write to Capstone Press, 151 Good Counsel Drive, P.O. Box 669, Dept. R, Mankato, Minnesota 56002. Printed in the United States of America 1 2 3 4 5 6 11 10 09 08 07 06 Chapter 2 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data 10 Growing Panic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Olson, Kay Melchisedech. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 / by Kay M. Olson; illustrated by Phil Miller and Charles Barnett III. p. cm.—(Graphic library. Disasters in history) Chapter 3 Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-0-7368-5480-1 (hardcover) ISBN-10: 0-7368-5480-0 (hardcover) 16 Total Disaster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ISBN-13: 978-0-7368-6875-4 (softcover pbk.) ISBN-10: 0-7368-6875-5 (softcover pbk.) 1. Great Fire, Chicago, Ill., 1871—Juvenile literature. 2. Fires—Illinois—Chicago— History—19th century—Juvenile literature. 3. Chicago (Ill.)—History—To 1875—Juvenile Chapter 4 literature. I. Miller, Phil, ill. II. Barnett, Charles, III, ill. III. Title. IV. Series. F548.42.O47 2006 22 977.3'11041—dc22 2005029861 After the Ashes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Summmary: In graphic novel format, tells the story of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, an inferno that forever changed the city’s skyline. More about the Chicago Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Art Direction and Design Bob Lentz Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Storyboard and Production Artist Alison Thiele Internet Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Colorist Read More . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Matt Webb Editor Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Donald Lemke Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Not everyone in Chicago looked forward to symphony Yeah, it’s too concerts. On the South Side of town was an area known as hot for a fire. Conley’s Patch. The poorest people in the city lived here. Why don’t you children gather some scraps of wood? I should get our soup cooking soon. In 1871, Chicago was a bustling Illinois city on Lake Michigan. The downtown area was crowded with many tall wooden buildings. Wealthier families lived in large homes on the city’s North Side. Poorer people lived in shacks or tenements on the South Side. No fire, no supper. I wish it would rain, Mama. The next day was just as warm and windy. The afternoon of Saturday, October 7, was unusually That night, Daniel “Peg Leg” Sullivan spotted warm and windy. But the weather didn’t stop people smoke coming from the O’Leary’s barn. from enjoying all that Chicago had to offer. Pat! Kate! There it is, my dear. Crosby’s Opera House. It opens on Monday. Just two more days. Your barn I can hardly wait for the is afire! first concert. How lucky that we have season 44 tickets to the symphony. 5 That shed is full Fire watchers Mathias Schaeffer and William J. Brown We have to stop of coal and hay. at the central fire office didn’t receive an alarm either. the fire before it spreads. Look over there. Smoke! That’s just the smoking ruins of last night’s fire. I’ll bet the firefighters are tired after that one. I’ll turn in the alarm. That’s not last night’s fire. That’s a new one right behind it. In 1871, there were no phones to use for reporting fires. Fire alarm boxes were located in public places. They were locked to prevent false alarms. What should we do? No one’s turned Quick, Bruno! I need the in an alarm. key to the alarm box. The O’Leary’s barn is on fire. No need. I saw the flames and have already turned in the alarm. Run down and sound the Box 342 alarm. I think that fire station is closest. No one knows if Bruno Goll turned in a fire alarm or not. But no alarm from 6 7 Box 296 ever sounded at the station. Meanwhile, a firefighting crew While firefighters were raced through the streets. trying to find the fire, it had time to spread. Where is the fire? Look! Another roof is on fire. Where are the fire I don’t see engines? Why aren’t anything. they here yet? Firefighters arrived too late for many. Everything’s on fire! Hurry, men! Toss the baby I’ve made a mistake down. Then on the fire’s location. jump yourself. Run down to Box 319 and sound that alarm. There’s no need. You’re safe now. How could anyone miss all the flames and smoke? Another alarm will just confuse the situation. 8 9 Back at the central fire watch office . . . That’s an alarm from Box 296. I’m sure that’s the crew from our Box 342 alarm. They surely saw the flames and found their way to the fire. Yeah, if it was a real Chief Fire Marshal Robert A. second alarm, they Williams was leading the fight Because a second alarm was not sounded, firefighters in would have pulled to put out the spreading fire. other parts of Chicago did not know of the growing fire. the lever four times. Dorsey! We need help. Sound a second alarm. We’ve had so many fires lately, I’m glad for a chance to Where, Chief? rest. Meanwhile . . . Alarm Box 296 at Goll’s Where are the other drugstore. It’s only a few engines? Why hasn’t blocks away. You have a key. anyone responded to the second alarm? Chief, we can’t get any more water with that broken hose. Hurry, we need more help! Let’s move, men. We’ve got to get ahead of the fire. We have Firefighter John Dorsey rushed to to stop it before it reaches 1100 the box and sounded the alarm. the center of the city. 11 The fire was only a few hours old when a new calamity By 9:42 in the evening, Schaeffer and Brown struck. The steeple of St. Paul’s Church started on fire. were becoming increasingly worried. I’m going down to turn in another alarm. They need help down there. For the second time that night, his actions alerted fire engines Send more men and engines to in the wrong area of town. the church. If the wind blows embers from the steeple, the fire will jump across the river. Hurry! There’s a shingle mill, box factory, and a furniture factory right across from the church. While firefighters battled the growing blaze, people in the streets began to spread the bad news. The Polk Street Bridge is on fire. Hurry! If those buildings burn, the fire will spread to the South The fire is spreading 12 Side. Nothing will stop it then. across the Chicago River. 13 By midnight, the fire By 12:30, fire reached Chicago’s South was spreading to other Side. Flames eagerly burned through parts of Chicago. the rundown shanties and tenements. Hurry! You’ve got to leave. Fire! Run, children! Fire is coming this way! But where will we go? People rushed from their beds into the streets. They brought whatever they could carry away from the approaching fire. A bowl, Clara? You couldn’t find anything more valuable It was the first thing As far away to save than a bowl? I grabbed. It was my from the fire grandmother’s, you know. as we can. Few knew how difficult escape would be. Soon, 14 15 fire would be everywhere. By 3:00 in the morning on October 9, all was lost. The wooden roof of the city’s waterworks went up in flames. That’s it. The water supply has stopped. Flames began running unchecked through Chicago’s streets and alleys. The pumping machines Everything seemed to be on fire. are dead. We’ve done all we can. The fire The city’s bridges burned. OWW! My hair! cannot be stopped. Boats in the water caught fire. Crosby’s Opera House Hurry, children! burned to the ground. The fire also claimed the courthouse, where Papa, your coat Schaeffer and Brown had stood fire watch. is burning. Henry! Where are you? 1166 17
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