Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Jun 16, 2004 20:48:49 GMT -6
Please Vote for what you think started the Great Chicago Fire...and region.
What Actually started the Great Chicago Fire..................and Peshtigo?
In October of 1871, after a long, hot and unusally dry summer, the North side of Chicago went up in flames. The tale goes that Mrs. O'Leary's cow started the fire by kicking over a lantern, but a theory has been established that it might have been Biela's comet or Meteorite that sparked the burning.
The region in various locations went up in flames that night.
The stories here:
dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20040301/comet.html
www.angelfire.com/mi2/gfmeteor/evidence.htm
www.weatherfriend.com/astronomy/comet/impact.html