Flames of Fate: Elise, Honoré, and the Night Chicago Burned
In “Confligration,” Episode 9 of “Borrowed Lives,” a confrontation between Honoré and Elise inadvertently leads to the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Elise and her new companion, Mollie, flee to the Palmer Hotel, which is rumored to be fireproof. But, how did the fire really start, and what was the fate of the real Palmer Hotel? During the 1870s, Chicago had emerged as a dominant urban center in the American Midwest. The population boomed as industries such as manufacturing surged. The majority of buildings were constructed primarily of wood, and the year 1871 had been incredibly dry. That meant the city was a tinderbox waiting to be lit. No one knows for certain how the fire started, except that it originated in a barn belonging to Patrick and Catherine O’Leary. Some people believe a cow kicked over a lantern, while […]
