So this is what we heard... Mrs. O'Leary was excessively milking her cow, because she owed money all over town. One day she tugged too hard and the cow had enough! With one spiteful kick, the lantern exploded and flames engulfed the city. The cow watched with a smirk as the Great Chicago Fire burned the city to the ground, because she knew full well whom the Chicagoans would blame. That's our story, and we're sticking to it!