# INDEX of testimony texts obtained -- Board of Police and Fire Commissioners' inquiry into the origin of the Chicago fire (sessions 23 Nov.-4 Dec. 1871)

All paths are relative to the `transcript/` folder.

**The stenographic transcript itself (CHM, 4 handwritten volumes, c. 1,170 pp.; Bales/CHS transcription at http://chsmedia.org/media/fa/fa/M-C/ChgoFire-transcript.htm) has NOT been obtained**: chsmedia.org answers HTTP 503 (http) / connection reset (https) on every try. No mirror of the transcription exists on any reachable host (Wayback and archive.ph are blocked by policy). What follows is the best substitute set.

## Status codes used below

- **VERBATIM** -- question-and-answer text transcribed from the manuscript (only Catherine O'Leary, partial, via greatchicagofire.org; plus short Bales OCR fragments).
- **REPORT** -- contemporary newspaper report of the session (Chicago Tribune), reported speech with some direct quotation; the Tribune of 24 Nov. says the first day's testimony was taken in longhand by Commissioner Brown (no shorthand writer) and from the second day "taken in full by a short-hand writer" -- see `text/tribune/inquiry_day1_1871-11-24_p6.txt` and `inquiry_day2_1871-11-25_p6.txt`.
- **SUMMARY** -- condensed reported-speech version printed in a book (Sheahan & Upton 1871 appendix; Andreas 1885), essentially the newspaper condensation.
- **AFFIDAVIT** -- the sworn statements taken by Michael McDermott on 15 Oct. 1871, before the inquiry (not inquiry testimony).
- Column *MS vol./pp.* gives the handwritten-volume page numbers as cited by Richard F. Bales (2002) -- recovered only from the Open Library search-inside fragments in `text/bales/bales_2002_openlibrary_search_inside_snippets.md`; "--" = no citation recovered. Page ranges are those of Bales's footnotes, not necessarily the full extent of the witness's testimony.

## A. Manuscript volume/page map (from Bales's footnote citations, verbatim OCR fragments)

| Witness (as cited by Bales) | Citation fragments recovered (verbatim from the snippets file) |
|---|---|
| William J. Brown | Brown, Inquiry, vol. [1], p. 1 |
| William Musham | William Musham, Inquiry, vol. [1], p. 29 |
| Catherine O'Leary | Catherine O'Leary, Inquiry, vol. [1], pp. 59, 65-66, 77-78; pp. 59-60, 66; pp. 60-71 passim; pp. 59, 61; Inquiry, vol. [1], pp. 62-63 |
| Catherine Sullivan | Catherine Sullivan, Inquiry, vol. [1], p. 117 |
| Dennis Regan | Dennis Regan, Inquiry, vol. [1], pp. 121-22; p. 122 |
| Christian Schimmals (Tribune: Christopher Schimmels) | Christian Schim- mals, Inquiry, vol. [1], pp. 131-33 |
| George Rau | George Rau, Inquiry, vol. [1], p. 179 |
| Catharine McLaughlin | Catharine McLaughlin, Inquiry, vol. [1], pp. 223; pp. 225; p. 225; pp. 229-30; p. 234; pp. 242-43 |
| Patrick O'Leary | Patrick O'Leary, Inquiry, vol. [1], pp. 247; p. 249; p. 251 |
| Daniel Sullivan | Daniel Sullivan, Inquiry, vol. [1], pp. 259-61, 271-72; p. 267 |
| Michael W. Conway | Conway, Inquiry, vol. [2], pp. 2-3, 24-26; pp. 25, 38-39 |
| John Dorsey | John Dorsey, Inquiry, vol. [2], pp. 64-65 |
| Leo Meyers | Leo Meyers, Inquiry, vol. [2], p. 93; p. 99; p. 100; p. 101; p. 103; p. 110 |
| David Kenyon | David Kenyon, Inquiry, vol. [2], p. 126 |
| Michael C. Hickey | Hickey, Inquiry, vol. [2], pp. 150, 156; pp. 163-66; p. 181 |
| John Tolland | John Tolland, Inquiry, vol. [2], pp. 184-86 |
| P. T. Burtis | Burtis, Inquiry, vol. [3], p. 50; pp. 51-57 |
| T. B. Burtis | Burtis, Inquiry, vol. [3], p. 77; pp. 81-92 passim |
| Charles Anderson | Charles Anderson, Inquiry, vol. [3], p. 109 |
| James H. Hildreth | Hildreth, Inquiry, vol. [3], p. 128; pp. 132-37, 141; pp. 144, 154-55; pp. 152-53 |
| William Fraser | William Fraser, Inquiry, vol. [3], p. 238; p. 242 |
| C. H. French | French, Inquiry, vol. [3], p. 304 |
| Thomas Ockerby | Thomas Ockerby, Inquiry, vol. [4], pp. 1-8, 33-34 |
| Robert A. Williams | Williams, Inquiry, vol. [4], pp. 241-48; p. 254; pp. 254-55; p. 268; pp. 284-85 |

Note: the manuscript volumes are unnumbered; Bales's "[1]"-"[4]" are his own bracketed numbering. Two witnesses cited by Bales with first names only in the fragments ("Burtis") are distinguished by page: vol. [3] p. 50/51-57 and vol. [3] p. 77/81-92.

## B. Witness-by-witness index of the texts obtained

Ordered by session. One row per witness per source. Word counts exclude header lines.

| Witness | Session (day) | MS vol./pp. (Bales) | Status | Source (URL) | Fetched (UTC) | File | Words |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William J. Brown, night operator, fire-alarm telegraph office (Court House) | Thursday 23 Nov. 1871 (day 1) | vol. [1], p. 1 | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-11-24 p. 6, page-OCR lines 564-612) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-11-24/ed-1/?sp=6 | 2026-09-14T06:13:17Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/william_j_brown_1871-11-24_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 422 |
| Mathias (Matthias) Schaffer, watchman in the Court House tower | Thursday 23 Nov. 1871 (day 1) | -- | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-11-24 p. 6, page-OCR lines 613-676) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-11-24/ed-1/?sp=6 | 2026-09-14T06:13:17Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/mathias_schaffer_1871-11-24_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 580 |
| William J. Brown (fire-alarm telegraph operator) | Thu 23 Nov. 1871 (day 1) | vol. [1], p. 1 | SUMMARY (Sheahan & Upton 1871, appendix pp. 419-439, OCR lines 16487-16551) | https://archive.org/download/greatconflagrati0000shea/greatconflagrati0000shea_djvu.txt | 2026-09-14T06:04:49Z | `text/witnesses/brown_1871_SUMMARY_sheahan_upton.txt` | 447 |
| Mathias Schaffer (Court House tower watchman) | Thu 23 Nov. 1871 (day 1) | -- | SUMMARY (Sheahan & Upton 1871, appendix pp. 419-439, OCR lines 16552-16619) | https://archive.org/download/greatconflagrati0000shea/greatconflagrati0000shea_djvu.txt | 2026-09-14T06:04:49Z | `text/witnesses/schaffer_1871_SUMMARY_sheahan_upton.txt` | 539 |
| Catherine O'Leary, 137 DeKoven St. (owner of the cow) | Fri 24 Nov. 1871 (day 2) | vol. [1], pp. 59-78 | VERBATIM (partial Q&A as published by CHM/Northwestern) | https://greatchicagofire.org/oleary-legend-library/%E2%80%9Ckate-barn-afire%E2%80%9D/ | 2026-09-14T06:00:10Z | `text/witnesses/catherine_oleary_1871-11-24_VERBATIM_greatchicagofire.org.txt` | 1398 |
| William Musham, foreman of the steamer "Little Giant" (OCR-garbled name line "WILLIAM HUE CRAM") | Friday 24 Nov. 1871 (day 2) | vol. [1], p. 29 | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-11-25 p. 6, page-OCR lines 14-56) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-11-25/ed-1/?sp=6 | 2026-09-14T06:13:27Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/william_musham_1871-11-25_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 360 |
| Mrs. Catherine O'Leary, 137 DeKoven street, owner of the cow | Friday 24 Nov. 1871 (day 2) | vol. [1], pp. 59-78 | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-11-25 p. 6, page-OCR lines 57-86) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-11-25/ed-1/?sp=6 | 2026-09-14T06:13:27Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/catherine_oleary_1871-11-25_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 261 |
| William Mullin, foreman of the steamer "Illinois" (OCR "WILLIAM AIULLKS"), followed by a badly garbled OCR passage that appears to be a further fireman's testimony (mentions $25 paid by the foreman of Ryerson's lumber yard) | Friday 24 Nov. 1871 (day 2) | -- | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-11-25 p. 6, page-OCR lines 87-239) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-11-25/ed-1/?sp=6 | 2026-09-14T06:13:27Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/william_mullin_and_unidentified_1871-11-25_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 1287 |
| Catharine Sullivan, DeKoven street east of Jefferson (OCR-garbled name line) | Friday 24 Nov. 1871 (day 2) | vol. [1], p. 117 | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-11-25 p. 6, page-OCR lines 240-257) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-11-25/ed-1/?sp=6 | 2026-09-14T06:13:27Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/catharine_sullivan_1871-11-25_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 140 |
| Dennis Regan, of No. 112 DeKoven street (OCR "DKWiH Boom"; Sheahan prints "Rogan") | Friday 24 Nov. 1871 (day 2) | vol. [1], pp. 121-22 | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-11-25 p. 6, page-OCR lines 258-274) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-11-25/ed-1/?sp=6 | 2026-09-14T06:13:27Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/dennis_regan_1871-11-25_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 145 |
| Christopher Schimmels (Bales: "Christian Schimmals"), foreman of the steamer "Chicago" | Friday 24 Nov. 1871 (day 2) | vol. [1], pp. 131-33 | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-11-25 p. 6, page-OCR lines 275-385) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-11-25/ed-1/?sp=6 | 2026-09-14T06:13:27Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/christopher_schimmels_1871-11-25_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 981 |
| George Rau, foreman of Hook and Ladder Truck No. 2 | Friday 24 Nov. 1871 (day 2) | vol. [1], p. 179 | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-11-25 p. 6, page-OCR lines 386-446) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-11-25/ed-1/?sp=6 | 2026-09-14T06:13:27Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/george_rau_1871-11-25_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 527 |
| Mrs. Catherine O'Leary | Fri 24 Nov. 1871 (day 2) | vol. [1], pp. 59-78 | SUMMARY (Sheahan & Upton 1871, appendix pp. 419-439, OCR lines 16620-16654) | https://archive.org/download/greatconflagrati0000shea/greatconflagrati0000shea_djvu.txt | 2026-09-14T06:04:49Z | `text/witnesses/catherine_oleary_1871_SUMMARY_sheahan_upton.txt` | 279 |
| Catharine Sullivan | Fri 24 Nov. 1871 (day 2) | vol. [1], p. 117 | SUMMARY (Sheahan & Upton 1871, appendix pp. 419-439, OCR lines 16655-16673) | https://archive.org/download/greatconflagrati0000shea/greatconflagrati0000shea_djvu.txt | 2026-09-14T06:04:49Z | `text/witnesses/catharine_sullivan_1871_SUMMARY_sheahan_upton.txt` | 142 |
| Dennis Regan (printed "Rogan") | Fri 24 Nov. 1871 (day 2) | vol. [1], pp. 121-22 | SUMMARY (Sheahan & Upton 1871, appendix pp. 419-439, OCR lines 16674-16701) | https://archive.org/download/greatconflagrati0000shea/greatconflagrati0000shea_djvu.txt | 2026-09-14T06:04:49Z | `text/witnesses/dennis_regan_1871_SUMMARY_sheahan_upton.txt` | 153 |
| Christopher Schimmels (foreman, steamer Chicago) | Fri 24 Nov. 1871 (day 2) | vol. [1], pp. 131-33 | SUMMARY (Sheahan & Upton 1871, appendix pp. 419-439, OCR lines 17049-17167) | https://archive.org/download/greatconflagrati0000shea/greatconflagrati0000shea_djvu.txt | 2026-09-14T06:04:49Z | `text/witnesses/christopher_schimmels_1871_SUMMARY_sheahan_upton.txt` | 907 |
| Mrs. Catherine O'Leary | Fri 24 Nov. 1871 (day 2) | vol. [1], pp. 59-78 | SUMMARY (Andreas 1885, vol. 2, pp. 706-715; lines 262-277 of the extract file) | https://archive.org/download/historyofchicago02andr/historyofchicago02andr_djvu.txt | 2026-09-14T06:03:27Z | `text/books/andreas_1885_history_of_chicago_vol2_pp706-715_origin_and_inquiry.txt` | 181 |
| Dennis Rogan [Regan] | Fri 24 Nov. 1871 (day 2) | vol. [1], pp. 121-22 | SUMMARY (Andreas 1885, vol. 2, pp. 706-715; lines 290-301 of the extract file) | https://archive.org/download/historyofchicago02andr/historyofchicago02andr_djvu.txt | 2026-09-14T06:03:27Z | `text/books/andreas_1885_history_of_chicago_vol2_pp706-715_origin_and_inquiry.txt` | 135 |
| William Musham, foreman of the "Little Giant" | Fri 24 Nov. 1871 (day 2) | vol. [1], p. 29 | SUMMARY (Andreas 1885, vol. 2, pp. 706-715; lines 312-329 of the extract file) | https://archive.org/download/historyofchicago02andr/historyofchicago02andr_djvu.txt | 2026-09-14T06:03:27Z | `text/books/andreas_1885_history_of_chicago_vol2_pp706-715_origin_and_inquiry.txt` | 130 |
| Louis Fieke, truckman on Truck No. 2 | Saturday 25 Nov. 1871 (day 3) | -- | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-11-26 p. 1, page-OCR lines 24-55) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-11-26/ed-1/?sp=1 | 2026-09-14T06:13:29Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/louis_fieke_1871-11-26_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 270 |
| Catharine McLaughlin, of No. 137 DeKoven street (tenant of the front part of the O'Leary house; OCR-garbled name line) | Saturday 25 Nov. 1871 (day 3) | vol. [1], pp. 223-43 | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-11-26 p. 1, page-OCR lines 56-98) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-11-26/ed-1/?sp=1 | 2026-09-14T06:13:29Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/catharine_mclaughlin_1871-11-26_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 396 |
| Patrick O'Leary ("Patrick Leary"), husband of Catherine | Saturday 25 Nov. 1871 (day 3) | vol. [1], pp. 247-51 | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-11-26 p. 1, page-OCR lines 99-134) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-11-26/ed-1/?sp=1 | 2026-09-14T06:13:29Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/patrick_oleary_1871-11-26_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 313 |
| Daniel Sullivan, of No. 134 DeKoven street, drayman with a wooden leg -- "the man who rescued a burning calf" | Saturday 25 Nov. 1871 (day 3) | vol. [1], pp. 259-72 | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-11-26 p. 1, page-OCR lines 135-197) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-11-26/ed-1/?sp=1 | 2026-09-14T06:13:29Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/daniel_sullivan_1871-11-26_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 565 |
| Louis Fieke, recalled | Saturday 25 Nov. 1871 (day 3) | -- | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-11-26 p. 1, page-OCR lines 198-224) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-11-26/ed-1/?sp=1 | 2026-09-14T06:13:29Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/louis_fieke_recalled_1871-11-26_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 222 |
| Michael W. Conway, pipeman of the steamer "Chicago" | Saturday 25 Nov. 1871 (day 3) | vol. [2], pp. 2-39 | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-11-26 p. 1, page-OCR lines 225-441) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-11-26/ed-1/?sp=1 | 2026-09-14T06:13:29Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/michael_w_conway_1871-11-26_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 1864 |
| Catharine McLaughlin | Sat 25 Nov. 1871 (day 3) | vol. [1], pp. 223-43 | SUMMARY (Sheahan & Upton 1871, appendix pp. 419-439, OCR lines 16702-16751) | https://archive.org/download/greatconflagrati0000shea/greatconflagrati0000shea_djvu.txt | 2026-09-14T06:04:49Z | `text/witnesses/catharine_mclaughlin_1871_SUMMARY_sheahan_upton.txt` | 387 |
| Patrick O'Leary | Sat 25 Nov. 1871 (day 3) | vol. [1], pp. 247-51 | SUMMARY (Sheahan & Upton 1871, appendix pp. 419-439, OCR lines 16752-16793) | https://archive.org/download/greatconflagrati0000shea/greatconflagrati0000shea_djvu.txt | 2026-09-14T06:04:49Z | `text/witnesses/patrick_oleary_1871_SUMMARY_sheahan_upton.txt` | 318 |
| Daniel Sullivan (drayman, wooden leg) | Sat 25 Nov. 1871 (day 3) | vol. [1], pp. 259-72 | SUMMARY (Sheahan & Upton 1871, appendix pp. 419-439, OCR lines 16794-16865) | https://archive.org/download/greatconflagrati0000shea/greatconflagrati0000shea_djvu.txt | 2026-09-14T06:04:49Z | `text/witnesses/daniel_sullivan_1871_SUMMARY_sheahan_upton.txt` | 579 |
| Michael W. Conway (pipeman, steamer Chicago) | Sat 25 Nov. 1871 (day 3) | vol. [2], pp. 2-39 | SUMMARY (Sheahan & Upton 1871, appendix pp. 419-439, OCR lines 16879-17048) | https://archive.org/download/greatconflagrati0000shea/greatconflagrati0000shea_djvu.txt | 2026-09-14T06:04:49Z | `text/witnesses/michael_w_conway_1871_SUMMARY_sheahan_upton.txt` | 1301 |
| Sheahan & Upton's own comment on the neighbourhood testimony | (after the 25 Nov. testimony) | -- | SUMMARY (Sheahan & Upton 1871, appendix pp. 419-439, OCR lines 16866-16878) | https://archive.org/download/greatconflagrati0000shea/greatconflagrati0000shea_djvu.txt | 2026-09-14T06:04:49Z | `text/witnesses/editorial_note_1871_SUMMARY_sheahan_upton.txt` | 99 |
| Catharine McLaughlin | Sat 25 Nov. 1871 (day 3) | vol. [1], pp. 223-43 | SUMMARY (Andreas 1885, vol. 2, pp. 706-715; lines 278-284 of the extract file) | https://archive.org/download/historyofchicago02andr/historyofchicago02andr_djvu.txt | 2026-09-14T06:03:27Z | `text/books/andreas_1885_history_of_chicago_vol2_pp706-715_origin_and_inquiry.txt` | 63 |
| Patrick O'Leary | Sat 25 Nov. 1871 (day 3) | vol. [1], pp. 247-51 | SUMMARY (Andreas 1885, vol. 2, pp. 706-715; lines 285-289 of the extract file) | https://archive.org/download/historyofchicago02andr/historyofchicago02andr_djvu.txt | 2026-09-14T06:03:27Z | `text/books/andreas_1885_history_of_chicago_vol2_pp706-715_origin_and_inquiry.txt` | 38 |
| Charles J. Hambleton, lawyer (on the gas company reservoirs) | Monday 27 Nov. 1871 (day 4) | -- | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-11-28 p. 2, page-OCR lines 555-590) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-11-28/ed-1/?sp=2 | 2026-09-14T06:13:50Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/charles_j_hambleton_1871-11-28_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 284 |
| The keeper of the crib (lake tunnel) -- name as printed in the segment | Tuesday 28 Nov. 1871 (day 5) | -- | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-11-29 p. 4, page-OCR lines 831-837) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-11-29/ed-1/?sp=4 | 2026-09-14T06:14:04Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/crib_keeper_1871-11-29_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 43 |
| Captain Michael C. Hickey (police) | Tuesday 28 Nov. 1871 (day 5) | vol. [2], pp. 150-81 | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-11-29 p. 4, page-OCR lines 838-853) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-11-29/ed-1/?sp=4 | 2026-09-14T06:14:04Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/michael_c_hickey_1871-11-29_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 117 |
| John Tolland | Tuesday 28 Nov. 1871 (day 5) | vol. [2], pp. 184-86 | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-11-29 p. 4, page-OCR lines 854-869) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-11-29/ed-1/?sp=4 | 2026-09-14T06:14:04Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/john_tolland_1871-11-29_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 124 |
| George E. Fuller (fire-alarm telegraph) | Tuesday 28 Nov. 1871 (day 5) | -- | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-11-29 p. 4, page-OCR lines 870-880) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-11-29/ed-1/?sp=4 | 2026-09-14T06:14:04Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/george_e_fuller_1871-11-29_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 83 |
| D. J. Swenie (fire department) | Tuesday 28 Nov. 1871 (day 5) | -- | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-11-29 p. 4, page-OCR lines 881-918) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-11-29/ed-1/?sp=4 | 2026-09-14T06:14:04Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/d_j_swenie_1871-11-29_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 294 |
| John McMonagle | Tuesday 28 Nov. 1871 (day 5) | -- | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-11-29 p. 4, page-OCR lines 919-956) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-11-29/ed-1/?sp=4 | 2026-09-14T06:14:04Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/john_mcmonagle_1871-11-29_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 333 |
| Henry Ulrich and following witnesses (gas works reservoir questions) | Tuesday 28 Nov. 1871 (day 5) | -- | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-11-29 p. 4, page-OCR lines 957-1022) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-11-29/ed-1/?sp=4 | 2026-09-14T06:14:04Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/henry_ulrich_and_following_1871-11-29_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 477 |
| Charles Anderson, foreman of the "America" hose company | (session date not stated by Andreas) | vol. [3], p. 109 | SUMMARY (Andreas 1885, vol. 2, pp. 706-715; lines 302-311 of the extract file) | https://archive.org/download/historyofchicago02andr/historyofchicago02andr_djvu.txt | 2026-09-14T06:03:27Z | `text/books/andreas_1885_history_of_chicago_vol2_pp706-715_origin_and_inquiry.txt` | 81 |
| First witnesses of 1 Dec. 1871 (names in segment) | Friday 1 Dec. 1871 (day 8) | -- | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-12-02 p. 4, page-OCR lines 1640-1680) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-12-02/ed-1/?sp=4 | 2026-09-14T06:14:19Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/day8_first_witnesses_1871-12-02_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 341 |
| William Fraser (OCR "WILLIAM FUAZEK") | Friday 1 Dec. 1871 (day 8) | vol. [3], pp. 238-42 | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-12-02 p. 4, page-OCR lines 1681-1729) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-12-02/ed-1/?sp=4 | 2026-09-14T06:14:19Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/william_fraser_1871-12-02_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 392 |
| Henry Bulwinkle | Friday 1 Dec. 1871 (day 8) | -- | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-12-02 p. 4, page-OCR lines 1730-1752) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-12-02/ed-1/?sp=4 | 2026-09-14T06:14:19Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/henry_bulwinkle_1871-12-02_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 183 |
| George S. Dorsey (driver of the fire escape) | Friday 1 Dec. 1871 (day 8) | vol. [2], pp. 64-65 (John Dorsey) | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-12-02 p. 4, page-OCR lines 1753-1758) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-12-02/ed-1/?sp=4 | 2026-09-14T06:14:19Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/george_s_dorsey_1871-12-02_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 37 |
| Opening of the session of 2 Dec. 1871 | Saturday 2 Dec. 1871 (day 9) | -- | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-12-03 p. 4, page-OCR lines 901-919) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-12-03/ed-1/?sp=4 | 2026-09-14T06:14:30Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/day9_opening_1871-12-03_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 156 |
| Charles G. Wicker | Saturday 2 Dec. 1871 (day 9) | -- | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-12-03 p. 4, page-OCR lines 920-928) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-12-03/ed-1/?sp=4 | 2026-09-14T06:14:30Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/charles_g_wicker_1871-12-03_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 65 |
| Isaac L. Milliken | Saturday 2 Dec. 1871 (day 9) | -- | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-12-03 p. 4, page-OCR lines 929-934) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-12-03/ed-1/?sp=4 | 2026-09-14T06:14:30Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/isaac_l_milliken_1871-12-03_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 45 |
| Sergeant Louis J. Lull (police) | Saturday 2 Dec. 1871 (day 9) | -- | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-12-03 p. 4, page-OCR lines 935-942) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-12-03/ed-1/?sp=4 | 2026-09-14T06:14:30Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/louis_j_lull_1871-12-03_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 52 |
| Mathias Benner, Third Assistant Fire Marshal | Saturday 2 Dec. 1871 (day 9) | -- | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-12-03 p. 4, page-OCR lines 943-1029) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-12-03/ed-1/?sp=4 | 2026-09-14T06:14:30Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/mathias_benner_1871-12-03_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 709 |
| Lorens Walter, Assistant Fire Marshal | Saturday 2 Dec. 1871 (day 9) | -- | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-12-03 p. 4, page-OCR lines 1030-1034) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-12-03/ed-1/?sp=4 | 2026-09-14T06:14:30Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/lorens_walter_1871-12-03_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 30 |
| John Schank, First Assistant Fire Marshal | Saturday 2 Dec. 1871 (day 9) | -- | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-12-03 p. 4, page-OCR lines 1035-1054) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-12-03/ed-1/?sp=4 | 2026-09-14T06:14:30Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/john_schank_1871-12-03_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 161 |
| Robert A. Williams, Fire Marshal | Saturday 2 Dec. 1871 (day 9) | vol. [4], pp. 241-85 | REPORT (Chicago Tribune 1871-12-03 p. 4, page-OCR lines 1055-1169) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-12-03/ed-1/?sp=4 | 2026-09-14T06:14:30Z (raw OCR JSON mtime) | `text/witnesses/robert_a_williams_1871-12-03_TRIBUNE_REPORT.txt` | 970 |

## C. The Board's report (published 11-12 Dec. 1871) -- copies obtained

| Copy | Status | Source (URL) | Fetched (UTC) | File |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Tribune, 12 Dec. 1871, p. 4 (full text of the report as published) | VERBATIM (newspaper printing, uncorrected OCR) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-12-12/ed-1/?sp=4 | 2026-09-14T06:16:03Z | `text/tribune/inquiry_report_1871-12-12_p4.txt` |
| greatchicagofire.org, "The Official Report" (CHM/Northwestern, modern clean text) | VERBATIM (edited transcription) | https://greatchicagofire.org/oleary-legend-library/official-report/ | 2026-09-14T06:00:12Z | `text/gcf/greatchicagofire.org_oleary-legend-library_official-report_.txt` |
| Andreas 1885, vol. 2 (prints the full report, then criticises it) | VERBATIM (book printing, OCR) -- lines 330-c.540 of the extract; critique from line 560; Holden's later interviews from line 580 | https://archive.org/download/historyofchicago02andr/historyofchicago02andr_djvu.txt | 2026-09-14T06:03:27Z | `text/books/andreas_1885_history_of_chicago_vol2_pp706-715_origin_and_inquiry.txt` |
| Luzerne 1872, pp. 183-184 (quotes the report) | EXTRACT (book printing, OCR) | https://archive.org/download/lostcitydramaoff00luze/lostcitydramaoff00luze_djvu.txt | 2026-09-14T06:03:22Z | `text/books/luzerne_1872_lost_city_pp183-184_origin_of_the_fire.txt` |
| Report of the Board of Police in the Fire Department ... year ending 31 Mar. 1872, pp. 12-13 (the Board's own retrospective paragraph on the origin and the inquiry) | VERBATIM (book printing, OCR) | https://archive.org/download/report-of-the-board-of-police-in-the-fire-department-to-the-common-council-of-th/report-of-the-board-of-police-in-the-fire-department-to-the-common-council-of-th_djvu.txt | 2026-09-14T06:03:32Z | `text/books/board_of_police_report_1872_pp12-13_origin_of_the_great_fire.txt` |
| greatchicagofire.org timeline item 11 Dec. 1871 "The Verdict: No Verdict" | modern summary | https://greatchicagofire.org/timeline/item/1871-12-11/ | 2026-09-14T06:00:24Z | `text/gcf/greatchicagofire.org_timeline_item_1871-12-11_.txt` |

## D. The McDermott affidavits of 15 Oct. 1871 (pre-inquiry sworn statements of Patrick and Catharine O'Leary and of Dennis [Daniel] Sullivan)

| Copy | Status | Source (URL) | Fetched (UTC) | File |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Tribune, 20 Oct. 1871, p. 2 | AFFIDAVIT (newspaper printing, uncorrected OCR; page-OCR lines 746-818) | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-10-20/ed-1/?sp=2 | 2026-09-14T06:21:52Z | `text/tribune/inquiry_affidavits_oct20_1871-10-20_p2.txt` |
| Andreas 1885, vol. 2 (quotes both affidavits, lines 172-251 of the extract) | AFFIDAVIT (book printing, OCR) | https://archive.org/download/historyofchicago02andr/historyofchicago02andr_djvu.txt | 2026-09-14T06:03:27Z | `text/books/andreas_1885_history_of_chicago_vol2_pp706-715_origin_and_inquiry.txt` |
| greatchicagofire.org timeline item 20 Oct. 1871 | modern summary | https://greatchicagofire.org/timeline/item/1871-10-20/ | 2026-09-14T06:00:31Z | `text/gcf/greatchicagofire.org_timeline_item_1871-10-20_.txt` |
| chicagology.com pages mentioning McDermott's affidavits | secondary (check text) | https://chicagology.com/chicago-fire/ | 2026-09-14T05:59:33Z | `text/chicagology/chicagology.com_chicago-fire_fire052_.txt` |

## E. Other texts with quotations from, or summaries of, the testimony

| Item | Status | Source (URL) | Fetched (UTC) | File |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bales 2002, *The Great Chicago Fire and the Myth of Mrs. O'Leary's Cow* -- 102 distinct OCR fragments (incl. quoted testimony of O'Leary, Sullivan, McLaughlin, Regan, Musham, Conway, Williams, etc. and the footnote citations in table A) | VERBATIM fragments (no page numbers) | https://openlibrary.org/search/inside.json?q=... (raw JSON in raw/openlibrary/) | 2026-09-14T06:17Z-06:26Z (see harvest.log) | `text/bales/bales_2002_openlibrary_search_inside_snippets.md` |
| Smithsonian (2012), "What (or Who) Caused the Great Chicago Fire?" -- three quotations obtained via a page-fetch tool (the html fetch was Cloudflare-gated) | quotations as printed by the magazine | https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/what-or-who-caused-the-great-chicago-fire-61481977/ | 2026-09-14T06:01:40Z | `text/other/smithsonian_2012_kahler_quotes.md` |
| Preservation Chicago excerpt of Chicago Magazine, Oct. 2021, "Inside the Great Chicago Fire" (the chicagomag.com page itself returned 404) | secondary | https://www.preservationchicago.org/chicago-magazine-the-great-chicago-fire-as-told-by-those-who-lived-through-it/ | 2026-09-14T06:08:47Z | `text/other/preservationchicago_chicagomag.txt` |
| Wikipedia wikitext (Catherine_O%27Leary) with its citations | secondary | https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Catherine_O%27Leary&action=raw | 2026-09-14T06:01:42Z | `raw/other/en.wikipedia.org_w_index.php_title_Catherine_O_27Leary_action_raw.html` |
| Wikipedia wikitext (Great_Chicago_Fire) with its citations | secondary | https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_Chicago_Fire&action=raw | 2026-09-14T06:01:44Z | `raw/other/en.wikipedia.org_w_index.php_title_Great_Chicago_Fire_action_raw.html` |
| greatchicagofire.org timeline item 24 Nov. 1871 "The Fire Inquiry" (summary of Mrs. O'Leary's testimony) | modern summary | https://greatchicagofire.org/timeline/item/1871-11-24/ | 2026-09-14T06:00:17Z | `text/gcf/greatchicagofire.org_timeline_item_1871-11-24_.txt` |
| greatchicagofire.org item ichi-32210: scan of the first manuscript page of Mrs. O'Leary's testimony (image only) | IMAGE of the MS (1 page) | https://greatchicagofire.org/item/ichi-32210/ | 2026-09-14T06:00:13Z | `raw/gcf_images/full_i32210_poster.jpg`, `text/gcf/greatchicagofire.org_item_ichi-32210_.txt` |
| Sheahan & Upton 1871 appendix, whole (pp. 419-439) | SUMMARY | https://archive.org/download/greatconflagrati0000shea/greatconflagrati0000shea_djvu.txt | 2026-09-14T06:04:49Z | `text/books/sheahan_upton_1871_appendix_origin_of_the_fire_pp419-439.txt` |
| Colbert & Chamberlin 1871, pp. 205-206 and p. 436 (first narrative of the origin; the "squibs" about the cow) | narrative, not testimony | https://archive.org/download/chicagogreatconf00colb/chicagogreatconf00colb_djvu.txt | 2026-09-14T06:03:12Z | `text/books/colbert_chamberlin_1871_pp203-204_the_lamp_was_upset.txt`, `text/books/colbert_chamberlin_1871_p436_squibs_about_the_cow.txt` |
| Goodspeed 1871, pp. 155-157 (the Chicago Times' "Cradle of the Fire" story) | narrative, not testimony | https://archive.org/download/historyofgreatfi00good/historyofgreatfi00good_djvu.txt | 2026-09-14T06:03:16Z | `text/books/goodspeed_1871_pp155-157_cradle_of_the_fire_times_account.txt` |
| Tribune editorial on the inquiry, 27 Nov. 1871, p. 2 | editorial | https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-11-27/ed-1/?sp=2 | 2026-09-14T06:13:43Z | `text/tribune/inquiry_editorial_nov27_1871-11-27_p2.txt` |

## F. Sessions and witnesses NOT covered by any text obtained

Tribune issues in Chronicling America for the inquiry period, and whether an inquiry report was found in them:

| Tribune date | Session reported | Pages available at LoC | Inquiry report found | Lines matching /Board of Police\|Commissioners\|O'Leary/ on the available pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1871-11-23 | (before the first session) | 6 | none | 9 |
| 1871-11-24 | Thu 23 Nov (day 1) | 6 | inquiry_day1_1871-11-24_p6.txt | 12 |
| 1871-11-25 | Fri 24 Nov (day 2) | 6 | inquiry_day2_1871-11-25_p6.txt | 16 |
| 1871-11-26 | Sat 25 Nov (day 3) | 6 | inquiry_day3_1871-11-26_p1.txt | 5 |
| 1871-11-27 | (no Sunday session; editorial) | 4 | inquiry_editorial_nov27_1871-11-27_p2.txt | 10 |
| 1871-11-28 | Mon 27 Nov (day 4) | 6 | inquiry_day4_1871-11-28_p2.txt | 6 |
| 1871-11-29 | Tue 28 Nov (day 5) | 6 | inquiry_day5_1871-11-29_p4.txt | 5 |
| 1871-11-30 | Wed 29 Nov (day 6) | 2 | none | 5 |
| 1871-12-01 | Thu 30 Nov (day 7) | 0 | none | 0 |
| 1871-12-02 | Fri 1 Dec (day 8) | 6 | inquiry_day8_1871-12-02_p4.txt | 10 |
| 1871-12-03 | Sat 2 Dec (day 9) | 6 | inquiry_day9_1871-12-03_p4.txt | 4 |
| 1871-12-04 | (Sunday) | 6 | none | 5 |
| 1871-12-05 | Mon 4 Dec (day 10) | 4 | none | 15 |
| 1871-12-06 | (follow-up) | 6 | none | 7 |

- **Not obtained**: the Tribune reports of the sessions of Wed 29 Nov. (issue of 30 Nov.: only 2 pages digitised), Thu 30 Nov. (issue of 1 Dec.: not in Chronicling America, HTTP 404) and Mon 4 Dec. (issue of 5 Dec.: only 4 pages digitised) -- i.e. the testimony of witnesses such as Leo Meyers, David Kenyon, P. T. and T. B. Burtis, James H. Hildreth, C. H. French and Thomas Ockerby (all cited by Bales, table A) exists here only as Bales fragments, if at all.
- **Not obtained**: any verbatim Q&A for witnesses other than Catherine O'Leary; Bales's 1997 article "Did the Cow Do It?" (Illinois Historical Journal; NIU/JSTOR Cloudflare-gated); Chicago Magazine Oct. 2021 article (404); HathiTrust and explore.chicagocollections.org (Cloudflare challenge, no browser available); Wikimedia Commons has no page scans of the transcript.
- Checked and found NOT to contain testimony: Tribune 5 Dec. 1871 p. 3 (`text/tribune/tribune_1871-12-05_p3.txt`, lines 468-522) reports only the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners' business meeting of 4 Dec. (Commissioner Gund's term expired and Mr. Rehm was installed; election of a president postponed; "The board then adjourned."); the other hits on 30 Nov., 4 Dec. and 6 Dec. pages are County Commissioners' business and unrelated matter.
- Where the Tribune's OCR garbles a witness's name the file header gives the OCR form and the most likely reading; segment boundaries were set on the Tribune's all-caps sub-headlines and may be off by a line or two.