Ask anyone what the greatest disaster in Chicago was and probably no one will say, “The Great Iroquois Theatre Fire of December 30, 1903.” Six hundred three souls perished in that fire. They probably won’t say, “The sinking of the Eastland excursion boat in the Chicago river in 1915.” Eight hundred thirty-five died in that tragedy. The answer will most likely be, “The Great Chicago Fire.” The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 left approximately three and one-third square miles of the city in ruin, created $192,000,000 in...