===Disasters===
[[File:Chicago fire.jpg|thumb|left|The great Chicago Fire, October, 1871.]]
The [[Great Chicago Fire ]] occurred in October 1871.
On December 7, 1903, the "absolutely fireproof," five-week-old Iroquois Theater was destroyed by fire in Chicago. The fire lasted less than thirty minutes; however, 602 people died as a result of being burned, asphyxiated, or trampled.<ref> Anthony P. Hatch, "Inferno at the Iroquois." ''Chicago History'' 2003 32(2): 4-31. Issn: 0272-8540 </ref>