On October 8, 1871, Chicago burned. So did Peshtigo, which was the deadliest fire in American history. So did Holland, Manistee and towns across Michigan’s Thumb, all within hours of each other. Jake looks at the fire photos (the trees still standing, the bone-dry streets, the “surviving” water tower with its edited sky) and the timeline of a night that history files under one cow and a lantern.