“These old world structures were composed of stone brick and cement”
First, do you have a cite for that? My understanding was that most of them were wooden buildings. And wooden sidewalks. And wood was used to line some of the streets.
And even those with brick walls likely had wooden floors, wooden stairs, and most human furniture was flammable, no? Beds, wardrobes, hope chests, dressers, tables, sofas. So, a brick chimney filled with flammable crap.
It’s BECAUSE of fires like Chicago that there are building codes and fire-retardant materials for furniture and mattresses.
“How can there be so many buildings if Chicago was then a young city”
As a formal city, it was 40 years old. There were people there for about 100 years. And if the buildings were largely wooden, that makes a lot more sense, no? Again, we need your cite of the stone and cement buildings…
“Why did most everyone not have an issue with getting away”
I believe you’re ignoring the reports of strong winds in the city at the time.
“Notice 36 is a Masonic number”
Oh, never fucking mind.