The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America

As the fair draws to a close, it is suggested that the buildings and exhibits should be set aflame rather than lying dormant. Mayor Harrison hires thousands of street cleaners to employ the 10,000 workers who would become unemployed at the end of the fair. Olmsted retires from his fair duties due to his declining health. Louis Sullivan, feted for his Transportation Building, fires the then junior Frank Lloyd Wright. Under pressure from his creditors and private investigators of his victims’ families, Holmes sets the top floor of his hotel on fire. The insurance company becomes suspicious and launches their own investigation, during which Holmes’ numerous debts come to light. They hire an attorney, Chamberlain, who invites Holmes to his office. Unbeknownst to Holmes, some two dozen creditors, their attorneys and one police officer are also present. He mollified them, but when they lean toward arrest, Holmes flees to Minnie Williams’ land in Fort Worth, Texas. Holmes brings his fiancée, Georgiana Yoke, and insures his assistant Pitezel’s life for $10,000. 

Attendance at the fair rose sharply in its final month of October. Millet organized an elaborate program of events ahead of closing day on October 30th. On American Cities Day Mayor Harrison announced that he would marry his fiancée Anna in November.