The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-01
HONOLULU IS
PURCED BY FIRE
Chinatown Swept Away, but
Thousands Are Homeless.
CENTRE OF PLAGUE INFECTION.
Completely Destroyed and Hundreds Of
Buildings Burned 10 Ashes.
THE PEOPLE IN QUARANTINE FRANTIC.
Made a Mad Dash 10 BrSak though the Guards
The Lailsr. Reinforce. Dfon lhs Fsops
tact Sh3lIelsd IN thuch
Completely Destroyed and Hundreds 0
Buildings Burned 10 Ashes.
THE PEOPLE IN QUARANTINE FRANTIC.

Honolulu, via San Francisco, Jan-4.--
Feb. Ia variable wind ana the loss OF
fire engine let loose connagration
that for hours threatened IA whole city
OF Honolulu. The fire wiped out Chi
natown ana the centre OF plague infec-
.tions. but threw $500 men, women and
children. utterly destitute, upon the
community. 10 be sheltered and fed.
and at the same time kept in quaran-
tine.
AT the direction OF the board Of
health the fire department. on Satur-
day, January 20. started 10 burn part
OF what is known as block l5, in the in
fected district of Chinatown. This was
six blocks form the water front. and
two blocks from the Nuuanu river. Ad-
joining IL was the Kaumakapill church,
a native edifce. containing the finest
pipe organ, the finest cathedral win
dow and the only chime of bells in the
city. 1t was built largely through the
efforts Of King Kalakaua.
The area 10 be burned was about two
ordinary city blocks. Early i.She course
OF the tire one OF the spires Of the
church became ignited from flying
sparks. and the flames were carried TO
"A Chinese joss house on the other side.
nearer the stream. This started
blaze in a region from which the pOpu-
lation had not been removed. Engines
of the department were instantly de-
voted 10 stopping the fire mere, anu IN
consequence that In the church gained
ground.
An effort was made to save the
church. when the flames broke from 1t
with the suddenness of an explosion.
Firemen had To flee for their lives, and
the fire engine was destroyed. Ihe
wind grew stronger. and fire broke out
here and there on the shingle roofs.
Panic seized the people within the
quarantine limits. BURNING ahNe
seemed their fate.
On the Nuuanu river side of the dis
trict frenzied mobs charged the guards
i'm the attempt 10 break through. Inc
rational guards were reinforced py
the reserves, by police and by hundreds
OF citizens who rushed TO the scene
armed with axes and 1ack-knlNes
which they took from hardware stores
on their way They soon had Vhe
Hawaiians under control.
Then a line Of guards was formed on
each side ~ the street from the qua
rantined district and the people
marched 10 the Kawaiahao church.
Dravs and express wagons were pro-
vided for the women and children and
the aged and feeble. Within two hours
1900 Chinese men and 500 Chinese wo-
men. 700 Japanese men and 400 Japan
ese women. about 1000 Hawaiians even
" divided az 20 the seXes.and a score on
two OF whites were huddled into the
church and its yard.
While this movement OF refugees was
going on, efforts were made 20 stop the
flames by blowing up buildings ahead
OF them. but the wind carried burning
brands over streets and open spaces.
maxine this effort futile The flames
swept on toward the water front A
score OF vessels AT the wharves were
quickly pulled ont into the stream
The Honolulu iron works stood IN the
line OF the flames IF the works caught
FIRE n barge portion OF the business
part ~ the town was doomed BY the
aid OF men from the L. s. $. Iroquolp
and the government tug Eleu. mad of
bucket brigades, the iron works were
saved.
An area Of 13 blocks was burned
over The value of property DESTROYED
-aEgFesa+--- probably several hum
dred thousand dollars though II Is i'm
possible 10 form any definite estimate