Gilpin observer., 1900-02-08
GREAT FIRE AT HONOLULU.
Attempts to Stamp Out the Plague Causes
Burning of Many Dwellings


Honolulu. Jan. 27.-(via San Francis
co, Cal, Feb. 3)-A variable wind and
the loss of fire engine precipitated Il
crisis and let loose Il contiagration that
for hours threatened the whole city of
Honolulu. wiped out Chinatown and
the center of the plague-infection, but
threw 4,5OO men. women and children
with absolutely nothing on their backs
upon the community, to be sheltered
and fed and at the same time guarded
and kept in quarantine. Saturday
morning, January 20, the fire depart
ment. at the direction of the board of
health. started to burn II part of what
is known as block 10 in the infected
district of Chinatown. A strong wind
arising spread the fire beyond the con
tral of the tiremen and an engine was
burned. Panic seized the 1000 or 5000
people within the quarantine limits.
Burning alive seemed their fate.
The national guardsmen who We're
holding the quarantine lines withstood
the attempts to escape. They We're
speedily re-enforced by all the reserves
of the National Guard and of the po-
lice, who We're sent to the scene of
trouble on the double quick, and by
hundreds of citizens who rushed to the
scene. armed for the most part with
dASS tHtN lbth
from hardware stores on their way.
The Hawaiians were soon under con-
troll, so far as being efficiently guard
ed was concerned. Then Il line of
guards on each side of the street from
the quarantine district faS formed, and
the people Were marched to KaNvaia-
hao church. So far as possible drays
and express wagons We're provided for
the women and children and the aged
and feeble
Within two hours $500 persons were
crowded into Kawaiahao church and
yard. There We're 1.SOO Chinese men
and 800 women, 100 Japanese men and
400 women. upward of 1000 Hawai-
ians, about evenly divided between the
sexes. and a score or two of whites.
While this movement of refugees was
going on efforts Were made to stop the
flames by blowing up buildings ahead
of them. But the wind carried burning
brands over the streets and open
spaces, making their efforts futile The
flames swept on toward the water
front. A score of vessels at the
wharves We're quickly pulled out into
the stream to save them.
The Honolulu Iron works stood in the
line of the advancing flames. If it
caught fire n large portion of the bust
HESS part Ol tHe IOWn IOWafu fOft
street was doomed BY the aid of
those from the United States steamship
lroquois and the government tug Eleu
and of bucket brigades the iron works
We're saved.
An area of thirteen blocks was
burned over. All of it was in the in
fected district and all of it with the eX-
ception of certain brick and stone
buildings which could be efficiently
fumigated had been condemned to be
burned. The property destroyed will
aggregate probably several hundred
thousand dollars in value.
While one portion of the community
devoted itself to fighting the fire. an
other devoted itself to caring for the
thousands of unfortunates at Kawaia-
hao church. The church itself was re-
served for women and children. All
We're hungry and food was the first
thing provided. Generous citizens sent
food, and ladies all over the city gath
cred and brought garments for the chill
dren and infants. Within two or three
hours all had been provided with food.
Chinatown, the central source of in
fectiOn, is wiped out and it is now be-
lieved that the end of the plague is in
sight.
Up to date there have been fifty-five
cases of plague and forty-one deaths.