From the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1893 to the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor, the Hawaiian Islands have had quite the tumultuous history full of conflict, intrigue, and even a few events and occurrences sure to baffle you. The great Chinatown fire of 1900 and its origins is just one such historic tale, and whether you’re a history buff or not, you’ll want to keep reading.
The bubonic plague was introduced to Honolulu on October 20, 1899, by an off-loaded shipment of rice from the America Maru — which had been carrying rats. The first case of the bubonic plague was Yon Chung, a 22-year-old Chinese man who worked as a bookkeeper in Chinatown, according to annual reports published by the Hawaii State Department.
Chinese immigration to Hawaii around this time resulted in the crowding of the residential area known as Chinatown, which unfortunately featured poor living conditions and sub-par sewage disposal.
The bubonic plague infected between 11 and 14 people and the Board of Health responded by renovating the sewage system, incinerating garbage, pulling Chinatown under quarantine, and burning infected buildings.
Approximately 41 fires were set, but winds picked up and the fire spread to other buildings on January 20, 1900. The fire raged on for 17 days and scorched an expansive 38 acres of Honolulu.
After the incident, the fire campaign continued for an additional 31 controlled burns, and the quarantine was maintained until April 30 — during which time some 7,000 now-homeless residents were housed in detention camps.
A total of 40 individuals died as a result of the plague, and though the fire was thought to be an accident, critics accused the government of being driven by sinophobia.
The people rebuilt, but they began to live in the suburbs and commuting to work in Chinatown in order to avoid becoming homeless if another disaster occurred. During the rebuilding process, post-fire architecture began using masonry rather than wood and today, Chinatown is one of the most beloved neighborhoods in Honolulu and one of the oldest Chinatowns in the United States.
Have you heard about the Great Chinatown Fire of 1900 before? Did you know that it was the direct result of the bubonic plague being introduced in the city?
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