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Plague and Fire: Battling Black Death and the 1900 Burning of Honolulu's Chinatown
A little over a century ago, bubonic plague--the same Black Death that decimated medieval Europe--arrived on the shores of Hawaii just as the islands were about to become a U.S. territory. In this absorbing narrative, James Mohr tells the story of that fearful visitation and its fiery
climax--a vast conflagration that engulfed Honolulu's Chinatown.
Mohr tells this gripping tale largely through the eyes of the people caught up in the disaster, from members of the white elite to Chinese doctors, Japanese businessmen, and Hawaiian reporters. At the heart of the narrative are three American physicians--the Honolulu Board of Health--who
became virtual dictators when the government granted them absolute control over the armed forces and the treasury. The doctors soon quarantined Chinatown, where the plague was killing one or two people a day and clearly spreading. They resisted intense pressure from the white community to burn down
all of Chinatown at once and instead ordered a careful, controlled burning of buildings where plague victims had died. But a freak wind whipped one of those small fires into a roaring inferno that destroyed everything in its path, consuming roughly thirty-eight acres of densely packed wooden
structures in a single afternoon. Some 5000 people lost their homes and all their possessions and were marched in shock to detention camps, where they were confined under armed guard for weeks.
Next to the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the Chinatown fire is the worst civic disaster in Hawaiian history. A dramatic account of people struggling in the face of mounting catastrophe, Plague and Fire is a stimulating and thought-provoking read.
climax--a vast conflagration that engulfed Honolulu's Chinatown.
Mohr tells this gripping tale largely through the eyes of the people caught up in the disaster, from members of the white elite to Chinese doctors, Japanese businessmen, and Hawaiian reporters. At the heart of the narrative are three American physicians--the Honolulu Board of Health--who
became virtual dictators when the government granted them absolute control over the armed forces and the treasury. The doctors soon quarantined Chinatown, where the plague was killing one or two people a day and clearly spreading. They resisted intense pressure from the white community to burn down
all of Chinatown at once and instead ordered a careful, controlled burning of buildings where plague victims had died. But a freak wind whipped one of those small fires into a roaring inferno that destroyed everything in its path, consuming roughly thirty-eight acres of densely packed wooden
structures in a single afternoon. Some 5000 people lost their homes and all their possessions and were marched in shock to detention camps, where they were confined under armed guard for weeks.
Next to the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the Chinatown fire is the worst civic disaster in Hawaiian history. A dramatic account of people struggling in the face of mounting catastrophe, Plague and Fire is a stimulating and thought-provoking read.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published October 21, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 26, 2009
Shortly after the Annexation of the Kingdom of Hawaii by a group of (mostly American) businessmen, bubonic plague broke out in Honolulu. President Dole and the Council of State unanimously gave the Board of Health emergency medical powers--and in fact, ceded absolute control over the entire Hawaiian archipelago to the Honolulu Board of Health for the duration of the plague crisis. Thus, three white American physicians were given absolute dictatorial authority over all off Hawaii. To my surprise, Dr. Nathanial Emerson, Dr. Francis Day, and Dr. Clifford Wood did an excellent job during the four months of their absolute rule. They knew that plague was caused by bacteria (Yersin&Kitasato had identified it six years earlier), but not how the bacteria spread. Thus, they were reduced to doing what they could: twice-daily health inspections of all citizens, careful quarantines, disinfectant, fumigation, and controlled burning of buildings where people had caught plague, wide-spread immunization against plague. The islands were populated by Chinese, Japanese, American, European and native Hawaiian peoples, but racial tensions (though absolutely present) were kept to a minimum throughout the crisis. As of April 1900, plague cases were no longer reported in the Hawaiian islands.
January 5, 2018
a gripping book to read.
I got this from the school library and found it is the only copy that was donated by the university of Georgia as a gift to this library in 2006.
A lot of stories are rarely mentioned or even reduced to oblivion but it doesn't mean it never happened. The story told in this book fell into this category.
This book would be impossible if James C. Mohr had not noticed a sigh when he took a walk through the Chinatown during his visit to University of Hawaill; the sigh informed him that none of the structures he was looking at were original because all the original building were destroyed around 1900 in a fire. This piqued his curiosity and he determined to dig up the hidden story behind it. The sign disappeared shortly after he saw it and he said he was always grateful for whoever put the sign up out there in the first place. I guess he deemed the sign a fortuitous encounter , or a serendipity to write this book.
James C. Mohr gave a riveting account of a compelling story of Honolulu's plague and the fire of 1900, but he also stretched the themes to public health,politics and racial relations.
There may be a tangle of hidden stories and disasters never exposed to spotlight in human history and these disasters could serve as key historical moments when societies reveal their most fundamental truth.
This book might have opened up a hidden and fundamental truth by revealing a nearly forgotten catastrophe.
I got this from the school library and found it is the only copy that was donated by the university of Georgia as a gift to this library in 2006.
A lot of stories are rarely mentioned or even reduced to oblivion but it doesn't mean it never happened. The story told in this book fell into this category.
This book would be impossible if James C. Mohr had not noticed a sigh when he took a walk through the Chinatown during his visit to University of Hawaill; the sigh informed him that none of the structures he was looking at were original because all the original building were destroyed around 1900 in a fire. This piqued his curiosity and he determined to dig up the hidden story behind it. The sign disappeared shortly after he saw it and he said he was always grateful for whoever put the sign up out there in the first place. I guess he deemed the sign a fortuitous encounter , or a serendipity to write this book.
James C. Mohr gave a riveting account of a compelling story of Honolulu's plague and the fire of 1900, but he also stretched the themes to public health,politics and racial relations.
There may be a tangle of hidden stories and disasters never exposed to spotlight in human history and these disasters could serve as key historical moments when societies reveal their most fundamental truth.
This book might have opened up a hidden and fundamental truth by revealing a nearly forgotten catastrophe.
November 9, 2017
Surprisingly relevant book that highlights how medical professionalism and an insistence on scientifically-backed evidence can prevent poor decisions based on fear and racism. Not that things went perfectly--all of Honolulu's Chinatown was accidentally burned to the ground and a lot of people lost everything--but, believe it or not, it could have gone a lot worse. Political pressures were resisted, and racial tensions that could have easily boiled up into mob violence were mostly quelled. Although some resentments remained, at the end of the day, Honolulu survived the plague, whose transmission was still largely a mystery, and provided a template for eradication for about the next ten years.
Hawaii's unique political situation, while unfortunate in a lot of ways, might also have been key to its successfully dealing with the plague. (It could also be argued that this situation is what brought plague here in the first place, but that's a whole other ball of wax.) The monarchy had been overthrown, and Hawaii's U.S. territorial status was being debated in Washington. Aside from the obvious reasons to avoid the plague, Honolulu's (mostly white) business leaders wanted Hawaii to gain status as an internationally-important modern western port; they didn't want to be lumped in with the rest of Asia, which was currently dealing with its own infestation of plague and had been for years. Gaining territorial status would go a long way toward that, and proving that they could handle their own problems (like stamping out the plague) would go a long way toward proving to the U.S. that they would be a problem-solving asset, not a plague-ridden burden.
Definitely an interesting piece of Honolulu's history, and a good example of how racial biases (not necessarily overt racism, but just ingrained assumptions) can affect decision making and how scientific enquiry can help overcome that.
Hawaii's unique political situation, while unfortunate in a lot of ways, might also have been key to its successfully dealing with the plague. (It could also be argued that this situation is what brought plague here in the first place, but that's a whole other ball of wax.) The monarchy had been overthrown, and Hawaii's U.S. territorial status was being debated in Washington. Aside from the obvious reasons to avoid the plague, Honolulu's (mostly white) business leaders wanted Hawaii to gain status as an internationally-important modern western port; they didn't want to be lumped in with the rest of Asia, which was currently dealing with its own infestation of plague and had been for years. Gaining territorial status would go a long way toward that, and proving that they could handle their own problems (like stamping out the plague) would go a long way toward proving to the U.S. that they would be a problem-solving asset, not a plague-ridden burden.
Definitely an interesting piece of Honolulu's history, and a good example of how racial biases (not necessarily overt racism, but just ingrained assumptions) can affect decision making and how scientific enquiry can help overcome that.
July 11, 2020
This a clear historical narrative of a tragic event. Mohr describes the extraordinary circumstances, particularly fear of plague, competition between whites, Chinese, Japanese and Hawaiians of course. The white political elite, intent of becoming a US territory, handed over total control to three doctors on the Hawaiian Board of Health. They knew that Pestis bacteria caused the plague but they had no knowledge of how it was infecting people, i.e., what was the source. Common sense ideas that poverty, filth, and overcrowding cause infections, prevailed. That was consistent with white racism concerning Hawaiians, Chinese, and Japanese. They thought fire was the only way to "cleanse" a dwelling occupied by a plague victim. What could possibly go wrong? The parallels with our current pandemic are obvious: ignorance, political ambition, racism, etc. Mohr excuses the Board of Health and assigns blame for the outcome on the political elite, racism and ignorance. We have plenty of that.
November 8, 2019
Very interesting (and might I add disturbing) historical case. How about there's an outbreak of the Black Death, so you impose a quarantine only to have that part of town go up in smoke during what was supposed to be a controlled burn, forcing victims of the fire to flee. Welcome to the racial political plague ridden hotbed of Hawaii in 1900.
November 2, 2021
Beautifully researched and written. The parallels and contrasts with our current pandemic are amazing.
August 16, 2013
Michener fictionalized it in his “Hawaii.” In the late 1890s, bubonic plague, the same one that ravaged Europe, came to Honolulu. It was untimely (if there is a good and bad time for something like this) for Hawaii had just been annexed to the United States and was in the process of becoming a territory. She was still the Republic of Hawaii with S. B. Dole as its president. Its non-residents were subjects of Hawaii, China, Japan, or other places from whence they came. Three American physicians were given absolute power over the republic to combat the disease, the heart of it Honolulu’s Chinatown whose residents were totally non-White. They invoked quarantines and controlled burning. Residents were escorted by armed guards to quarantine stations and decontaminated in public where all could see their nudity. From the controlled burning, a conflagration developed that destroyed this section of town. 5000 lost their homes. They were marched to detention camps and kept there for weeks. Ultimately the plague was overcome and Hawaii became a U.S. territory.
This is a gripping story told from the eyes of those who lived it—the White elite, Chinese doctors who could not practice, Japanese and Chinese merchants, Hawaiians. Remember, at the turn of the century, the germ theory was in its infancy, and most of the populace were ignorant of it. This book raises the question of what is the right thing to do? Will the cure or protection of the populace trump the constitutional and human rights of a few? Very tough decision indeed. I could not help but feel that if the disease had occurred in a greater number in a White neighborhood, the citizens would have been treated differently. A good, compelling read that rivals a good novel. This one is well documented, however, with great black and white photos.
This is a gripping story told from the eyes of those who lived it—the White elite, Chinese doctors who could not practice, Japanese and Chinese merchants, Hawaiians. Remember, at the turn of the century, the germ theory was in its infancy, and most of the populace were ignorant of it. This book raises the question of what is the right thing to do? Will the cure or protection of the populace trump the constitutional and human rights of a few? Very tough decision indeed. I could not help but feel that if the disease had occurred in a greater number in a White neighborhood, the citizens would have been treated differently. A good, compelling read that rivals a good novel. This one is well documented, however, with great black and white photos.
September 17, 2012
EXCELLENT. COMPREHENSIVE. INFORMATIVE
“Though no doubt sincere, white attitudes were breathtakingly arrogant.”—page 30
‘Plague and Fire: Battling Black Death and the 1900 Burning of Honolulu’s Chinatown’, by James C. Mohr an excellent and interesting study of people, place, politics, cultures, disease and disaster.
Just imagine… you’re a member of a social underclass, already living in the “worst slum,” [“Even before the outbreak of plague, Chinatown was regarded as Honolulu’s worst slum and as a generally unhealthy area.”—page 68], people around you have been dieing of a frightening sickness and, now, everything you have in the world is caught in a major conflagration. And you can’t even escape the area, to personal safety, because the area is under quarantine and surrounded, not only by armed Hawaiian National Guardsmen, but also be an outer circle of armed (white) civilians out to insure their own securety.
Disasters bring out the best and the worst in peoples; and the plague and burning of Honolulu’s Chinatown in late 1899/early1900 highlights that fact in capital letters.
Recommendation: Highly recommended for all interested in the history of the most culturally interesting place on earth: Hawaii.
NookBook edition, 243 pages
“Though no doubt sincere, white attitudes were breathtakingly arrogant.”—page 30
‘Plague and Fire: Battling Black Death and the 1900 Burning of Honolulu’s Chinatown’, by James C. Mohr an excellent and interesting study of people, place, politics, cultures, disease and disaster.
Just imagine… you’re a member of a social underclass, already living in the “worst slum,” [“Even before the outbreak of plague, Chinatown was regarded as Honolulu’s worst slum and as a generally unhealthy area.”—page 68], people around you have been dieing of a frightening sickness and, now, everything you have in the world is caught in a major conflagration. And you can’t even escape the area, to personal safety, because the area is under quarantine and surrounded, not only by armed Hawaiian National Guardsmen, but also be an outer circle of armed (white) civilians out to insure their own securety.
Disasters bring out the best and the worst in peoples; and the plague and burning of Honolulu’s Chinatown in late 1899/early1900 highlights that fact in capital letters.
Recommendation: Highly recommended for all interested in the history of the most culturally interesting place on earth: Hawaii.
NookBook edition, 243 pages
October 20, 2010
A detailed description of about 5 months in 1899-1900 fighting the Black Plague. This battle was fought at the beginnings of the Germ Theory of medicine, originating in France with L. Pasteur. The most effective tool, at the time, was burning of plague involved buildings. The was effective until the unexpected Pali winds at the Punch Bowl of Honolulu arrived to create a conflagration that went quickly out of control.
An unintended consequence of well intentioned doctor-administrators of the Public Health Department, who has been given complete authority of the Treasury, Military and Police of the Islands.
The emergency lasted about 5 months but the effects persisted for decades afterward. This maybe a pattern of the next epidemic/pandemic, yet to come. I suspect the disease will be the incurable form of Tuberculosis that is growing in veracity. The level of panic that the government (both federal and local) is capable of is quite apparent by the demonstrated behavior during SARS, Avian Flu and H1N1 episodes.
A good book, but don't expect a happy ending. Along with many epic failures there were grand successes that have been recorded in this work.
An unintended consequence of well intentioned doctor-administrators of the Public Health Department, who has been given complete authority of the Treasury, Military and Police of the Islands.
The emergency lasted about 5 months but the effects persisted for decades afterward. This maybe a pattern of the next epidemic/pandemic, yet to come. I suspect the disease will be the incurable form of Tuberculosis that is growing in veracity. The level of panic that the government (both federal and local) is capable of is quite apparent by the demonstrated behavior during SARS, Avian Flu and H1N1 episodes.
A good book, but don't expect a happy ending. Along with many epic failures there were grand successes that have been recorded in this work.
September 27, 2014
How very interesting to find out that a disease that I considered medieval was brought to Honolulu from China on ships in December 1899! As a young child I rode past Chinatown on Honolulu's public busses on my way to the Ala Moana shopping center, to the beach, to day camp or appointments. The 6-month battle against the bubonic plague was officially concluded on the day that Hawaii became an official territory of the United States. I went to live there when Hawaii was still a territory; statehood followed when I was in the first grade. By the way, the plague hit San Francisco in 1900, Kobe, Japan in 1901, and Los Angeles in 1924.
October 26, 2007
This book brings forth a very important part of Hawaii's, and particularly Honolulu's, history. I could only imagine how devastating and frightening it must have been having a plague break out on the island. The book discusses a very sad account of the residents of Chinatown, who ended up losing everything. The writing could have been better. The book reads more like a textbook than the documentation of an historic event.
December 13, 2016
Fascinating
This was a rather fascinating read about one of the darker periods of Honolulu's history. The sheer hypocrisy implemented by the Hawaii Board of Health when it came to quarantining Asians and Hawaiians (thought to have the plague) but not Caucasian communities that suffered from the plague was one the greatest transgressions of social justice practiced in the early 20th century.
This was a rather fascinating read about one of the darker periods of Honolulu's history. The sheer hypocrisy implemented by the Hawaii Board of Health when it came to quarantining Asians and Hawaiians (thought to have the plague) but not Caucasian communities that suffered from the plague was one the greatest transgressions of social justice practiced in the early 20th century.
December 25, 2011
I read this book because of my interest in the plague and this book did a good job of covering both the plague and the fire that burned down Chinatown in Honolulu. Since I dodn't care much for the fire part, I skimmed a lot. My biggest problem was the lack of variety in the vocabulary. I swear if I see the word Triumvirate again outside of this posting, I'm going to scream.
July 12, 2016
I read this book for my Black Death plague class in college and remembered really liking it, so when I needed a good nonfiction book to read, I picked this one back up. Definitely a good history story for history nerds or buffs.
Want to read
January 4, 2009Book I would like to read!!!
September 24, 2010
The author sheds light on this usually ignored tragedy in a very balanced way. Especially considering the turbulent political atmosphere this fire is set in.
February 19, 2012
Thoroughly historical. Well researched but story, rather than being primary part of book is secondary to the research.
June 11, 2012
Very interesting history about how Hawaii became a US territory and how the outbreak of the bubonic plague was mishandled.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews