I just read such a good article in the Summer 2013 edition of Louisiana History, the journal of the Louisiana Historical Association, “Reduced to Ashes” The Good Friday Fire of 1788 in Spanish Colonial New Orleans” by Cindy Ermus. This fire destroyed 80% of the city, when then consisted of what we now call the Vieux Carré or French Quarter . The fire destroyed many homes, the parish church of St. Louis, the Cabildo, the Presbytere, military barracks, businesses, and warehouses–856 of 1100 buildings. People were left destitute, but miraculously, very few were killed. Spanish colonial governor Esteban Miró went into action to get immediate aid for the homeless and begin rebuilding the city. (Interestingly, Miró was married to an aunt of Delphine Macarty, the infamous Madame Lalaurie). He procured money from the government, provided tents and barracks, broke Spanish law by purchasing supplies from the United States, prohibited price gouging, and even distributed his own personal funds to those in need. Eventually, the city came back stronger. As I was reading, I was, of course, comparing this disaster to Hurricane Katrina. The author resisted a rant on this, saying only that “Miró’s response, as well as his seemingly unprejudiced care for victims, appear to exist in interesting contrast to perceptions of more recent government responses to disaster.”
Posted on: Tue, 10 Sep 2013 12:17:13 +0000
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