Port-au-Prince fire: Fire at Place Vallière (Myrtil Bruno)

EARTHQUAKES. FIRES. Almost immediately after its foundation it suffered an earthquake, in 1751. The idea was then conceived of building it only of wood. The earthquake of 3 June 1770, which was more violent, led the colonial government to issue an ordinance enjoining the inhabitants to build their houses henceforth only of wood. Another scourge no less terrible, to which this unfortunate city is periodically a prey, is fire. The number of fires is incalculable. The principal ones are: those of Saint Peter’s day in 1784, of 21 November 1794, of 15 August 1820, [ Cruchon ] of 16 December 1822, of 8 July 1832 [the Pentecost] of 9 January 1843, of 10 November 1845, ( Berthomieux ) of 14 November 1849, (Jeanne Desvignes) Place Vallière of 12 June 1857 [ Myrtil Bruno], of 28 February 1865 (Theater), of 7 May 1865, of 19 March 1866 [J. B. Hepburn) of the rue Pavé of 4 September 1877, of 24 June 1878 (Malary) of 4 July 1879 (insurrection of Boyer Bazelais), of 22 and 23 September 1883 (pillage), of 4 July 1888 (the Chamber), of 7 July 1888 (Minister Artaud); these last two caused the name…

Rouzier tells this under the entry PORT-AU PRINCE [le].