The Story Of Louis Galdy

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A friend of mine went to Port Royal for the first time. I mention Louis Galdy. He had never heard of him. So I told him the history. Louis Galdy was in a jail cell, in Port Royal, on the 7th day of June 1692, when came the Great Earthquake. Port Royal suffered the greatest damage due to the fact it was built on sand. Most of the buildings sank vertically. This was followed by a tsunami. In just moments One Thousand Six hundred people were simply gone. The building in which the jail was situated, survived the first shock. It went straight down during the second. Miraculously, he was uplifted and thrown into the sea by the third shock. Before he could catch his bearings, he was propelled by the tsunami towards Kingston, where he was rescued. Those who saw it were certain that this was divine judgment on what had been considered the wickedest city in the world. Louis Galdy became famous for his survival. He, and everyone else believed this was Divine Intervention. For the next forty seven years of his life Louis Galdy devoted himself to Good Works. He was instrumental in having the St. Peter’s Church rebuilt in Port Royal. He is buried there, his Huguenot ties reflected in the church’s marble relief by sculptor Louis François Roubiliac.