The Nashua Reporter (Nashua, Iowa), December 3, 1903

Bessemer Herald (Bessemer, Michigan), December 5, 1903

Ten Thousand Starve (105 Years Ago)

Inhabitants of the Cape Verde Islands are Famine-Stricken.     

The people of the Cape Verde Islands are famine-stricken.  Letters received in this country tell a frightful tale of loss of life, for in the island of Santiago alone the dead number 10,000.  In spite of the measures of relief that have been adopted the death rate continues to be from 30 to 35 a day. 

The Cape Verde Islands belong to Portugal and are situated about 320 miles to the west of that African promontory from which they take their name.  There are many islands in the group, ten of which are of considerable size.  The largest and most important is Santiago.  The Cape Verde Islands owe their origin to the action of submarine volcanoes and all are very mountainous.  The highest elevation is reached in a volcanic peak 9,157 feet above the sea, on the island of Fogo, and which is still active.  The total population of the group is 100,000, nearly all of whom are negroes, indolent [lazy], but harmless.  The climate is unhealthy during the rainy season.  Although water is deficient, vegetation is luxuriant, yielding African and southern European products.  Sugar, cotton, tobacco and indigo are grown and the trade in archil, a coloring substance monopolized by the government, has in some seasons yielded £24,000.  Several of the European domestic animals thrive well.  Turtles are abundant in the surrounding seas and whales are also fished by British and American vessels.  Amber is found on the coasts and great quantities of salt, formed by solar evaporation, is obtained on the lagoons along the shores, especially on the island of Lal [Sal].

Each island is affected by the famine, but the loss of life in Santiago is the greatest.  In spite of the thousands of deaths the Portuguese government has not taken any steps for the relief of the stricken people and all outside aid has come from the Board of Trade of Lisbon.

NOTE:  It was estimated in 1903 that the population of Cape Verde was 100,000.  The famine killed 10,000 people just on the island of Santiago, eliminating 10% of Cape Verde’s population.  It is apparent that the famine reduced the population by over ten percent.  Also, we can see the prejudice of the time evident in this article.  The citizens of Cape Verde were called indolent, or lazy, but harmless.  Ironically enough, Cape Verdeans who immigrated to the United States had a reputation for being hard workers!

Tags: Ten Thousand Starve Cape Verde Famine