The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1889-04-23
STARVING AMIDST PLENTY.
Dire Distress of a Colony of Portuguese
from Hawaii in the City of Oakland.

Dire Distress of a Colony of Portuguese
from Hawaii in the City of Oakland.
The Evening Tribune, Oakland, Cal,
April 9Th, has an article, from which the
following extracts are made, the remain.
der being descriptions of cases of the
distress referred to:
kilograms from the annually jubilant
farmers tell of the plentiful crops that
are growing in the Golden State, and the
people are told daily of the bounty which
exists here. Oakland is rich, and Oak
land has many charitable ladies who
have formed many societies with scrip
tural notices, and relieve the poor and
do good in all parts OF the city. Yet, in
spite OF all this. there is colony OF starry
ing Portuguese in this city. 1t is not a
single family, but a colony of several
families, and they are all in the last
stages of desperation and want. None
of them speak English and they are I'M
able to obtain work for that reason.
There are perhaps half dozen fami-
lies, or more, all OF whom have located
in the improved Sixth ward. They were
formerly employed on the sugar planta-
tons on the Sandwich islands, but OF
late they have not been able to compete
with the Chinese and japanese who
landed there in swarms, working for al
most nothing, and are driving all other
laborers out ofthe field.
The Portuguese struggled against this
swarm of Tartar labor, but they were
finally crowded off of the plank. Some
came to California. in fact, the great
majority came to this State and some
located in this city. They speak no
English, and though they appear TO be
willing to work they can find nothing to
do. This is the story they tell through
the medium of Interpreters.
1t seems that some Of the little chill
dren have been attending the Harrison
school. Few could speak any English
at all, and one or two could say few
words. The little ones were not very
regular in their attendance, and one day
one OF the little boys by the name OF
Joseph, who resided on the northeast
corner of Third street and Broadway,
failed to answer to the roll call. The
child stayed away for long while One
day the teachers questioned another
little boy, who had also been absent for |
some weeks. After a great deal OF |
trouble, the little fellow managed to
make them understand that his little |
was dead, and that he, too,
had been very sick.
The ladies saw Immediately that the
little fellow had been very i'll, for he was
much emaciated. They tried to discover
what had been the trouble, but the little
fellow could say nothing but that he had |
been sick. Finally he was asked what
his mother had given him to make him
we'll, and he looked up and replied
Eggs"
The teachers found that the little boy
was suffering more from hunger than
rom sickness, and he was speedily sup
Piled with good dinner, which he de-
7Oured eagerly, showing that he was
-eally starving. BY degrees the teachers
earned that there were several families
n the Sixth ward, all OF whom are actu-
lily starving. Many have had no meat
or weeks, and none of them have had
nourishment for long while,
Until absolute starvation stares them in
he face.
The teachers OF the school have sup
lied them with some assistance, and
an investigation was made
Sy scanty directions furnished by one OF
be children, four houses were visited,
nd in all cases the poor people were
ound to be utterly destitute.
4