The Booker T. Washington Papers, Vol.10, page 95, May 1909, U. of Illinois Press

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MAY · 1 909 was not very rough, & except for three days of illness I came in feeling quite all right. Capt. Wilson of the Chester has been agreeable & in every sway] most kind & considerate of me. The officers in the main have also been agreeable. We have had our meals in the Cabin mess the Captain's sumptuous quarters & he only has been a fellow diner. So much for the newspaper sensations.2 This place: St Vincent is of volcanic formation; & is one of the Cape Verde group. Some ~o,ooo colored people & about 250 to 300 English & Portuguese live here. The place situated at the foot of the base of the mountain is rather pretty but the condition of the people is pitiable. I never saw in any city in America such hopeless conditions among the Negro people as I see here. They are poor: very poor: pitiably wretched with diseases which distort their limbs Sc their faces (in many cases) & have almost nothing upon which to live. Agriculture is practically impossible & it w'd take more than I saw Saturday to convince me they w'ct care to work even if they c'c! succeed at agriculture. The beggars are everywhere 8c they torture you with their appeals for money for pennies, for anything. The women are a modest set Sc wash 8c iron 8c sell products in the quaint, picturesque market in the center of the town. These products are a variety of bean, some coarse tropical yams, fish & a few other things of a not altogether nutritious variety. I saw one poor dilapidated fellow going home joyfully from market with one coarse yam & one piece of dry fish! Think of that for a Sunday meal!! I shall of course talk more of this when I see you again. We leave here tomorrow (Tuesday) for Liberia. The Birmingham came into port z~/2 hours behind us 8c with leaky tubes. She will have to remain here till next Saturday & will be that late in joining us at Monrovia. We finish coaling toclay. I am very sorry that the squadron continues to diminish as we approach the Black Republic. We are going to (on my suggestion) take a week out of our 30 days (the last week) to visit Sierre Leone so as to compare conditions 8c arrive at some conclusions that may be recommended for the helping of the Liberians. The Captain has orders to report at the Canary Islands & at Madeira 8c so I am quite unable to accurately forecast just when I shall reach New York. Mail addressed to me: U.S.S. Chester, cio The Post Master, New York City—up to and including June 5 (to be in New York June 5) will reach me 8c at 95