1893 Cholera Epidemic

Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Category: Memory · Subcategory: Testimonies · Year: 1893

The 1893 cholera morbus epidemic was the last major health crisis suffered in Santa Cruz before the appearance of COVID-19. The cholera outbreak at the end of the 19th century was one of the most infectious and virulent that the city has endured throughout its history, with nearly 2,000 infected and 400 deaths. Despite this, the entire city threw itself into the fight against the disease, both from a healthcare perspective and through the selfless participation of the different social strata of the population in the face of the disaster that befell them. The citizens' behaviour was so exemplary and admired that Santa Cruz was honoured by the highest national authorities with the title of “Muy Benéfica” (Highly Beneficent). 

On 29 September 1893, the Italian steamer Remo arrived at the Santa Cruz harbour from Rio Grande, Brazil, en route to its final destination in Genoa. It arrived with nearly a thousand people on board and with a “dirty bill of health”: it had cholera-infected individuals. Local authorities ordered the ship to remain at a distance from the port to the south, opposite the Lazaretto. According to procedure, the vessel was to observe quarantine; no one was allowed to disembark. But the health measures were broken. This was the beginning of the tragedy.

On 11 October, the first cholera cases were discovered in Santa Cruz. Days later, the disease had already spread at an extraordinary speed throughout the population, virulently reaching humble homes and housing blocks in the popular neighbourhoods of El Cabo, Los Llanos, Miraflores and El Toscal, where overcrowding, malnutrition and lack of hygiene helped the epidemic cause enormous mortality.

In response, a Hygiene Commission was formed, made up of doctors Agustín Pisaca, Diego Costa y Grijalba, Diego Guigou and Juan Febles Campos, who with the few resources available, multiplied their efforts by attending to the sick in various healthcare facilities and making home visits. With the Desamparados hospital completely overwhelmed, the Commission decided to set up beds in the lazaretto and establish isolation hospitals in the hermitages of San Telmo and Regla. It was ordered to disinfect, by fumigation, various housing blocks in El Toscal and caves in the Santos ravine. Meanwhile, the military organised a provisional field hospital installed around the hermitage of San Sebastián. Funds were also raised by public subscription to care for the less fortunate, distributing food, clothing and medicines in the most affected neighbourhoods. 

After months of fierce struggle and shared suffering, the epidemic was declared under control at the beginning of 1894.  During the more than three months that cholera was in Santa Cruz, out of a total population of 19,722 inhabitants, 1,744 fell ill and 382 died. The majority of victims were counted among the lowest social strata.  

According to popular tradition, the epidemic miraculously subsided in a housing block severely affected by the disease located on Oriente Street, in the heart of the El Toscal neighbourhood, following the prayers and promises of the residents to the venerated image of the Señor de las Tribulaciones, kept in the Church of San Francisco. Because of this, on 14 January 1894, with the epidemic already under control, this image was carried on shoulders in procession from the Church of San Francisco to the entrance of the housing block. From that moment, the street changed its name to “Calle del Señor de las Tribulaciones”. Furthermore, this is the origin of the route taken every Holy Tuesday by this procession through the streets of Santa Cruz. 

The general behaviour of the citizens during the three months of the epidemic was exemplary; a clear example of unity and social cross-cutting in the face of adversity. In recognition of all this effort, on 23 April 1894, the Council of Ministers of the Spanish government, then presided over by Práxedes Mateo Sagasta, granted Santa Cruz the title of “Muy Benéfica”, with the First Class Cross of the Civil Order of Beneficence, with badge and ribbon; an honour that the city would proudly display from then on at the bottom of its official coat of arms.

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