News of the day

July 21, 1860 Inhuman treatment of immigrants THE inhabitants of a Franschhoek are much scandalized at the treatment of a family of German immigrants who lately arrived in this colony and hired themselves out to a farmer of that neighbourhood. A German with his wife and children took service with a resident at this place. The woman, the better to take care of her children, ceased to work, in consequence of which fifteen shillings were deducted from her month’s wages. The master now demanded that her child should work in the vineyard. The woman refused, a complaint was lodged, and she was sentenced to four days’ imprisonment. Having left her baby at home, she returned to find the child emaciated, learning it had all the time cried for food, but there had been none to give. Is this the treatment to which the labouring people imported into this colony are to be subjected? July 21, 1860 Preparations for the Prince AT Natal, as well as in the various districts of the Cape of Good Hope, there is the greatest desire to see Prince Alfred. Every town, village, and hamlet are on the tiptoe of expectation, and every one of them expresses a hope that the Prince will not think of going back to his royal mother without being able to tell her Majesty all about them and theirs. In Natal, Pietermaritzburg Advertiser has the following pretty dish to set before a king: “We might treat him to a sight of a panther, a python, and an alligator; it would be not without the bounds of possibility to give him the chance of a shot at a sea-cow.” July 19, 1879 The Koegas atrocities WE stated of this account from a Rietfontein correspondent that we hoped neither the government here nor in England would allow it to go unchallenged: “Commandant Niekerk and 100 men started on the Wednesday morning and arrived at (Luisdraai) about noon. The enemy, which consisted of a mixed lot of Kafirs, Korannas, and Bushmen, were just then busy having their dinner, and before they expected anything the burghers opened fire on them. The enemy answered them by a shower of arrows, but had to retreat, the bullets being too much for them. They were then fired upon from the other side and the two flanks, and seeing no other chance made a stand, but would not give in, although asked whether they would put down their arrows and give themselves up as prisoners. The women came out but were threatened by the men. They were again fired upon, and in a short time everything was over. The loss of the enemy was as follows: Forty-six killed, of whom 10 were women and children.” July 19, 1879 Shadrach and his detractors SIR, I should just like to say a word about this atrocious crime of being an educated and a Christian Kafir. I cannot pretend to determine whether the education of a Kafir ought to be imputed to him as a reproach; but this I will say, that the education of a white man may become justly contemptible, if it only allows him to impose restrictions upon the advancement and civilization of those whom he assumes to protect. I am one of Kama’s people; and I am at liberty to use my own language as much as any other man, and to express my meaning in words which will be understood by my own people. It is my privilege to be in many respects more of an Englishman that a Kafir, but I shall never sit unconcerned and see wrong done to people of my own flesh and blood, without using my best endeavours to get that wrong righted. Yours, etc, Shadrach Maka. July 16, 1912 Negress lynched FOR the first time in the history of lynching in the Southern States, a negress has been summarily executed by a mob. The woman, whose name was Annie Barkdale, was hanged at Cordele, Georgia, for murdering her mistress. She was employed as cook by Mrs RE Jordan, a wealthy planter. Mrs Jordan, who was thirty years old and famous as one of the most beautiful women in Georgia, remonstrated with the negress for misconduct. The two were alone in the kitchen, and the negress seized a knife and stabbed her mistress to death. After a search the negress was caught and placed in gaol. A mob composed of friends of Mr Jordan broke into the gaol, placed the negress in a car, and took her to the Jordan homestead. Mr Jordan, who was sitting by the body of his wife, was invited outside, and in his presence the negress was hanged from a tree. July 16, 1912 Virtually buried alive CAPITAL punishment is unknown in Italy, and accordingly Baron Paterno was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Countess Trigona. The first 10 years will be passed in solitary confinement. The sentence is the maximum imposed for murder, and is equivalent to being buried alive. Baron Paterno will spend the first seven years of his confinement in a cell. The only illumination is furnished by a small grated window high in the wall. Baron Paterno will not be allowed to speak, nor can the warder speak to him. He will be allowed to see his parents once a year. Once a month he will be permitted to walk in the prison yard. Few survive seven years’ solitary confinement, and those who are alive at the end are invariably insane. July 19, 1912 Suffragette outrages – hatchet thrown at premier A SUFFRAGETTE threw a hatchet at a carriage containing Mr and Mrs Asquith and Mr Redmond but missed. Two suffragettes attended a performance at the Theatre Royal, where Mr Asquith speaks tonight, and threw a blazing chair into the orchestra, which set fire to the curtains of a box. Once escaped, the other was arrested. The flames were extinguished, which had a calming effect on the audience. July 20, 1985 30 000 attend Cradock funerals THE funeral of the four slain Cradock community leaders ended on a sombre note today with almost 30 000 silent mourners gathered around the barren graveside in Ilingelihle township. The silent burial was in striking contrast to the fiery speeches made earlier at the Ilingelihle Stadium by Dr Allan Boesak, the Rev Beyers Naude and others.The four leaders, Mr Mathew Goniwe, Mr Ford Calata, Mr Sparrow Mkonto and Mr Ficelo Mhlawuli, were found hacked and burnt to death outside Port Elizabeth three weeks ago. July 20, 1985 State of emergency A STATE of Emergency is to be enforced from midnight in 36 magisterial districts in South Arica, the President, Mr PW Botha, announced today. He told a press conference that conditions of violence and lawlessness around the country had become more severe and cruel, especially in black townships. “This state of affairs can no longer be tolerated. So far, the government has shown the utmost patience. However I cannot ignore the insistence of all responsible South Africans, especially of the majority of the black communities, who ask that conditions be normalized and that they are granted the full protection of the law to continue their normal way of life.”