News of the day

October 5, 1883 Terrible tragedy, double murder – Hindoo man’s revenge A few minutes after seven o’clock yesterday morning, the inhabitants of that division of Castle Street which lies between Bree Street and Long Street, and the passengers who were about at that hour, were alarmed by hearing loud cries of “murder!” “murder!” issue from a narrow court leading off the main street. Several persons at once rushed up the alley, the residents of which are chiefly Malays and other coloured people. Those who first traced the tragic sounds to their origin met with an appalling spectacle. In a small, poorly furnished, dimly lighted room at the very end of the court stood an elderly coolie, wielding a chopper with terrible effect on what appeared to be already the lifeless bodies of the two victims – a man and a woman. Both lay extended on the floor, which was swimming in blood flowing from a number of terrible gashes on the head and upper parts of their bodies. The woman on whom the native of Cashmere, known as Pascoe, wreaked his vengeance was married to him according to the Mohammedan rites. October 5, 1883 The Woodstock Beach If all the inhabitants will but pull together in the common interest, we shall soon have a gay seaside resort established, which will be a source of prosperity to the whole peninsula. We are assured that if this scheme can but be made a success, every owner of a square foot of fixed property in Woodstock will have reason to congratulate himself on the permanently increased value of his possessions. But if the scheme is to be subjected to all the chançon of a conflict with private interests and local jealousies, it will simply be wrecked, and one of the finest bathing sites in the world, of a possible Brighton for South Africa, will remain the melancholy waste that it is at present. Instead of being the future resort of visitors from all parts of South Africa, it will remain, like too many other lovely spots about Cape Town, a mere resting place for empty sardine tins. October 7, 1899 War despatches – President Steyn and the troops The Express this morning published official correspondence between President Steyn and Sir Alfred Milner. President Steyn states that he does not consider that there were ever fair grounds for the movements of British troops. On the contrary, he even believed that the increasing of military preparations retarded the efforts of himself and all those sincerely working to maintain peace and to effect a fair settlement. He wishes to place on record his earnest conviction that on those in authority who introduced the military element, and who since continued the policy of menace and intervention, will rest the responsibilities should all efforts fail to secure peace and an honourable settlement. The Free State government cannot conceive it possible that points of difference on the question of the franchise and representation justify the extensive and ever increasing military preparations on the borders, not only of the South African Republic but also of the Orange Free State, and therefore are reluctantly compelled to conclude that they must be intended to serve other objects. October 7, 1899 Liberal speeches – Mr Morley on bedlamite pulpit clap-trap Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman, speaking at Maidstone, said the reason given for war (against the Transvaal) is provokingly small. The difference between a five and a seven years franchise (for “Uitlanders”) was unworthy of the bones of a single British Grenadier. He appealed to the governments of London, the Cape and Pretoria to advert a war, which would be incurred on wholly insufficient grounds. Mr John Morley, speaking at Carnarvon, declares that the crisis is due to bedlamite pulpit clap-trap and incongruous and unhappy diplomacy. He would oppose war to the closing moments of the eleventh hour. October 4, 1910 Native Education – Lovedale proposals With reference to the deputation headed by Mr Henderson, the principal of Lovedale College, which waited on Mr Malan a few days ago, Mr Henderson, interviewed by Reuter, said, in amplification of what has already been published, that the native population contributed three-quarters of a million in direct taxation which, with indirect contributions, must amount to a million at least. Less than one -sixth of the former amount was spent on native education. A scheme for a native college had been before the country over six years and was recommended by the Native Affairs Commission. Education for natives must be adapted for economical as well as the intellectual development of the natives dwelling in tribal conditions in native territories and reserves, and must be such as would maintain tribal self-respect, making for cohesion. October 5, 1957 Prince leaves an estate in SA Prince Mohamet ali Tewfik, the 79-year-old former Regent of Egypt, who died at the Hotel BeauRivage,Cuchy, Lausanne, two years ago, left an estate in South Africa valued at £32.264. The prince, who was a bachelor, owned cement and colliery shares and had £19.314 on current account with Barclays Bank. October 5, 1957 Soviet satellite over Rand, says Radio Moscow As radio stations in many parts of the world – as well as South Africa – reported receiving clear “peep-peep” signals from the Russian satellite as it circled the Earth, Moscow radio said in a special broadcast today that the satellite had passed over the Johannesburg area. Moscow radio said: “At 12.40 (Moscow time) today the position of the satellite was 28 degrees southerly latitude and 14 degrees eastern latitude, in the area of Johannesburg, South Africa.” Since the moment of its passage over the Moscow area at 01.46 (Moscow time) today, it has made about six-and-a-half revolutions round the Earth. October 5, 1957 Wemmershoek Dam full: end of city’s water worries THE 13 000 000 000 gallon Wemmershoek Dam in the mountains near French Hoek is full. At 9.45am yesterday the dam’s giant spillway gates opened automatically for the first time and water trickled down the 1 000ft concrete chute. With the Steenbras Dam also full, this means that Cape Town now has a total of more than 20 000 000 000 gallons of water impounded – more than at any time in its history. The filling of the Wemmershoek Dam marks the end of several years of water worries for Cape Town, and it should assure the city of adequate supplies for a long time.