The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-01-23
NEWS ANNOUNCED By
CAPE TOWNS "HoOTER. y


Listen, is that the Hotter All. I
wonder what news il bTingS2' The
'Hooter'' is at this time great fea-
tUTe in Cape Town life. 1t is the hope
and the fear of US all. And yet it is
nothing but the steam siren of the
Cape Times Printing works, which is
sounded whenever any special war
news is received from the front. There
are many other steam SyrenS in town.
from workshops and factories. from
the transports that lie covering the
surface of Table bay, and from the
railroad engines that ply their ureless
way from hot and dusty Cape Town TO
the cool and pleasant suburbs, where
three great military hospital camps
are pitched. or to the very field of bat
tie itself. in the far north. There are
many whistles but there is only one
"HoOter." 1t has a peculiar bass note,
which, cOnqUering the stifest southeast
wind that ever blew to make life IN
beaTable, has grown familiar TO all
There Is no mistaking it. Its sound
goes forth to all the town, and our
hearts quicken and our pulses tingle
with anxiety to know whether the
news be good or evil.
The we'll known blast may be heard
a { any time between 9 O'Clock in the
morning and the same hour at night.
Some days it sounds often, then a week
or more may go by in silence. 1t has
y
,f victory. 1t has been the signal of
much sorrow to loyal British hearts.
The city that lies in the beautiful Ia
bic valley is not at its ease, IT IS dl-
vided against itself. It has its citizens
loyal and true, many of them at this
moment proving their devotion by
bearing arms against the invaders Of
the Cape Colony and Natal-but there
are others to whom British victory
brings no joy, and to whom BOer sue
cess means naught but pleasure. But
all young and old. rich and poor, loyal
and disIoyaI, listen for the "Hooter-'
The very child in the nursery cries out
There's the 'Hooter'; a telegram is
coming when the dull booming note
strikes his ear.
Thousands Of People-Jew and Cen
tile, British. Dutch, Malay, HindOO,
Kaffir and HOttentOt, in fact, represen-
tatives of all nations and all languages
leaving their ordinary pursuits, rap
idly make their way through the heat
and dust of the day or in the cool Of
the evening 10 the Cape Times Office.
in St. Georges street. to get a copy
of the special telegram they know is
being issued. The thTOng is a curious
one, for Cape Town, with the multitude
of refugees added to its ordinary pOpu-
latiOn, is perhaps at this time the most
cosmopolitan community in the empire
All are intensely eager to hear the
n -
Dor. though here and there the lucky
pOSSessor of the fresh. damp teie-
graph special shares it in silence with
those who stand by Sharp little Ma
lay boys in red fezes and black bare
legs are driving a good trade by selling
for a ''tickey" (three pence the sheet
they have just secured, by dlnt OF
much pushing and squeezing through
impossible spaces, for d third of that
we'll known coin.
The crush at the door Of the issuing
office is sitting and OdOTiferoUs, but no
one is dismayed. News news at any
cost But-then comes the wonderful
part of it-be that news good or bad,
there is no outward demonstration on
the part of the crowd or the individual;
and this is because no emotion is felt.
Has there been a British victory? The
loyalist heaves a sigh of relief and
goes his way with a jauntier step and
lighter heart. Next to him has been
standing one who has read the same
news, perChance from the same sheet
He too. says nothing, but looks around
and goes to his own place downcast
and disappointed Again, if the tidings
be unfavOrable to the British arms,
many who were gloomy before left up
/ their heads and rejoice; not altogether
openly, for that they dare not do at
! the present though they are gathering
/ courage and hope some day to be able
to throw off the mask Of hypocrisy;
but still they rejoice The crowd that
waits for tidings of the war is not
/ thrilled by one common current of 10y
atty. The circuit is broken. Sympa-
/ thy is wanting. All are not true