SIDELIGHTS OF THE WAR

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4, 5 January 1900, Page 4

SIDELIGHTS OF THE WAR

THE BOGUS CABLEGRAM.

EXCITEMENT. IN ADELAIDE

Tbe South Australian Register of December 16th says: — "The news that a private cable message had been received to the effect tha*< Ladysmith had been relieved spread through the city with incredible rapidity on Friday morning. The message, which had been leceived by Mr Harry Taylor, a wellknown sharebroker, was read out by him m the Stock Exchange, and it aroused great enthusiasm. Immediately a string band' was engaged from the street, and the brokers set to singing patriotic airs, including the National Anthem, 'The Hong of Australia,' ' Rule Britannia,' ' Soldiers of the Queen,' and 'Sons of the Sea.' These proceedings lasted for en hour or more, and the brokers fairly bubbled over with excitement and loyalty. Business was suspended for the time being. The cheer ing and excitement m tbe vestibule were something to be remembered. Everyone with a hard hdt on was looked upon as a Boer, and his position was immediately stormed by bulls and bears, and, as he did not have tbe cover of a kopje, he took refuge behind the iron pillars, but the assaulting party overwhelmed him, beat his hat over his eyes, took the biim, left him with the roof, and then sang vociferously ' Rule Britannia' When the • bowlers ' were done' with, the aggressive element attacked the straws, and brims and crowns parted company m the twinkling of an eye. One broker stuck to hifl crown — somebody else had his brim forced over a disfigured felt. Two or three were minus hats altogether, and some of them bad their skull coverings bat- j tered m over their ears until they looked like demons of another world. When hardly anyone had a hat intact, qbmpsp3y proposed that they should 'go and have a drink, 1 and they went, singing ' Britons never shall be sla? es ' by the way. There will be a good Christmas trade for

the hatters. At the Police Court the proceeding's were suspended for a few minutes while the information from London was passed round. Meantime a steady stream of acsious inquirers found their way to the Register office to ascertain if a Press message had been received confirming the news. The fact that the brokers' information had not been confirmed only increased the excite ment, and during the afternoon and evening scores of similar inquiries were made by telephone. The operator m charge of the telephone exchange had an exceedingly busy time during the evening, and he was heard to mutter that he would l:ke to ' get hold ' of the man who was responsible for the seuding of the cable message. Copies of each edition of the Evening Journal were anxiously bought up by those who found it impossible to curb their impatience to know the truth, and the newsvendors had a busy and profitable time. In every tram car, train, and coffee palace the same topic of conversation was heard, and the busiest • men about town ' were as ready to discuss the pros, and cons, of the subject as if they had no other care m the world."