The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-01-02
LOUIS SEYMOUR TO
FIGHT The BOERS
FORMER RESIDENT OF THIS
CITY FORMING A REGIMENT.
Two other Former Scrantonians,
George Poore and Robert Mckay
Are Assisting Him in London.
Seymour Was Formerly Employed
as Draughtsman in This City but
Is Now a Millionaire and Gold
Mining Expert-Captain Stokes
Tells Why They Want to Fight.

Word has reached here that Louis
Seymour. formerly of this city, but
now of South Africa. H. at present in
London organizing a volunteer regi-
ment of engineers for service against
the Beers. 1t Is also stated that Rob-
ert Mckay, George Poorc and another
man named Robeson. all of whom at
one time lived here. are associated with
Mr. Seymour in the work. All of
these were at one time members Of
Company A, Thirteenth regiment.
Since Mr.. Seymour left this city.
some ten years ago. he has had an es-
pccially varied career and is now re-
putcd to be a millionaire, in addition
to holding one of the most important
mining positions In South Africa. He
was employed while in this city as Il
draughtsman and machiist by the
I.ackawanna Iron and Steel company,
and later by the Dickson Manufacture
ing company.
While working for the latter COM
pany he was sent to South America
to superintend the erection of an en-
ginc. He there met the representa-
tives of the firm Of Frazer & Chal-
mers, manufacturers of machinery,
with plants in London and Chicago.
They were So impressed with his rare
| mechanical ability that he was Of
fered the position Of general manager
OF their London plant. He accepted
the position and remained in London
for some three years in that capacity.
UNDERGROUND ROADS.
While in London he saw the possi-
s.syG I
| system there and invested Il larga
amount of his savings in the stock. Hn
has since added to this and is now
one of the largest stockholders i'm the
company.
He was sent to South Africa in 1899
| by his employers and while there came
under the notice of some of the di-
rectors of the Rand Mining company,
| an immense corporation. controlling
| upwards of twenty-five gold mines in
| and around Johannesburg. He was Of
| fered the position OF consulting eng:-
neer of all the mines. a position which
he accepted and still holds
His salary in this capacity is said
| to be about $4,000 year, and by in
vestments in various ways in that
| Klondikc for investors, South Africa,
he is now reputod to be worth at least
| $1,000, 900. He has also patented sew
| eral improvements on mining machin-
cry, the sale of which have also con-
tributed to his wealth.
| George POOre is the son of Townsend
POore, of 1870 Capouse avenue and also
| left this city some ten years ago. He
holds even more important position
with the Rand company than does Sey.
mour, being the assistant general man
| ager. He has also acquired great
| wealth i'm South Africa and is reputed
Il millionaire. Robert Mckay left this
| city with Poore and is now mana gine
| engineer of one of the Rand mines
| Robeson also holds a similar position
but he is not very well known here.
WHAT STOKES SAYS.
Captain Fremont Stokes. of Company
| "A. Thirteenth regiment. and who, W
to two years ago, was also employed
| by the Rand company in the capacity
of civil engineer, says that Seymour II
| considered one of the greatest engineer.
in all Africa.
| Il can readily understand" said tn,
captain yesterday, 'how these mer
would desire to fight against the Boer
after having put up with their in
science for so long. The personal in
dignities which Englishmen and othe
foreigners experience at the hands o
the Beers almost beggar description
] have had personal experience mysel
and l know whereof / speak.
"A foreigner isn't one, two, three II
the Transvaal and he never was. If h.
gets into railroad car and takes
seat, it is just as likely as not that al
Overbearing Boer will come along an,
push him out of it. Even one word O
resentment would be the signal for hi
arrest and justice is not very blint
| there.
Even in the stores one cannot b
treated with even the rudiments O
| common decency."
| Captain Stokes said that while tn
Uitlanders would undoubtedly prefe
English rule to that of the Beers. tha
he believed an Independent govern
ment was what they desired most O
all.