The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-08-30

One of the most remarkable stories IF
recent military history, one which is
too little known in this country, is that
Of George +. Labram, of Detroit who
VAS killed in the defense of Kimberley
IN the BOer War. So much did his
nate safety Of the diamond camps that
le received the thanks of the British
government, and was referred to by
Lord Roberts, as having done some
thing unparalleled in modern warfare.
Mr.. Labram was, at the outbreak of
the war, says writer in the Century
Magazine, chief engineer of the De
Beers consolidated mines, position to
which he had succeeded after having
Installed American machinery there.
The Beers almost at orce besieged
the town. Mr.. Labram, seeing that there
was a considerable stock of cattle
which probably could not long be kept
grazing. and knowing that the meat
would not keep more than a day. az
once set about the construction of a
large refrigerator plant. using. at Cecil
Rhodes direction, the shops of the COM
pany for material and apparatus.
Without further assistance than the
nining-camp could provide he accom-
olished this difficult feat. The cattle
we're slaughtered, and the flesh was
kept sweet until needed. 1t supplied
4. e.
While this was going on Mr.. Labram
planned and constructed telephone
system connecting every part of the
Notifications of the town, and built an
elevated steel "conning-tower" in the
town, to which all lines ran, so that the
defense could be directed from that
point.
When the Beers cut the mains which
brought water to the city and thus
threatened to drive out the garrison,
Mr.. Labram installed pumping sys-
TEN, and secured an ample flow Of
water from a deep pit in one of the
Giamond-mines. To prevent night at
lacks, he improvised number of huge
rch-fights, and mounted them on the
corners of the Notifications. whence
every night they swept the surround
ing plains.
The siege had not continued long be-
fore the garrison began to run short
of shells for their twelve seven-poundar
guns. Shell-making Is highly speciai-
lied trade; but Mr. Labram, after ex-
aiming seven-pound shell, designed
an entirely new missile of his own ~
fit the guns, and began in short time
turning them out of his machine-sncp
at the rate of sixty or seventy cay
shells so good that after an exhaus-
tive test in service they were praised
as extraordinary" by military experts.
But ammunition for seven-pounders
was not enough. The Beers soon
brought up huge Creusot cannon, OF
six-inch caliber, which was able to
lombard the town from long distance.
and If not replied to, would soon have
wiped out the defenders. Mr.. Labram
sat about constructing, with the facili-
ties OF tile ultlUOnu-tlliiiC teRstN Hffoi' y
a cannon which could reply. From some
steel billets designed for shafting and
several bars Of iron he built four
inch breech-loading rifle of an excel
lent type. TO complete this ne mad 20
design and build special machinery, ana
r7uch of the work was done under IRE.
Nevertheless 1t was accomplished IN
twenty-four days. During the same
time a quantity of twenty-eight-pouho
shells were made to use in the gun. the
range of the rife was more than eigh'
thousand yards, and 1t successfully held
the Beers back until the rescuers came
Mr.. Labram himself did not live TO
see victory achieved. Less than week
before the relief came shell from the
Boer Creusot entered his room and
killed him instantly. He was buried
with military honors under fire fro;n
the enemy.