Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1917-08-10
NO HANDS, WORKS
Manned Soldier Goes Home and
Learns to Do Things.
Designs and Manufactures Apparatus
Which Enable Him Almost to
Ignore His Mutilation.

One French farm Is being cultivated
by a former soldier who lost both
hands I'm the war. Jean Baptiste Led
rnns is the man who has overcome this
hnndlcnp. When war was declared
Ledrans was a young handy mechanic.
accustomed to repairing pIows and
u At the call to arms he re-
Joined his battery as a cavalry SER
can He distinguished himself by
manning a bomb mortar and advancing
with the infantry to the attack of a
strong redoube. This exploit earned
him the rank Of underlieutenant.
After fighting safely through many
battles, Ledrans was wounded near Ar
rus and upon his recovery was trans
ferrcd to the infantry, says u CORE
suoudent Of the Chicago News. In his
new position the young u~nderOfhcer,
because Of his mechanical ability, was
assigned to the grenade section, where
he soon became proficient. Finally
he became an instructor.
II was while ~instructing some young
soldiers, about to leave for the front,
that Ledrnns received his terrible
wounds. A new recruit produced an
experimental grenade from his pocket
md gave it to Ledrans. The instructor
began his lesson, releasing the fuse
lighter which, unfortunately, was con-
nected with a loaded grenade, and not
one as used in practice. The grenade
exploded, killing six men and wound
ing several others. Ledrans was
wounded in five places; a rib broken,
right eye put out, one eardrum pierced
and his two hands carried away.
This was in 1916. In spite Of his In
iuries, Lcdrans' fiancee remained faith
full. ana two months later received a
letter written by her future husband
In January, 1917, they were married
and Lcdrans Is now Cultiyating his
fathcr-in-law's farm.
Putting his ingenuity to practical
use, the former soldier has been able to
design and build apparatus which en-
nblc him almost to ignore his mutila-
ton. He can hitch up and drive a
horse, driving by sitting on the loop
Of the lines and guiding with his ar
ranged forearms. He can load and
unload the wagon, care for the horse
and manage n team as well. The whip
passes through Il ring in the right arm
equipment.
By means of a special harness Led
rams can work in the fields as well as
anyone. A steel plate strapped on the
body, and supplemented with feathers
for the arms, support the interchange
able tools which are needed to per-
form various operations OF farm work
On the left arm Is carried a ring
through which the handle OF the rake
or shovel slides like through the hand
The right arm Is equipped with a SOCK
ct and set screws in which the TOOLS
can be placed and fixed. There Is a
complete assortment of farm tools ano
special hooks.
The farm work done, the brave ex'
soldier takes off his "working arms
and his wife adjusts a pair OF eiastif
gloves which accommodate the smaller
articles of daily use. With these gloves
Ledrans can write, shave, eat anc
dress himself. He drinks by taking the
Gun between the two elastic gloves
Comhing his hair, brushing his teetf
and adjusting his collar become simple
opcr. ions to this injured man, whit
has solved, for himself, one or rh'
great problems Of the war.