Mr. Hill to Mr.
White.
Department of State,
Washington, September 11,
1900.
No. 445.]
Sir: I inclose for your information copy of a
letter addressed to the Department by Mrs. George F. Labram, of Aurora,
Ill., inclosing a communication from Lieutenant-Colonel Kekewich,
commanding British troops in South Africa, showing services rendered by
the late George F. Labram, and requesting information as to the manner
in which his widow should present her claim to the British Government
for the death of her husband.
In view of Colonel Kekewich’s statement to the effect that Mr. Labram
completed many engineering works which materially assisted in prolonging
the defense of Kimberley, it is thought possible that the British
Government might, upon representation of the facts, feel inclined to
make some provision for Mrs. Labram.
You are accordingly instructed to informally present the papers in
question to Her Majesty’s Government for its consideration, and report
the result to the Department.
I am, etc.,
[Page 624]
[Inclosure.]
Mrs. Labram to
Mr. Hay.
Dear Sir: I do not know the proper channel
through which a claim can be presented to the English Government,
but have been advised to place the facts before the State
Department, and have been assured that you would have the documents
forwarded to the party whose duty it may be to act for and in my
behalf.
My late husband, George Labram, was in the employ of the De Beers
Consolidated Mines, Limited, Kimberley, South Africa; was in the
town during the time it was besieged; an American citizen, born in
Detroit, Mich., in 1859. He never renounced his allegiance to the
United States Government, and was at his death, as always, an
American. He was killed at Kimberly by the explosion of a shell
while in his room in the hotel, on the 9th day of February, 1900.
Myself and son, aged 13 years, are his only heirs, and it seems to
me that I am entitled to some consideration from the English
Government, as he was practically compelled to fight there, to
prevent the capture of Kimberley by the Boers, in behalf of the
English forces. If you would kindly forward any documents for
evidence that may be required, of his actions and his death, full
information can be obtained from Mr. Gardner Williams, American
consul at Kimberley and general manager of the De Beers Consolidated
Mines, Limited. Mr. Williams is now in England and can be
communicated with by addressing care of De Beers Consolidated Mines,
62 Lombard street, London, E. C.
I inclose herewith a certified copy of a letter from Colonel Kekewich
stating that the English Government was indebted to my late
husband.
I trust that I have appealed to the right quarter for aid as I was
dependent upon my husband and his engineering ability for my living,
and will feel deeply grateful for an acknowledgment of this letter
with information as to the disposal made of it.
Yours, very truly,
[Subinclosure.]
Lieutenant-Colonel Kekewich to Mrs. Labram.
Dear Madam: It was with great grief that I
received the sad intelligence on February 9 that your husband, Mr.
George Labram, has been killed by a Boer shell.
I write to offer you and your son the deepest sympathy of my staff
and myself in the severe loss you have sustained. Not only
Kimberley, but the whole British nation, is to-day indebted to your
late husband for the invaluable assistance he afforded to the
defenders of Kimberley during a siege extending over nearly four
months. Your late husband placed unreservedly at my disposal his
great genius, and I can not sufficiently express my gratitude for
the many works he completed, which have much, assisted me to prolong
the defense of Kimberley. I can assure you, my dear madam, that the
whole of Kimberley mourns the loss of our dear friend George Labram
as we would the loss of a dear relative.
Yours, sincerely,
Kekewich,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding the Troops at
Kimberly.
