Flooding Ladysmith
In early February 1900 the Boers set in motion a plan to flood Ladysmith by damming the Klip River south of Intombi camp. A German engineer by the name of Krantz was brought in and succeeded in spanning almost half the river width before the relieving forces arrived.
Thousands of sandbags were used to raise the bank at least 12 metres above the water. The bank was some 20 wide and 25 metres across. Whether the Boers would have succeeded is doubtful but the attempt was commendable.
Some 500 natives were put to work in this attempt. A small tramway was even set up to carry the sandbags to the end of the dam.
