National Republican., 1883-08-10
A MUNoHAUsEN MINER.
Thrilling Tales OF wondrous Wealth and
PInching Poverty-Gov. Tabor's Little
Game OF Alleged Draw.

indeed, picturesque American citizen, stand
ing gaunt and tall beside robust English
man, clad in regulation tourists dress, with
eyeglasses and sidewhiskers, on the platform
of the Union Pacific depot in Omaha, one
windy day in April last Our train for the
west could not start because bridge had
been washed out by tho floods somo thirty
miles beyond tho struggling city, and there
we were, surrounded by billowy ocean Of
such mud as only Omaha can offer, with the
turbulent waters Of the Missouri at our backs,
rising higher every moment, and tho broken
bridge an impossible barrier before us.
The prospect was not pleasant, and after
hwearying of vain attempts to cheer each, other
up tho passengers naturally drifted about the
| little island OF plank that seemed forever on
the point Of sinking from sight and tread in
| the engulfng mud Tho tall, grim stranger
was by all odds tho most picturesque object
within the range of vision. There was a far
away look in his small, steel-blue eyes when
he was silent, and winning persuosiveness
| in his high keyed voice when he spoke to his
imported companion that aroused my Curl
osity, and watched his actions with languid
interest for q time. 1t soon became evident
that he was very deaf, and also that he was
giving the young Englishman pretty strong
| dose of western wonders.
"pve bin miner for twenty-five years."
he shouted, in response to a question, "and
| I've made some big strikes in my time. Bin
worth more'n million five different times,
and bin 80 poor had to live on cactus for
two months on a stretch. Got broke on Com
stock in Nevada, and then walked across the
mountains 1000 miles to Colorado. I'm on
my way back to the San Juan now, after
stocking my mine for amllion in New York.
Yes, it's good one. Some of my friends
wanted me to stock it at $15,000000, but l
| n1I bn eh
fetch big premium. Rich ore? Well, l
should think 1t will be. Why jest turned
up few shovelfuls an it was right there,
black sand running $1,000 to the ton at the
grass roots. It'll be $4,000 before | get into
it forty feet. Why, gev away 1000 worth
KEN down to see my strike and jest told
'em to fill their pockets. Oh, that's COM
mon among us old miners. Whenever
one of us has got anything the
rest are always welcome to help
themselves. Now there's Tabor, you've
heard of him, of course--the richest man in
this country now, except Vanderbilt and
Astor. Why me an him always share and
share alike. Whenever one of us is short he
jest draws on the other. l knowd him when
he was as poor as a church mouse but he's a
good one, tell you. ] met him when was
on my way to New York. Sez he, Prescott,
mebbe you're little short2 How much'll do
you SeI L, wen, hOu, Olu pdTu, L III IL llIJlS
short of cash; gimme $1,000 He drawd his
check on the First Nashnal of Denver, and
never asked for a line from me. But that's
tho way we old miners always do with each
other. We've got hotel of our own in New
York where we all stop, whether we've any
money or not, when we go east to sell q mine.
1t costs me as high as $4,000 some years just
to, to keep Ton it X but we stand by each other
Being a tenderfoot and hearing of, but
never having seen Gov. Tabor at that time
approached this ancient and loose-tongued
miner and asked for ample information. He
did not hear the question at first but when il
was repeated in louder voice he eyed me
suspiciously for q moment, and then, being
evidently convinced of my sincerity OIL
greenness, l could not tell which, repeated
the interrogatory with evident amazement
"Know Gov. Tabor ?" Well, slightly. Hod
and me crossed South park together when We
wasn't worth 500 between u.s. Ever bin in
Denver2 No. Well, he's got tho fines
buildings in the place now. Owns half th'
town. But he's most of his time in Lead
; vile. Did / ever live in Leadvillep Well
somewhat; / killed o man just back of tn,
Clarendon one night. Three of 'em tried tc
rob me. / fired through my pocket, and one
of 'em dropped. That was before we organ
lied tho vigilance committee. The marshal
told me to come around in the morning
When 1 KEN into court the jedge reached
over the desk and shook hands, sayin, ,'Tl
lake care of you, Prescott The man / shot
was carried in between two deputies. He
had hole in his stomach you could run your
arm through. The jedge just put me on the
stand, and said l needn't swear, my word was
good. When L told him all, he said, Pres.
colt, you can CO. Pm only sorry you didn't
down the other two
"But l was goin' to tell you about Tabor.
If you knew him you'd know he was the best
poker player in the west. We used to play
10 cent ante before he struck Little Pitts
burg, but now there amt none of 'em who
can make the limit high enough, or make
him lay down if he draws, no matter whether
he fills or not. Bet IN high? Just let me
tell you what l saw him do in Leadville
about two years ago. Some gamblers put up
job to skin him one day, and they asked
him to play hree-handed He was right
there, for he amt afraid of no man behind a
deck, cold or straight.
Zone of 'em dealed, and it was the guvnor'E
edge. They both KEN in, an when it ken
round to Tabor he raised it, Then each OF
'em raised it back an he gave 'em as good as
they sent. There was no limit, an the poi
swelled very fast. They drawed and the
the bettin' only just begon. They were
heeled putty well, and they socked to the old
man, but he raised 'em back while his money
lasted. He had $S5000 up then, an one OF
'em raised him $4,000 more. He felt in all
his pockets, an then says he, gentlemen,
didn't take much change with me when
KEN out this morning. You'll have to let me
draw again my bank account
"'What bank do you want to draw T' se2
one of the men. The First National of Dem
vor,' sez the guv'nor. One of 'em slipped out
and telegraphed TO the bank, How big is
Tabor's accOuntY The answer ken right
back, 'Tabors got hundred thousand here.'
Guv'nor,' sez the gambler, you can draw
"Well, what d'Yo spose he done? Jest
drawed for the hull $780, 000an' slapped it down
under their noses See that if you want to
see my hand sez he. That stumped 'em.
They had $4,000 apiece up, but they couldn't
size up to the other 100000.
"They never said a word, but just throwed
their hands down and walked out. AS the
guv'nor reached out an raked in the pot, he
kinder looked over his left shoulder an SEE,
with q wink to me, Prescott l was up to
their game I'll larn 'em to fool round with
an old miner
"What were the hands all round?"
"Oh, yes; | come near forgettin'. Tabor
had three skies, one of the gamblers had three
Mines and the fellow who stood pat had four
kings and an ace. But that check was too
many for EN-, you see."
When the train eventually reached Chey-
enne the old miner was switched off to visit
his big bonanza in the San Juan. He turned
up on Arapahoe street last Thursday morning
wearing the same celluloid collar, the same
threadbare garments, and the same far away