The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-06-26


| attorney of the Northwestern Mutual
| Life Insurance company, c. A. MIDI
| augh, agent, and Frank dngersoil, at
| torney for Mrs. Z. Edbrooke, assignees
| Of the property, G.. w. Currier, John
| G. Taylor, c. B. Kroutze and number
of other gentlemen prominent in finan-
! cIal and real estate circles.
After reading the notice Of sale Sher-
| If Webb read portion Of the decree d.
recting that the two properties be sbld
| separately and then both offered TO-
! gether, and in event that the offer for
the entire property should exceed the
sum offered on the separate bids, it
should be sold as one property.
In accordance with this portion of the
decree the Tabor buHding( corner Six
teenth and Larimer streets, was first
put up without any response. The
opera house was then put up with the
| same result and then the entire property
was offered. Mr.. Denison, in behalf OF
the Northwestern Insurance company,
bid the amount Of the judgment, s4SS,-
1889. There was no other bid and the
property was knocked down TO the in
surance company. The crowd slowly
separated, the attorneys for the pur-
chasers going TO the sheriff's office 10
secure the certificate of purchase.
MRS. SMITHS MORTGAGE.
1t IS generally understood that Mrs.
Smith Will make and earnest effort to
raise the mony TO pay off the first mort
gage, and il was also reported that Mr..
Tabor would also make a further effort
to retain his ownership if he can raise
the money necessary. Mrs. Smiths
claim with interest aggregates nearly
100000 Under a decision Of the su-
preme court she viii be permitted to
sell the property under her second trust
deed. This will be done in a few daps-
as soon as the proper steps can be taken
in the district court. Mrs. Smiths
trust IS wouthoUt redemption, and as
she will undoubtedly bid in her equity
she will take possession of the property
and shut out all creditors except the
Northwestern Insurance company. Her
purchase of her own equity will give her
the advantage of the nine months of re-
demption under the terms OF the first
mortgage and On the event Of her pay
ing off the claim of the insurance COM
pany she Will have exclusive title. This
will probably be the result as while she
will only have the purchase price OF yes
terday's sale TO pay while Mr.. Tabor
would have to pay off the Indebtedness,
amounting to nearly 100000. He has
nine months IN which TO do this. While
there is no redemption after foreclosure
under Mrs Smiths loan, she would no
doubt be willing TO relinquish her equity
in considera ton for the amount of her
claim, providing Mr.. Tabor were able TO
pay off the first claim in the time al
lowed for redemption.
THE RISE OF Fl. A. w. TABOR.
Among all present there was the deep
est sympathy for Mr.. Tabor, a. no citi-
zen of Denver could fail to recognize
the fact that he was the first to set the
example of public improvements by the
erection of public buildings of credit
able character. A bystander expressed
the wish that Mr. Tabor had the money.
You can't wish it more ferVently than
We do said Mr.. DenisOn, "and since
the commencement of this suit we have
been willing TO settle on a basis which
would have enabled Mr. Tabor to step
out of the whole matter with $1O0, 900 in
cash"
When H. A. W. Tabor first came into
his great wealth through the discovery
or the Little Pittsburg mine in Lead
vile, he exhibited a spirit of public en-
terprise on the most liberal scale. Nat
found expression in Leadville, where he
erected the Tabor opera house at the ex-
pense of about $50, coo, in 1879. The sue
cess OF this undertaking with the rapid
increase in his wealth encouraged him
TO attempt something on a grander scale
Denver was then without public build
ing of any Importance. a few three
story structures had been erected. but
none were al all imposing in appearance
or In any way suited TO modern require
ments. There was not a single passen-
ger elevator in the city. Mr. Tabor was
keen enough TO perceive the possibilities
OF the city, and in 1879 purchased the
old Broadweu property on the corner of
Sixteen tn and Larimer streets and IN
place of the broken down frame build
ing there soon arose the handsome Ia
Dor block. The site was then the CEN
ter OF the business portion of the city,
and before the building was under roof
every store and Office was rented at
rsmunerative prices, and praise OF the
and public spirit Of Mr.. Tabor
was on every tongue.
THE OPERA HOUSE ERECTED.
At that time there was not a single
comfortable place of amusement in the
city An old frame theater stood on
the corner Of Lawrence and Sixteenth
where skinner. Bros, & Wright's big
store now is, and the Governors Guard /
hail on the corner Of Fifteenth and Cur
It's had been recently converted into a I
theater by Nicholas Forester. she local
dramatic manager.
On the corner Of Sixteenth and Cur
It's streets Walhaila had been recently !
erected. and was used mainly for public +
meetings and partisan gatherings /
though subsequently fitted up with 1
stage, combining the features OF a thea I
ter and a beer garden Denver had |
then about 5000 people. and the demand 1
FOR an opera house had been felt for /
some time. some desaltory talk had (
been INDUCED in by local capitalists in 1
regard 10 the construction OF a hall Of 4
some kind. but nothing had taken shape I
when Mr. Tabor again came 10 the front. 1
His mining property accorded him a 4
priucely income, and his previous ven 1
ture IN the Tabor building Vas yielding 4
a handsome dividend on ,he cost. he 1
solved the matter Of an opera house by i
announcing that he would build the /
finest opera house IN America.
There was no delay in the matter. The !
site was purchased early in 1850. and as
soon as the plans 81 the architect, z. z
Edbroeke. We're prepared and bids for /
the construction awarded work vas
commenced The ccrneF stone vas iaii 4
in the fall of ISIS ana the bulldiag W2s
as rspidly as possible. Nesr-
Il a year elapsed before Il vas coapist-
81 and on Sept 3 ISL the house was
opened with Emma Abbott in Mari
,sna" 20 the most brilliant assembly %
Denver socseIy that hsd 81 that time
ever been drought together. The occa-