The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-15
HIS RISE AND FALL.
How senator Tabor Acquired the
Fortune That He Has Just Lost.

From the New York Herald.
Denver, Col, Dec. 12.-No. 4,5O7, Mrs.
Laura d. Smith VS.. Peter McCourt and
e. e. Edbrook. Petition for plaintiff is
granted"
The entering of this order in the records
OF the district court of Arapahoe county
few days ago was an incident passed un-
noticed by the casual frequenter of this
hall of justice, but to those who have kept
track of the fortunes and misfortunes of
the early pioneer 1t meant the last and
most painful act of drama which wiped
out of existence the last dollar of the once
magnificent fortune of former Senator H.
A. w. Tabor and the first appearance in
business circles of a woman whose wealth
was made by lucky turn of fortune
The petition of Mrs. Smith was one pray
ing for an order from the court giving her
possession Of the Tabor block, a seven
story brown stone structure covering a
block of ground on the corner of Sixteenth
and Larimer streets. and the Tabor Grand
opera house, the handsomest theater in
the west. under foreclosure aggregating
$500. 600.
on the day this property passed from his
hands Mr.. Tabor was allowed to remove
from the box office of the playhouse one
large iron safe and beautiful life size oil
painting of Richelieu and Julie. represent
ing them in the scene, where the great
chancellor of France Tidehes the kings
brother, which was presented him by the
citizens of Denver on the opening of the
house by Emma Abbott, Sept. ), 1881. These
two articles are all that he retained out
Of property and cash which fifteen years
| ago amounted to more than S6000,O00.
When a young man of % years Tabor
| was lighting grasshoppers and starvation
! on a small claim 10 Eastern Kansas. Be
| coming disguised with that kind of life
Arara
the rich gold discoveries made along Cher
ny creek in 1858, ne packed his wife ana
few belongings into a prairie schooner
and In 1861 started for the new El Do
RADIO. For many years he followed with
Indifferent success, the tickle goddess
through the exciting days of Golden Cen
trail City. Black Hawk, Breckenridge and
J Buckskin Joe.
| This discouraging and monotonous ex-
istence was followed until 1877, when he
| again found himself stranded in Orc City,
/ a placer camp, near the head OF California
gulch Rumors of the rich carbonate dis
coveries on Fryer, Iron and Carbonate
| hills were beginning to be heard. SO he
! sold his last yoke OF oxen, and with the
proceeds opened little store on the site
whefe Leadville now stands.
This was early In the spring of 1873, aud
in April Of that year August Richie and
/ George f. Hook, two shoemakers, VINO
| had been prospecting for a long time with
poor results, applied TO Tabor for grub
| stake" agreeing 10 divide, share and share
| alike, In anything they might find. Tabor
| supplied them with the necessary articles
! and tine cobblers went directly 20 the top
OF Fryer hill and began digging. Every
/ one laughed at them for wasting their
time and stake in SO unpromising a place
| They persisted IN their work having 10
make frequent acquisitions upon the store
for supplies, which were always granted.
About May ], after reaching a depth Of
twenty-sx feet. they encountered vein
OF rich carbonate ere. ana In that hour the
famous Little Pittsburg mine became a
reality The first wagon load OF ore taken
out sold for S2i5, and the yield during
the last half Of the following July was at
the rate of 5000 a week
When the ore body had been thorough
! ~ developed its richness was a revelation
10 every one. In September Tabor aud
Richie bought Hooks interest for $4,000.
The mine paid 100000 a month In dvi-
Qends for many months. and then Tabor
sold his half interest TO Senator j. b.
Chaffee and d. II. Moffat for 100000.
he Immediately entered into partnership
with Marshall Field OF Chicago. and
bought up the Chrysolte and adjoining
mines. The first Eve dividends paid out
Of this property amounted 10 100000. and
IT'S production during the eleven months
prior 20 April ], 1850. al which time he
sold HIS interest for 81 5000 was s3,i00.0O0.
In the meantime be had become inter-
estcd IN the famous Robert T.. Lee mine,
which has produced more rich ore than
any mine on the continent outside OF the