, 1896-12-23
TABOR DOWN AGAIN.
COLORADO'S EX-SENATOR IS NOW
ALSO AN EX-MILIiON-
ARE.
Final Mortgage ForecloseG on His
Denver Property-Story of the Re-
markable Career of the Man Who
Was Once Worth More Than
5000. 900.

NO. 4,507. Mrs. Laura D. Smith VS.
Peter McCourt and E. E. Edbrook. Pc.
tition for plaintiff is granted.
The entering of this order in the
hoe county a few days ago was an in.
cident passed unnoticed by the casua
frequenter of this hall of justice. but
to those who have kept track of the
fortunes and misfortunes of the early
pioneer it mean the last and mos
painful act of a drama which wiped
out of existence the last dollar of the
once magnificent fortune OF the former
Senator H. A. w. Tabor and the first
appearance in business circles of a
woman whose wealth was made by q
lucky turn of fortune.
The petition of Mrs. Smith was one
praying for an order from the court
giving her possession of the Tabor
block, a seven-story brown stone struc
ture covering a block of ground on the
corner OF Sixteenth and LarimeI
streets, and the Tabor Grand opera
house, the handsomest theater in the
west, under a foreclosure ag~gregatine
$500, 900.
On the day this property passed from
his hands Mr.. r'stor was allowed to re.
move from thu NIX Office of the play
house one large iron safe and a beauti,
full life-size Oil painting of Richelieu
scene where the great chancellor OF
France defies the kings brother, which
was presented him by the citizens OF
Denver On the opening of the house by
Emma Abbott, September 5, 1881,
These two articles are all thai he re,
tanned out of property and cash which
10 years ago amounted t. more thar
Sc 00, 900.
When a young man of % years Tabo,
was fighting grasshoppers and starva-
ton on a small claim in eastern Kan
sas. Becoming disguised with tina,
kind of life and learning from return
ing trappers of the rich gold discoy-
cries made along Cherry creek in 1858
he packed his wife and few belongings
into a prairie schooner and in 1861
started for the new Ell Dorado. Fol
many years he followed with indiffer-
ent success. the tickle goddess through
the exciting days of Golden. Central
City. Black Hawk. Breckenridge and
Buckskin ice.
This dlscouraging and monotonous
existence was followed until 1877
when he again found himself stranded
in Orc City, a placer camp, near the
head of California Gulch. Rumors OF
rich carbonate discoveries on Fryer,
Iron and Carbonate hills were begin
ming to be heard. So he sold his last
yoke of oxen, and with the proceeds
opened a little store on the site where
Leadville now stands.
This was early in the spring Of 1878
and in April of that year August Richie
and George F. Hook, two shoemakers
who had been prospecting for a long
time with poor results. applied to Ia
Dor for a "grub-stake,' agreeing to di-
vide. share and share alike, in anything
they might find. Tabor supplied them
with the necessary articles and the
cobblers went directly to the top of
Fryer Hill and began digging. Every,
| npn topohoI of than, for rroctipr tho;,
time and stake in so unpromising a
place. They persisted in their work,
having to make frequent acquisitions
upon the store for supplies. which were
always granted.
About May l, after reaching a depth
of 26 feet. they encountered a vein OF
rich carbonate ore. and in that hour
the famous Little P%ittsburg mine be-
came a reality. The first wagonload OF
ore taken out sold for $215, and the
yield during the last half OF the follow
ing July was at the rate of $4,000 a
week.
When the ore body had been thor
oughly developed its richness was a
revelation to every one. In September
Tabor and Richie bought Hooks inter,
est for sos, 900. The mine paid 800, 600
a month in dividends for many months,
and then Tabor sold his half interest to
Senator J B. Chaffee and d. H. Moffat
for 81. OOO, 900.
He Immediately entered into part.
nership with Chicago parties, and
bought up the Chrysorite and adtoin-
ing claims. The first five dividends
paid out Of this property amounted to
81, 000. 900, and its production during
the II months prior to April l. 1880, at
which time he sold his interest for g..
500, 900, was 81, 100, 900.
In the meantime he had become in
terested In the famous Robert e. Lee
mine, which has produced more rich
ore than any mine on the continent
outside Of the Comstock Of Nevada.
The average daily output Of the Lee
during its best days was SIS, 900, or the
startling total of $5,475,0 900 a year. On
the 18th day Of January. 1880, this mine
gave its owners in the "a hours $685.
900, a sum never equaled by any mine
In the world. Much Of this ore ran a.