The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-18
GREAT RISE AND FALL.
Two Startling Romances OF the
Great West.
How Senator Tabor Won and Lost
Equally Romantic is Laura ID. Smith.

passed unnotced by the casual frequent
or of this hall OF justice, but to those who
have kept track OF tho fortunes and mis-
fortunes 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 II. A. W. Tabor and the first ap-
pearance in business circles of woman
whose wealth was made by lucky turn
Of fortune
The petition OF Mrs Smith was one
praying for an order from tho court Civ
Ing hcr possession OF the Tabor block, a
seven story brown stone structure, cover
Ing block OF ground on the corner of Six
teenth and Lsrimer streets, Denver, and
the Tabor Grand Opafa House, the hand
soonest theater IN the west, under fore
closure aggregating ss00.oO0.
On the day this property passed from
his hands Mr.. Tabor was allowed to re-
move from the box office of the play house
one large iron safe and beautiful life size
oil painting of Richelieu and Julie, repre-
senting them IN the scene where the great
chancellor OF France defies the king s
brother, which was presented him by the
citizens Of Denver on the opening of the
house by Emma Abbott Sept 5, 1881.
These two articles are all that he retained
cut of property and cash which Is years
ego amounted to more than Sd, 600, 900.
When a young man Of 25 years, Tabor
was fighting grasshoppers and starvation
on a small claim in eastern Kansas. Be-
coming disgustcd with that kind Of life
and learning from returning trappers Of
tho rich gold discoveries made along Cher
~ creek in 1858, he packed his wife and
few belongings into a prairie schooner and
in 1861 started for the new El Dorado.
For many years he followed, with indiffer-
ent success, the tickle goddess through the
exciting days of Golden, Central City,
Black Hawk, Breckinridge and Buckskin
joe
This dlscouraging and monotonous cx-
istence was followed until 1877, when he
again found himself stranded in Orc City,
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 bis last yoke Of oxen, and with the
proceeds opened little store on the site
where Leadville now stands.
This was enrly in the spring Of 1878,
and In April OF that year August Piche
sTht bbOikO lNO rHDtifluktTS, WHO
had been prospecting for long time with
poor results, applied to Tabor for a "grub
stabc, agreeing to divide, share and share
alike, in anything they might find. Tabor
supplied them with the necessary articles.
and the cobblers went directly 10 the top
Of Fryer hill and began digging. Every
one laughed at them for wasting their
time and stake In so unpromising place.
har, f,tn IT, l,s.
mako frequent acquisitions upon the storo
for supplies, which was always granted.
About May /, after reaching depth Of
26 feet, they encountered vein OF rich
carbonate ore, and In that hour the fatnous
Little Pittsburg mine became reality.
The first wagon load OF ore taken out sold
For S2l5, and the yield during the last half
of tho following July was ut the rate Of
lS 900 week
When. tho orc body had been thoroughly
developed, its richness vas n revelation to
overy one, In September Tabor and Richie
bought Hooks Interest for $685. The
nino paid 500, 900 month ia dividends
Ior many months, and then Tabor sold
.ls half interest to Senator j. b. Chaffee
and ID. II. Moffat FOR 81 900, 900.
Ho Immediately entered into partnership
With Marshall Field of Chicago and bought
Up tho Chrysolite and adjoining claims
The first fiyo dividends paid out Of this !
property amounted to q 900, 900, and its |
production during the Il months prior TO |
April ], 1880, at which time he sold his |
interest for 81, 500, 900, was SO, 100, 000
In tho meantime he had tecomo inter- |
sted IN the famous Robert T. Lee mine, |
which has produced more rich ore than |
NY mine on the continent outside of the |
Of Nevada. Tire average tsYily |
utput of the Loo during its hest days was
10000, or the startling total of SIS, i75, 900 |
year. On the 18th day of January, 1850,
his DIino gave its owners in the "a hours
l2s,000, sum never oqualcd by any
nine in the world. Much of this ore ran
s high as IL COO ounces in silver 20 tho /
ON, and as tsa white metal was then worth |
D the noighhorhood of Sl.25 an ounce the
normous profits can readily be imagined
Besides these fortunes, which came in
npid succession, Tabor ma 20 from 81 ,00O,.
DO to SO, 600, 900 ont OF the Morning Star
iatchlcss and other Leaiville mines, and
: ono time it was said his daily income
'as greater than that of any other man
etween New York city and Nevada.
In 1850 the city Of Denver was pros
erous town Of 30, 600 Inhabitants. Tabor's
in her future induced him To
egin the erection of La Veta place, n ter
acc, "out on tho prairie" as the town
llks declared, which cost him in tho
Of $1,000, 900, and at that
mo was the handsomest residence west
Chicago. This be Immediately fol-
,wed with tho Tabor block and the Ta-
or Grand Opera House, at u cost Of nearly
., 600, 600.
Fortune cama quickly; 50 did his 1nan-
al troubles, and I've years ago he was
)mpollcd to seek assistance from Now
ork insurance company. They advanced
i'm 2lo0, 600. The papic OF 1898 increased
Is distress, and second mortgage for
)55, 600 IN favor Of Mrs. Smith was placed
D his property, and in tho end she camo
ITO possession By settling the first and
her own.
Mrs. Smith not many years ago was
RS. Laura Sw!ckhoimor. She and her
ushand, David. lived in Rico n mining
mp In tho southern part OF the state,
I'D, Ike Tabor, he was n prospcctor and
as wCrlinp "A claim he had named the
utcrprso For two years he had worked
Il