Rocky Ford enterprise., 1899-04-13
EX-SENATOR TABOR
III ii DIES OF APPENDICITIS.

4
Ex-senator II. A. w. Tabor died a
his home In Denver on the 10th. II
was taken Ill Monday. April 3rd, thre
days after his wife's return from IN
East, and not until Friday was an.
fear expressed rs to his recovery. A
8 O'Clock that afternoon Mrs. Tabor be
came alarmed and sent for Doctors G
A. Powers and =. V. Carlin. After {
consultation they told his wife that h,
was suffering from appendicitis. The!
did not advise an operation, In fact. be
lieved TINT 1t would result In almost
instant death. Saturday and Sunday
the condition OF Air. Tabor grew stead
ily worse. There was a steady NIB Of
the current of life, and 1t was known
then that he could not live. N. Iaxcy
: Tnbor, son Of the senator and 1ne OF
the lessees of the Brown Palace hotel,
was called Friday night and was con-
slant in the attention to his father un.
til he passed away.
The rapid approach Of the ent was
more noticeable. at o o'clock M,nday
morning, but still 1t WINS believed
death would not come so soon as 1t
did. Philip McCOurt, brother OF Mrs.
Tabor, who hnd been In the roms
nearly all night. had been. gone hut a
few minutes, when the heavy brath-
Ing Of the senator attracted atteition.
His wife and their two children. lille,
II years old, and Silver. 8 years old;
n. Maxcy Tabor. Miss McCourt, sster
Of Mrs. Tabor, and the attending phy-
sicians,s gathered around the bedide.
Mrs. Tabor took her husbands land
aud asked him II he was in pain
The senator was perfectly conscDus;
his mind was clear and firm. H re-
piled to his wife's question that hesuf-
fered some pain. and then. with IL ieep
sigh. half turned and closed hks yes
upon all things earthly. 'f
Sunday morning Senator Thor
by the Rev. Father. Guidosa,
Jesuit priest. Ten days ago. beore
his last sickness had fastened iself
upon him. Senator Tabor had decicd
to enter the Catholic church, and htar-
ranged to be, received late the preent
month: His sickness hnstened thead-
ministration of the sacrament, fol on
Sunday morning the sick man plealed
earnestly to have the priest sent Tor,
saying that, even II lie recovered hi, in-
tention to become n Catholic woult be
carried out. Father Guidosa was slm-
moned and baptized him. He mad, a
confession and received communion.
After this he settled back tranqully.
He was heard to say to his wife, Who
never left his bedside:
This is the happiest moment of my
life. 1 am nt peace and resigned to the
VIII of God"
On various occasions In the last few
years Senator Tabor spoke seriously
OF becoming n Catholic. but said little
Of II outside the circle OF his own fam.
ily. He. had never been churchinnn
In particular sense.
Horace Austin Warner Tabor was
born on small farm In Orleans coun-
ty, Vermont, November 70. 1880 His
parents were poor and he spent his
hoyhood days much NO nth"s bog.
spend their lives on small farms
with an occasional day at
school.
One winter he taught In the district
school OF his native county and later
learned the trade of stonecutter.
When n few years past his majority
he married and when % years old he
md his wife started west Mr.. Tabor
had from his infancy displayed n re-
markable degree Of energy. and he was
one of the many rugged New England
ers who became imbucd with the Kan.
sas fever. He discussed the question
Of journeying west for several months
before finally deciding to take the long
trip.
In 1855 he moved to Kansas. settling
on n farm near Lawrence. where his
son, Mnxcy, was born. Mr.. Tabor's
and vigor In all things nt
once made him prominent figure ana
soon he became m active member OF
the Free Soil party. He fought Its bat
ties with enthusiasm, and upon that
ticket was elected to the Legislature In
1857. But the old desire to move west
came to him. Men returning from Col
orado told stories Of wondrous wealth.
and he finally decided that this state
should be his home In the future. Ne
sold his farm anu implements ana.
team Of oxen. hitched
them to his wagon and started Tor
what was then the Far West.
He came first to Denver ana then
went down In the mountains near
Nnnitou Springs, where they lived an
outdoor life. Mrs. Tabor did the work
about the camp while he prospected In
the mountains. He remained there. so
far as Is known, only n few months,
when he broke camp and moved up
into the mountains thinking that there
was nothing for him there.
Mr.. Tabor. to use his oft.repcated
phrase, located HIMSELF In the spring
OF 1850 In Ora City, then thriving
at the head of the famous
California gulch. The gulch for that
time was buster place than 1t Is even
at this day. Miners and prospectors
were ilocking in from all points OF the
universe. He was among the hrst TO
move into Oro City, which is now n
suburb OF I.eadville.
Here was the real beginning OF ca
reer that has made Mr.. Tabor famous.
He began prospecting and in this way
cleared several thousands of dollars.
The money he used In buying stock
of miners supplies. groceries and gen
cral material In Denver. buying the
hulk of his goods from Brown Broth
ers. Having transported the goods to
ORC City. he opened a store which soon
became the center OF the region. He