Gilpin observer., 1899-04-13
EX-SENATOR TABOR
DIES OF APPENDICITIS.

Ex-senator II. A. w. Tabor died al
his home In Denver on the 10th. He
was taken Ill Monday, April 3rd, three
days after his wife's return from the
East, and not until Friday was any
fear expressed as to his recovery. AT
8 O'Clock that afternoon Mrs. Tabor be-
came alarmed and sent for Doctors G.
A. Powers and p. V. Carlin. After a
consultation they told his wife that he
was suffering from appendicitis. They
did not advise an operation, in fact, be-
lieved that it would result in almost
instant death. Saturday and Sunday
the condition of Mr.. Tabor grew stead
lily worse. There was steady ebb of
the current of life, and 1t was known
then that he could not live. N. Maxcy
Tabor, son of the senator and one of
the lessees of the Brown Palace hotel,
was called Friday night and was con-
stant in the attention to his father un.
til he passed away.
The rapid approach Of the end was
more noticeable at 8 o'clock Monday
morning, but still it was believed
death would not come so soon as it
did. Philip McCourt, brother of Mrs.
Tabor, who had been in the rooms
nearly all night, had been gone but a
ing of the senator attracted attention.
His wife and their two children, Lille,
13 years old, and Silver, o years old
N. Maxcy Tabor, Miss McCourt, sister
of Mrs. Tabor, and the attending ply
sicians, gathered around the bedside
Mrs. Tabor took her husbands hand
and asked him If he was in pain.
The senator was perfectly conscious;
In ts. ind ole nd Rv-,,,
piled to his wife's question that he suf-
fered some pain, and then, with deep
sigh, half turned and closed his eyes
upon all things earthly.
Sunday morning Senator Tabor
was baptized n Roman Catholic
by the Rev. Father Guidosa, a
Jesuit priest. Ten days ago, before
his last sickness had fastened itself
upon him, Senator Tabor had decided
to enter the Catholic church, and he ar
ranged to be received late the present
month. His sickness hastened the ad-
ministratiOn of the sacrament, for OH
Sunday morning the sick man pleaded
earnestly to have the priest sent for,
saying that, even If he recovered his in
tention to become a Catholic would be
carried out. Father Guidosa was sum-
moned and baptized him. He made n
confession and received communion.
After this he settled back TRANQUILITY
He was heard to say to his wife, who
never left his bedside:
This is the happiest moment of my
life. 1 am at peace and resigned to the
will of God"
On various occasions in the last few
years Senator Tabor spoke seriously
Of becoming n Catholic, but said little
of it outside the circle of his own fam
lily. He had never been a churchman
in a particular sense.
Horace Austin Warner Tabor was
born on small farm in Orleans coun-
ty, Vermont, November 20, 1890. His
parents were poor and he spent his
bcyhood days much as other boys
spend their lives on small farms
working, 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 few years past his majority
he married and when 25 years old he
and his wife started west. Mr.. Tabor
had from his infancy displayed a re-
markable degree of energy, and he was
one of the many rugged New England
ers who became imbued 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 a farm near Lawrence, where his
son, Maxcy, was born. Mr.. Tabor's $
personality and vigor in all things at
once made him n prominent figure and
soon he became an 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 and implements and,
purchasing n team of oxen, hitched
them to his wagon and started for
what was then the Far West.
He came first to Denver and then
went down in the mountains near
Manitou Springs, where they lived an
outdoor life. Mrs. Tabor did the work
about the camp while he prospected III
the mountains. He remained there, so
far as Is known, only 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-repeated
phrase, "located himself" in the spring
OF 1860 in Ora City, then thriving
settlement at the head Of the famous
California gulch. The gulch for that
time was n busier place than 1t Is even
Mt this day. Miners and prospectors
were docking in from all points OF the
universe He was among the hrst 10
move into Oro City. which Is now Il
suburb of Leadville.
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 lie used in buying stock
of miners supplies, groceries and gen
cral material in Denver. buying the
bulIk of his goods from Brown Broth