Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-16

tailed, and prospered in \ way. INDECENT
miners can't and went, and from his stock
in the store he grub-staked those who ap-
piled to him for such accommodations. But
nothing came OF It. The miners went out
with hope and returned empty handed one
season after another until the spring Of
1879, when the incident occurred which
changed the aspect Of his life.
strike II Rich.
In the town Of Fairplay. Park county.
there resided two shoemakers named re-
spectively August Rische and George T.
Hook, who formed a partnership with a view
Of searching for carbonate. They were
poor and applied to Mr.. Tabor for the means
of prosecuting their purposes. Offering him
an equal share with themselves in such dis
coveries as they might make. There seemed
to be meager chances of a return from the
investment. but the raticns. tools and other
essentials were provided and the venture
some prospectors proceeded to the apex Of
Fryer hill, where they began digging late
in April. 1t was an unpromising locality
and many laughed at the credulity which
encouraged them to effort. 1t was laborious
work, moreover. but they persevered until
their supplies were exhausted. when they
reported progress and asked for more, which
was given. About the first of May. at a
depth of twenty-six feet. the vein was
struck and the Little Pittsburg mine
opened. During the first half of the July
following the mine yielded at the rate of
IS, 1000 a week. The first wagon load Of min
eral taken out netted over 5000 and within
a short time the mine was producing from
seventy-fve to 100 tons Of ore a week. This,
Of course, caused a prodigious activity
throughout the neighborhood and MIR. Tabor
and the two shoemakers began to absorb
contiguous claims. In September following
Mr.. Hook, after having realized largely from
the intermediate sales Of ore, sold his in
terest to his associates for sos. 900, and a
short time afterward Mr.. Rische disposed
of his half interest in the property TO ]. B..
Chaffee and David H. Moffat for $3.50. 900.
In November the New Discovery, Little
Pittsburg, Dives and Winnemuc properties
were consolidated under the title Of the Lit
tie Pittsburg Consolidated company. with a
capital stock Of $40, 900. 900, and the produce
ton Of the property from the times of dis
covery in the spring Of 1878 to April 1, 1889,
amounted to s2.6 97,534.91 for receipts OF ore
sold and $4,246, 239.S1 actual yield. Mr.. Ia
Dor sold his interest to Chaffee and Moffat
for $1,000, 900.
On the slide.
Marshall Field of Chicago became inter-
ested with him and the pair made millions
so easily and rapidly as to dazzle all be.
holders. Tue Crysolite proved richer than
the Little Pittsburg and in less than six
while the company was putting the
mine in shape for future production, paid |
81 900. 900 in dividends and the total yield
for eleven months was over SO, 600, 900. In
1881 Tabor held a quarter in the Robert E.
Lee bonanza, which yielded 10. 900 to 20. 900 |
ounces of silver per ton and coined millions |
for its owners. In September, 1879, Tabor |
bought the Matchless for S117 900 without
any prospect of getting a bonanza, or. as he
1t, Just to own something In
there were no shares that will fur
nish me a suit of clothes once in a while,
A hat now and then and occasionally a bottle
If wine" The Matchless paid s., 900 a day
and ran as high as $1,000 a month.
With this enormous revenue the little
raider was nonplussed. He never dreamed
ii such vast sums and never acquired the
lrt of spending. In this dilemma he floated
Town to Denver and took counsel with his
friends, who advised him to put his wealth
rto real estate. This took the fancy of the
nan from the mountains and in course of
ime this city was graced with two very
.H~ Ac'H 49, NAS wv ASNi /
It the corner of Sixteenth and Larimes
treets, and the Tabor Grand opera house,
t the corner Of Curtis street, a few blocks
uptown. The cost of these struc-
ures was said to be in the neighborhood OF
/, 100, 900.
For ten years everything went we'll with
He was rated as worth Sc, 900, 00c.
lie became ambitious for political honors.
lie poured out money like water to accom-
lish his ends. He was always betrayed by
hose who pretended to be his friends. He
'as given the lieutenant governorship.
'hich he didn't want. Then ne entered the
ace for United States senator and was
hosen for an unexpired term, made vacant
y the death of the incumbent. He was
for three or four months. ,
After his return from Washington he be.
an to invest in real estate. He loaded up f
18th Chicago property and got the worst of
ne bargain. He invested in mines in New :
Iexico, Arizona and old Mexico. They !
ere failures. He borrowed vast sums. He
lortgaged his Tabor block and his Crane
pera house. The panic of '93 finished the
ork begun by injudicious Investments. He 7
ought foreclosure in the courts. but all in !
ain. The sheriff took possession of all the :
Ointed postmaster at Denver and held the =
at the time OF his death. !
.