Gilpin observer., 1899-04-13


old store and again settled down as a
small shOpkeeper and also as a pros
pector.
After his return to Orc City he en-
tered more vigorously than ever before
into mining operations and scores of
men he grubstaked and sent up in the
mountains. For ten years there was
no change for the better in his for
tunes. Old friends say that during this
period he was often without money,
but still he gave with liberal hand to
all who applied and no man ever went
out OF his store without provisions be-
cause he could not pay.
Mr.. Tabor again began grubstaking
miners and among others who came to
him was August Rische and George
L. Hook. They We're two old timers
and were shOemakers in Fairplay.
Iark county and who, having heard
OF Mr.. Tabor, had come to him. Riscbe
had come out of the Union army and
In 1S6S had located in Fairplay, fol-
lowing his trade. OF Hook little was
known. These two men are interest
ing, inasmuch as they were the men
who marked the turning point Of Mr..
Tabor's fortunes.
MIR. Tabor grubstaked Rische and
Hook, the three forming a partner
ship to share and share alike in any
strike that might be made. April 20.
1878, this partnership was formed, and
the two shoemakers started out from
ORC City, working along California
gulch. The men saw what they be-
lieved was good prospect on the top
OF Fryer hill and began work. 1t was
an unpromising location and they
were subjects of laughter from other
miners, but they kept at work.
May 1. 1873. when their shaft was
down 26 feet they found the ore. They
gave the mine the name Of the Little
Pittsburg. 1t made millions of dollars.
and in addition made Leadville the
greatest camp in the history of the
world. In the July following it was
paying $4,000 week. The first wagon
load taken from it sold for $780, tn
Dor, Rische and Hook, the firm, alb
sorbed adjoining claims and soon were
the owners of several mines.
Hook, who was of free and easy dis
position, was satisfied in September
with the money he had and sold out
his interest to his partners for $685.
600. and then began devoting himself
to travelling about the country. Rische
| shortly afterward sold his half inter-
est to David III. Moffat and ]. b. Chat
fee for $262,0O0. November 1S, 1870,
the Little Pittsburg Consolidated COM
pany owned the Little Pittsburg, New
Discovery. Dives and Winnemuc. The
Pfttsburg had paid $375,OOO and the
Winnemuc $153,0OO, $4,000 of the
latter sum being profit. Operations
were extended and in 1870 the compa-
ny was incorporated in New York for
$4,000, 900.
From the discovery up to April 1,
1880, the mines paid 81. .697 .534 .O1 for
rppninfC n "A
actual yield. New York share holders
began demanding 100000 per month,
| and this drained the mine Of its valu-
able contents. Mr. Tabor in the latter
year sold out to his partners for ST.
100000.
Mr.. Tabor was n plunger in mines
and was interested in n series of prop
critics and mines. AS his wealth came
in he went heavily into mines. After
selling his interest In the Little Pitts
burg the firm of Borden. Tabor 4 Co.
| was formed and Marshall Field of Chi.
| cago was one of the men interested.
He dazzled men with his successes.
for he had Midas touch. and it Is said
that in 1879 and 1880 he made over
$4,000, 600 and dozen mines like Chry-
solite. Little Chief Matchless and 9TH
er properties were paying fabulous re-
turns.
In the summer of 1879 Mr. Tabor re-
moved from Leadville to Denver, and
for twenty years has been resident
Of this city. He plunged into Denver
real estate speculation with the same
energy that he was plunging in mines.
His first purchase was the Broadwell
property, Sixteenth and Larimer
streets. where stands the Tabor block.
built for $4,000. This he followed by
buying the Anderson-Brown property,
on Broadway and Seventeenth street,
and next by the purchase of the corner
of Sixteenth and Curtis, where he built
the opera house. These investments
created considerable excitement in
Denver, then n town Of 10000 people,
and the prosperous days for Denver
had their beginning at that time.
In 1880 he began the Tabor block.
and in the same year the Tabor opera
| house. His announcement that the
opera house would be the finest In the
United States crented much comment
throughout the country. 1t cost over
| So, ,OOO, 200, and IL even in this day ac-
! counted magnificent playhouse. the
| woodwork being as fine today as
when put in.
The beginning of the end Of the for
tunes of Mr.. Tabor began when dull
times swept over Colorado and the en-
tire United States.
| In 1893 he began investing in gigan-
tic mining deals In Old Mexico and in
Arizona. which proved losing ventures.
the Vulture. in Arizona. 1t is said cost
ing him S1.00O,00O. He had disposed of
many of his big mines, and others had
been worked out. He was taken into
various schemes in which he lost ad-
ditional money, and as the years
passed his property disappeared. His
Denver holdings We're mortgaged. and.
being unable to meet the demands for
the money, piece after piece slipped
away, and in January, 1897, his last
| t.I,ltr,r xynu sold uuIar tho hnipmar