The times., 1899-04-11

Horace A. W. Tabor was born in Ver-
mont, November 30 1880. His parents
were poor and unable to give their hoy an
education. Early in life he went to Kan
sas and while there did all kinds of work,
chiefly that of a farm hand. In 1853 he
moved to Denver. His career in Colorado
was humble and unimportant until 1878,
when, through lucky chance he grub
staked party who located some rich
mining claims. He bought out their
shares, and in the course OF time he be-
came one of the richest men in the State,
acquiring with his fortune the title of the
Bonanza King" His wealth at various
times was estimated at anywhere from FIVE
TO fifteen million dollars.
Mr.. Tabor was born in the same county
in Vermont where Jim Fiske, jr. first saw
the light of day. The careers of the two
men were in many respects similar. What
Fiske was to Wall Street Tabor was TO the
mining camps.
The first public Office held by Mr. Tabor
was as a member of the Colorado Lsgs-
lature. He was afterward elected Lieu
tenant Governor In March, 1888 he was
elected to the United States Senate for a
period of thirty days. having been chosen
to fill out the last month of the unexpired
term of Henry NJ. Teller, who. in 1881,
had become member of President Ar
thurs Cabinet, as Secretary of the Inte-
rior. After the resignation of Mr.. Teller
from the Senate the Governor of Colo
raGo appointed Mr.. Chicott who served
from the date of his appointment until
the meeting of the Legislature. When
that body convened it selected Mr. Tabor
to fill out the unexpired term.
Following his retirement from the SEN
ate, Mr.. Tabor began to speculate heavily,
and gradually his fortune slipped away
from him. He became very poor and 1t
was necessary for him to again go to
'grub-staking." In this, however he met
with little success. and about fifteen
months ago President Mckinley appointed
him postmaster at Denver
Mr.. Tabor was man of many peculiari-
ties. After the tide of fortune set his way
he became a great character in Colorado.
He was equally as fond of spending money
as he was of making it. AS above stated
he was uneducated. but possessed a great
deal of sound common sense With the
accumulation OF a great fortune came also
extreme vanity. He was proud of his
adopted State. and had great admiration
for the city of Denver, and when his for
tune was at its highest point he began i'm
proving real estate property. in that city.
He erected al that period what was known
as the Tabor Grand Opera House said to
place OF amusement in the United
States. II was built with lavish hand
Expense was not taken into consideration.
At the time of its construction it was far
in advance OF the demands of the theatre
going public of Denver. Tabor said he
knew this was true, but the city would
grow and in time his opera house would
be needed to meet all requirements. He
lived 10 see this prediction fulfilled
In the construction of his ODara hnugp
the vanity of Tabor was apparent every
where. Tabors picture adorned the drop
curtain. bust of Tabor perched over the
top of every proscenium box. Where it
was impossible to place bust or a picture
the name of Tabor was made conspicuous
IL was Mr.. Tabor's great delight to sit in
box during performance and make him
self as prominent as possible. He enjoyed
conyersing from the box with anyone
whom he knew sitting in the audience No
matter how far they might be from him.
they were lot too far TO hear Mr. Tabor's
salutadcns He seemed to take great pride
in dividing honors with the actors so far
as placing himself on exhibition was con-
cerned. He never regarded himself as
well dressed unless he was wearing sew
eral thousand dollars worth OF diamonds.
He was a bonanza king" and no one
knew il better than himself With all his
vanity he was man of excellent heart.
He contributed thousands and thousands OF
dollars TO charity. No poor man ever went
/ hungry when Tabor was in the community
Mr Tabor was given, perhaps, more ad-
vertising in his thirty days in the Senate
than most men have received after serving
term OF six years. His career In Con-
gress was gaudy. II not brilliant The most
important event, perhaps, which occurred