| Show FAMOUS GE GEM M SOLD solado ISABELLA DIAMOND NOW OWNED BY NEW YORKERS jewel said to have been pawned to aid columbus on his voyage was waa once property of senator tabor denver rhe fhe recent sale bale at auction of the famous lR isabella abella diamond at lebed to be one of the original gems pawned by the queen of spain to pay for the voyage of columbus which re suited in the discovery of america has brought to light some interesting details of the history of this and other gems it was sold in this city to sat iffy a note given by elizabeth tabor widow of senator H A W tabor who was one of the most picturesque characters abai actors of the west the jewel valued at was wag one of a collection that has figured in western estera courts more than any single lot in existence the entire assort ment estimated to be worth possibly bu 50 was sold to john mason of this city the only bidder for mrs tabor was the second wife ife oi of a man whose career reads like a page from some romance onre once a pros for gold he discovered the matchless mine near leadville which hieb made him many millions ile ha built fine business blocks in denver include ing the tabor block the tabor grand opera house block and other fine buildings he vas as an idol of the people re he was elected to the united states senate and took a prominent place in the affairs of the west then reverses came ile he lost his hie fortune lits his wife ate died ana he ha mar ried again and then when he reached the dep depths ln passed away ills his second ec wife lie with the estate all gone the jewels pawned a and nd sold and nothing left of the he former splendor now lives with tier her only daughten daugh tei tet lo in a log cabin near inear Lead leadville villo close to the famous mine halh lilt h nande lunde the senators senator s wealth the collection of jewels which has passed out of the hands of the tabor estate was part of the gifts made by the senator to hla his second wife tho the isabella diamond was the principal one in the collection it was mas brought to filin new york wita of tidal capeis which authenticated its history and was transferred to tho the labor collection through a local jewel r ry y house that aa was 20 years ago S since then it has been the of almost constant litigation among the jewelly la in the collection was a belt valued at 3 5 wh it was the only one of the kind in mhd world it was waa made in almost perfect amita tion of a big and an waa mas of 18 karat gold the collection was pawned with ith the first national bank of this oils city through herman rowell to se be ure a note dote for 25 owing powell by the tabor estate it was sold by powell to satisfy the note and in that way got into the vaults ot of the bank efforts were made to sell the gems gema privately through a appointed tor for that purpose this resulted in suits being brought bi ought in cobit to have them sold at auction the tabor estate at that time was waa considerably consider abl in debt and the widow was mas meeting with aith the first of the re verses which finally completely comple tily en ell gulfed gulfee her the popularity of the late senator caused steps to be taker by ills friends three years ago to settle the claims mra airs tabor was enabled to retain the jewels one year ago she was la in want and she pawned themi them with the continental trust company Compa to secure a loan of 8 this loan she was unable to take up and the present sale followed A pitiful climax to the tragedies of the tabor family was presented when the sale was over an elderly gray hatred haired woman who declined to give her name or reveal her identity otherl than to say that she was a close per solla bonal I 1 friend of mis ails tabor was pres ent to watch the dispo disposal ial of the gems at the conclusion of the sale she mo ing the purchaser to one side and with a quivering voice asked him not to sell the smallest gem in the coliece tion for a while it was mrs tabors tabor s engagement ling which had bad gone with the and she wanted an aa to save it it if possible mason who bought the collection will gai ghe e part of the jewels to his bis wife and the others will be sent east the isabella diamond the most valuable in the collection shows the effect oti of afee and to restore its brilliancy it will have to be the danger of in juring the gem through that processo proc esai essi has las detracted from its speculative value alua |
