Baby Doe Tabor – Scandal in Denver
The story of Baby Doe Tabor is a quintessential American tale of rags to riches, followed by a devastating fall from grace, all set against the backdrop of the burgeoning West. Elizabeth McCourt, later known as Baby Doe Tabor, became a figure of immense fascination and controversy in late 19th-century Colorado. Her life, marked by opulence, scandal, and ultimately, destitution, continues to captivate those interested in the history of the American West and the human drama that unfolded during its rapid development.
Elizabeth McCourt was born in 1854 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to Peter and Elizabeth McCourt. Her upbringing was relatively comfortable, placing her within a middle-class family. Peter McCourt was a man of enterprise, a partner in a clothing store and the proprietor of Oshkosh’s first theater, McCourt Hall. This establishment provided a venue for entertainment and cultural gatherings, reflecting the town’s growing sophistication. Young Elizabeth, as she was then known, worked in her father’s clothing store, an experience that exposed her to the finer things in life and brought her into contact with a variety of fashionable young men. This environment undoubtedly contributed to her developing sense of style and awareness of social dynamics.
In 1877, Elizabeth married Harvey Doe. Fueled by the lure of fortune, the newly married couple embarked on a journey to Central City, Colorado. The rugged landscape of the Rocky Mountains held the promise of wealth and opportunity, attracting ambitious individuals seeking their share of the West’s natural resources. Harvey Doe, however, proved to be an unreliable partner. Plagued by heavy drinking and a lack of consistent employment, he failed to secure the financial stability they had hoped for. Dissatisfied with her circumstances, Elizabeth, a woman of ambition and resilience, sought a different path. She divorced Harvey and relocated to Leadville, Colorado, a bustling mining town that throbbed with the energy of the silver boom.
Leadville, a town perched high in the Rockies, was a magnet for prospectors, entrepreneurs, and those seeking a fresh start. It was here, amidst the silver mines and saloons, that Elizabeth McCourt’s destiny took an unexpected turn. She met Horace Tabor, a man who would forever alter the course of her life. Horace, a wealthy silver magnate and prominent political figure, was known as the "Silver King." He was a man of considerable influence and resources, and his encounter with the striking Elizabeth McCourt sparked an immediate and intense attraction.
The ensuing relationship between Elizabeth and Horace sent shockwaves through Colorado society. Horace Tabor was already married to Augusta Tabor, a woman who had stood by him through years of hardship and supported his early mining ventures. The decision to leave Augusta for the younger Elizabeth was met with widespread disapproval and scandalized the social circles of Denver and Leadville. Despite the controversy, Horace was determined to marry Elizabeth. He divorced Augusta, a move that further fueled the public’s fascination and condemnation.
The wedding of Horace Tabor and Baby Doe Tabor was a spectacle of extravagance and defiance. It took place in Washington D.C. in 1883, with President Chester Arthur reportedly in attendance. The lavish ceremony and the couple’s subsequent lifestyle became legendary, symbolizing the excesses of the silver boom era. They resided in a magnificent mansion on Capitol Hill in Denver, indulging in opulent parties and displaying their wealth with conspicuous flair. Baby Doe Tabor, adorned in the finest jewels and gowns, became a symbol of wealth and glamour, although she struggled to gain acceptance from Denver’s established social elite, who viewed her as an outsider.
Despite their lavish lifestyle, the Tabors faced significant challenges. Denver society, deeply rooted in tradition and propriety, largely shunned Baby Doe Tabor. Her background and the circumstances of her marriage to Horace made her a target of gossip and exclusion. The couple had two daughters, Lillie and Silver Dollar, who enjoyed the benefits of their father’s wealth in their early years. However, their privileged upbringing would be short-lived.
The fairytale existence of the Tabors came crashing down in 1893. A nationwide economic depression, coupled with the government’s decision to move to the gold standard, devastated the silver industry. Horace Tabor’s vast holdings, heavily reliant on silver mines and mortgaged properties, plummeted in value. The Tabors’ fortune evaporated, forcing them to sell their Capitol Hill mansion and relocate to a modest cottage. The abrupt reversal of fortune was a stark reminder of the volatile nature of wealth and the vulnerability of even the most powerful figures to economic forces.
Horace Tabor, once a man of immense power and influence, was forced to seek employment. At the age of 65, he took a job shoveling slag from area mines, earning a meager $3.00 per day. His fall from grace was a source of public fascination and pity. In a stroke of fortune, he was appointed postmaster of Denver in 1898, a position he held for only a year before his death.
Many speculated that Baby Doe Tabor would abandon Horace once his wealth was gone. However, she remained steadfastly loyal and devoted to her husband until his death in April 1899. Horace’s dying words to Baby Doe were a poignant reminder of the importance of the Matchless Mine in Leadville: "Hold onto the Matchless, Baby, hold onto the Matchless." This final plea would shape the remainder of her life.
At the age of 38, Baby Doe Tabor found herself a widow, stripped of her wealth and social standing. Rather than seeking a new life elsewhere, she made the unconventional decision to return to Leadville. She took up residence in a small, one-room cabin that had originally served as a tool shed at the Matchless Mine. The mine, once the source of the Tabor fortune, now represented a connection to her past and a symbol of hope for the future.
In her solitary existence at the Matchless Mine, Baby Doe Tabor lived a life of poverty and isolation. She became a recluse, shunning contact with the outside world and obsessively guarding the mine, convinced that it held the key to restoring her family’s fortune. She wore tattered clothing, and her once-beautiful face became weathered and worn by the harsh mountain climate.
Over the years, Baby Doe Tabor became a legendary figure in Leadville, a subject of both pity and derision. Some viewed her as a tragic figure, a symbol of the fleeting nature of wealth and the destructive power of ambition. Others saw her as an eccentric recluse, clinging to a lost dream.
On March 7, 1935, Baby Doe Tabor was found dead in her cabin at the Matchless Mine. She was 81 years old. Her frozen body was discovered by a neighbor who had grown concerned about her well-being. She died penniless and alone, a stark contrast to the opulent lifestyle she had once enjoyed.
The life of Baby Doe Tabor is a complex and multifaceted story that continues to resonate with audiences today. She was a woman of ambition, beauty, and resilience who found herself caught in the whirlwind of the American West’s rapid transformation. Her story serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of wealth, the fickleness of fortune, and the enduring power of human relationships. The Matchless Mine, where she spent her final years, remains a popular tourist destination, a testament to the enduring fascination with her life and the legends that surround her.