The Portland daily press., 1897-01-21
1.-THE LINK MOTION"
How II Found Its Way into Maine
Engines.
A PORTLAND MECHANIC FIRST SAW
ITS GREAT VALUE.

His Name Is William p. Higgins, an Old
Railroader in the Days of the p. s. and
Pile Still Lives-An Octogenarian
but Hale and Hearty-The Interesting
Story.
In the post of honor in the dining room
of modest but pretty and comfortable
oottage house on Braokstt street in this
city is silver salver of valuable weight
and ancient pattern and upon the center
of one side is inscribed these words:
Presented
io to
William p. Higgins
by the Employees
s7 of the
Portland. Saco and Portsmouth r. r.
Machine Shops
In token of their regard
and esteem
cath of March 1854.
This salver and the solid silver cups,
which accompany it, are associated with
tender memories to it's owner, the story
of whose life is filled with engaging in
tersst. The owners name is William z.
Higgins who has passed the scriptural
age Of three score years and has been $50
sprong' that he has come to four score
years and bids fair to round out many
more. The evening of his life is made
doubly precious by the living presence of
her who for over half century has
IL. chc ,F
an eventful life "a
81 never had golden wedding as
know of" said Mr.. Higgins to PRESS
man who spent several pleasant hours
with him yesterday but l 'spose I was
entitled to it for Mrs. Higgins and I have
through the world together
now for more than so years.
1t was Mrs. Higgins who opened the
door for the PRESS man yesterday and
after giving him a cordial welcome
off as sprightly as girl of 20
and led the way to the grateful warmth
of the sitting room fire whore
her welcome was repeated by
"the head of the family" MIR. Hig-
gins has lived many years longer than is
vouchsafed to most men, yet Father
Time has dealt gently with him. His
life too has been busy one and hard
toll has not .beenssa stranger at his door.
William 2. Higgins is skilled me-
ohanic and glorfes in the name. 1t has
been
HIS LIFE WORK
and he has added dignity to the name of
artisan. As he related many of the In
teresting anecdotes and episodes of his
younger days yesterday his face lighted
I'D with pleasure and enthusiasm and he
was ''a boy again." The most interest
ing portion of his life was the story of
his connection with railroading and this
connection came at time when railroad
ing in the far east was surrounded with
a glamour of novelty and excitement
that makes its history peculiarly attrac
tive.
Mr.. Higgins WAS born at Pennington,
Mass, in 1917. His first work in lail-
reading was carrying the chains for a
party Of engineers who were
laying out branch road from Andoyer
to Wilmington, Mass. A taste for the
rail once acquired was long retained and
after serving apprenticeship at the
Lowell shops Higgins came to Portland
for the first time, and this city was des-
tined to be his home for very nearly the
balance Of his life, always having been
here since that time except
during few brief intervals when he
went "down on the Kennebec" to do
some temporary work. When he came to
Portland he entered the employ Of the
old Portland, Saco and Portsmouth
r. R., and before long he WIS placed in
charge of the repair and machine shops
at the old depot on Commercial street.
Supt. Sweetsir, whom old Portlanders
and railroaders will well remember was
then in charge of the road and he placed
great confidence in Higgins ability as
mechanic and relied strongly on his
Judgment in all matters pertaining to the
mechanical department of the road. The
purchase of an engine in those days was
a matter of no small Importance and
with the
GIANT STRIDES
that were then being made in mechani-
cal science and invention. it kept man
pretty busy keeping in touch with the
times in the machinery line, being post
ed as to new and merltorious improve
ments and steering clear of attractive