The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-12-05
WILLIAM BEARDswoRTH.


Born, lived and died, sums up the great
epitome of man.
Yet. when we come to the individual
man. something within US always asks,
when and where and hows"
Sixty years ago, this third day of De-
cember, in the year 1888, was born in
Manchester, England, William Boards
worth, with keen perception Of truth, a
fine sense of duty, diligence of mind
and q generosity of heart which, crowned
by a certain joyousness of spirit, became
the marked characteristics of the man Of
whom the word goes today, he had never
a thought of self.''
Compelled to labor in tender years,
mis- education was not long carried on
within the schoolroom, but in that larger
university of Ifs where he studied the
hearts of men, it reached a high standard.
He read man to such advantage that ne
obtained over all with whom he came
in contact, loving hold whinh enabled
him to draw from them their best efforts
and devotion, and l have just heard IL
said of him that man would do Tor MIN
what they would do for no one else.
The young iron apprentice of Manches..
fer crossed the sea and held positions of
trust in several of our states, coming in
1882 from the Illinois Steel company of
Joliet, Ills, to act as assistant superin-
tendent in our Portland Rolling Mills.
These Is years in which his qualities of
mind and heart have ever strengthened
and daepened, have so endeared William
Beardsworth TO his employers, to his CO.
Iaborers and to his neighbors, with one
voice his promotion TO the office of super
intendent of the Portland Rolling Mills
was hailed with appreciation and APP
prevail. How short a time ago it seems.
The duties of this office were onerous
but they were unf1inchingly met, though
theg often meant absence from the home
table and its reyiying cheer. The man
who called for mucn from his men, gave
all of himself to his work. No fatigue
of body tempted him to steal away from
the sitting atmosphere of the tropical
mills ii the weary feet, sensitive from
long standing on the heated iron plates,
plead for green grass and home refresh
ing, the earnest man knowing their MOD
ieam of strength, compelled them to walt
till the last hour while the faithful young
seryItor fetched the necessary basket nlleu
by thoughful hands at home.
Should one man be injured, pitilessiy
hurt by the molten mass within the merry
mills, William Eearfsworth was ne lrsJ
10 start the helping "paper." Where ne
could lend helping hand, he was ever
present, where he could encourage, he
spaise the word.
Out in the yards, at the seyerest WORK
he was one with the men, Out OF tne
yards, out of the mills, ell toll and trou-
BILE forgotten, a boy AZ play rejoicing IN
the breezes of the bay, in the uoundlng
speed of the new rrolleys which made ma
Pleasantdaie home almost part or the
city SHIT cozily into the happy home
with his Idoiized family, his supreme
delight re living his early Gays in voy-
age now and then TO the mother country,
three times crossing the Atlantic ana
revealing in the st5rms at sea fearless and
joyous, the Thanksgiving vacation was
made the occasion OF a visit TO friends no
further distant than Boston.
So unrestrainedly happy in the new
freedom, SO childish in mis- sense OF duty
done and pleasure earned, in boyish ex-
ubcrance of spirits, he babe shorI fare
we'll with the injunction that he be sum.
moned in time for the first work at the
mills.
The summons went: 1.-THE mills would
be fred on Monday This meant return
before Monday. There was no alternative
in his mind. The most urgent friends
l1evailed not, thu most aliuring pleasures
lost their charm.
He left his relatives as joyously as he
had left his homo. laden with packages,
going home by boat to spenu Sunday
with his family"
That night, went down at sea, steamer
Portland, bearing men from Boston &c
| Portland.
me Portland Rolling Mills were moi
g fred up on Monday. The snperinten
Dent gave no word. Tears are in ths
/ eyes of men who loved him.
December 8. 1893.