Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-10-24

Once Ran the "Hole In the WalI"-Since
 Closing the Notorious Resort He Has
 Been So Successful In Saving Souls That
 He Has Just Begun New Work.
 There was five years ago no more no torious dive in New York than the Hole in the Wall, '" situated in Fourth avenue, near Twelfth street. Its proprie- tor, William P Moorcroff, was known to all lawbreakers as fearing neither God nor man. He had amassed a for tune from the place, which was the re- sort for all the hardest cases ill that hard locality. From early morning until far into the night noisy crowd of men and women congregated in the Hole, :" drinking and gambling and cursing and swearing and wasting their substance to the ever increasing pecuniary adyan- tages of the stbess y
 One night the whole locality was startled to see the Hole in the Wall' closed up fast, and when its patrons knocked on the door they were met at the threshold by Moorcroff, who told them he had experienced change of heart and that the place was closed for good.
 The next thing his old patrons heard of Moorcrof he had opened retreat for fallen women at $40 East Thirteenth street, and was out in the street trying to rescue the very souls he had helped to ruin. Later he attempted the same work for the men of the neighborhood He persevered in his good undertakings for five years, and at the end of that time he was able to say that of the 1 ,622 men and women he had cared for in his mission 368 had professed belief in Christ and 45 had reformed and become useful and happy members of the com munity.
 Moved by his success i'll these first un- dertakings, MT. Moorcroff has resolved to devote the remainder of his life to the attempt to redeem the poorest classes of the community and make them re- speetable citizens and members of the church. A few days since he opened the Emanuel Rescue mission at 392 Grand street, Brooklyn, E. D.. and began the work of saving the lawbreakers of that district
 When q reporter called at the Rescue on Sunday afternoon, a service was in progress ill the neat little hall Moorcroff had secured for his mission. The crowd that packed the narrow room despite the intense heat and listened respectfully and reyerently to the appeal Moorcroff was making them to reform and be sav- ed indicated the sympathy with which the neighbors regard his efforts to heighten the neighborhood' moral and social tone.
 After the services were concluded and the audience dispersed Moorcroff show ed the reporter over the place and told him how the work is conducted.
 The main hall has seats for 200 and is neatly matted and lighted with brass l gas chandeliers At the farther end is the platform, with reading desk and or gan. The walls are adorned with texts intended to reach the hearts of the au- dienee. Services are held every evening at s o'clock and twice on Sunday. Moorcroff said the mission was re- cruiting station for neighboring church. es, the pastors of which were all in sym pathy with him and often attended the services.
 There is also free reading room in the building, open from 9 to o'clock Up stairs ;t dozen beds are provided, where poor man may get bath and nights lodging free. If he cares to, he may stay a week and put himself under the good influences of the place. He generally goes away a changed man.
 But this is not all Down stairs the reporter was shown the srescue" wagon, which makes daily round of the bakers and butchers ill the vicinity and brings back enough voluntary contributions of bread and meatto feed 26 poor families of the neighborhood, who have been hunted out by Mrs. Moorcroff, her hus- bands indefatigable assistant in the mission.
 Two of Moorcroff's converts assist him ill his work and make constant rounds of the streets in the district They are provided with tickets, which they distribute among the men they meet Each ticket entities the holder to free bath, supper, lodging and break fast They are eagerly sought after by the poor of the neighborhood. Moorcroff said he had never met with such success ill any of his former undertakings, and he hoped to extend the missions work until it became the center of inspiration and improvement for the whole eastern district of Brooklyn. New York Re corder.
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