Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-11-08
PASTOR NIGHT WATCH
ORDAINED MINISTER GUARDS
LARGE OFFICE BUILDINGS.
The Rev. n. r. HURT Also Has Two
Sons on Duty With Him and En-
poets to Celebrate His Golden
Jubilee.

Baltimore, Md.-Perhaps the we'd
ding Of Herman L. Majors and Mar.
garet Concannon, while Elmer l.,
Shea, the loser. sat disconsolate in
the extreme other end of town the
other day. was one Of the most inter,
esting events In the life Of Rev. F. II.
.. HURT the Luzerne avenue preacher
who tied the knot; and then again
perhaps it wasn't.
One time. not so long ago. Res Mr..
HURT was walking by Cole & Gilpin's
place of business when he saw lights
inside. Following the lead Of an open
door he went In, and there were two
sure-enough, regular daredevil burg
lars ransacking the place.
What are you doing there" the
preacher demanded
There were some Introductory In
terchanges and then came a fight
The preacher tussled all over the
place. but two to one was too many
and the burglars got away. The
preacher spent three days in bed with
cracked chin and bruised face. and
later the burglars were rounded up
and both sent to the penitentiary.
Now Rev. Mr. HURT was not inter
fering with burglars in his ecclesias'
tical role-not at all. On the contrary
that was his profession. 'nr he and
his two sons-William D. and F. r.
HURT Jr.-are by calling watchmen
and they carry the keys OF many OF
the big downtown buildings. including
those of the Stock Exchange.
For forty-five years I've been a
Waterman" said the preacher-sleuth.
1T was in 1867 l started the business,
and now my sons and watch more
buildings and guard more valuable
things. perhaps. than any private
watchmen in the business. Preach.
ing? Oh, yes; I'm busy preacher.
too.
II was ordained at Caroline Street
Methodist church rs years ago as an
elder. and with all the powers Of a
clergyman. I have little church OF
my own, where I preach every Sun
day-Christian Union church. It is
called, on Philadelphia avenue near
Hare street; and we have quite a
nice little congregation. Last month
I preached twice at Caroline Street
church. I've performed about IS mar
riages and have officiated at lots OF
funerals How many? Oh, don't
know. I've christened. married and
buried clients"
But his Waterman activity Is the
real one. after all, for it's every day
the year through. He doesn't look
like bad man physically. He is
around 70, gray and nervously active.
The scar on his chin where the burg
lar hit him flashes red when he is
flushed. He had to be fighting to get
that.
tive been In many a fight" he said.
''The only way to take man Is to 60
right in and take him, and Z he fights
the only way Is to stay there and
fight. II, in the mercy of God, I'm liv.
ing i've years from now, we are going
to hold a great celebration of my IF.
tieth anniversary as a Waterman.
Then, perhaps, will tell stories Of my
experiences-but not now"
why Is a watchman?"
Mr.. HURT rubbed the scar on his
chin.
why 10 q watchman?" he repeated.
well, I'll tell you. We have. today q
better police force than we ever had.
But a policeman cannot carry keys to
buildings, go through them, have &C
cess to every part of them and devote
his time to them. He must pound his
beat. That is why a Waterman"
And he went away to resume his
occupation Of keeping his eye on alley
windows and shifting shadows.