Mose Humphrey facts for kids
Mose Humphrey was a real person who lived in New York City in the 1800s. He was a brave firefighter with Fire Company 40. Mose Humphrey became the inspiration for a famous character known as "Mose the Fireboy," a kind of folk hero or legendary figure.
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The Legend of Mose
The character of Mose the Fireboy first appeared on Broadway in a play called A Glance at New York in 1848. This play was written by Benjamin A. Baker. Mose quickly became very popular.
Mose's Adventures
Mose the Fireboy was featured in many other stage shows and in popular, inexpensive books called "penny novels" during the mid-1800s. An actor named Frank Chanfrau was especially famous for playing Mose on stage.
Mose's Amazing Abilities
The legendary Mose was described as a giant! People said he was 8 ft (2.4 m) tall. His hands were supposedly as big as Virginia hams. Stories claimed he could lift trolley cars right over his head. He was even said to rescue babies by carrying them safely inside his stovepipe hat. His own special beaver hat was so big, it was two feet wide!
Heroic Deeds
Many tales told of Mose performing incredible feats. Some stories said he could swim across the wide Hudson River in just two powerful strokes. Other legends described him tearing up large mulberry and cherry trees. He would use these trees like a giant club to fight against a tough gang called the Plug Uglies. This gang often caused trouble for the New York Firemen, especially Fire Company 49.
The Real Mose
The real Mose Humphrey was a member of St. Andrew's Church in New York City. He was a respected person in his community.
Images for kids
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Mose Humphrey, as played by Frank Chanfrau
