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Firefighters Quarterly Magazine
Winter 2006 Issue >> Contents >> FDNY CULTURE
"Mose": Our First Department Legend
The FDNY has been around since 1865, when it was known as the Metropolitan Fire Department. (The FDNY moniker wasn't used until 1870.) However, the department's roots lie much deeper than that, threading back all the way to the days of the volunteers. Organized firefighting in New York City can be traced all the way back to its "New Amsterdam" Dutch days. The amazing story of New York's smoke-eaters is filled with legendary tales of daring rescues, huge conflagrations, brave heroes and colorful characters. But no story about those early days would be complete without mentioning the department's first legend. This is the story of that hero, Mose the fireman.
New York of the 1830s and '40s was a raw, bustling center of commerce and trade-a rapidly growing, seedy port town filled with shady villains, drunkards, orphans, immigrants and general ne'er-do-wells. It is no wonder then that the volunteer firefighter was held in comparatively high esteem by his contemporaries. None of these firefighters were better known than Mose Humphries of old No. 40 (or Lady "Washington"), which was located on Mulberry Street near Grand Street.
Little in the way of facts is known about this Irish typesetter who worked for the New York Sun, nor do any photos remain to tell his story. Still, his legend was known far and wide. In the bare-knuckle days of the volunteers, Mose was an urban Paul Bunyon. As the number of his rescues mounted, his legend grew. Mose was said to be a full eight feet tall with flaming red hair and hands as big as Virginia hams. Word was that he could swim the Hudson River in just two strokes. He had a huge pair of rubber boots-each as large as a sailboat-and a 50-gallon beer keg that he kept on his belt.
Once, on the way to a fire, the boys of Engine 40 were blocked by a horse-drawn trolley. No problem; Mose just lifted the vehicle (filled with passengers) over his head until the engine could pass underneath it.
At one job, the fire laddies (Irish firemen of the 1800s) were driven back by extreme heat, so Mose ascended a ladder and dove into the second floor. He emerged moments later and slid down his burning ladder as it collapsed. A hysterical woman in the street cried, "He's alone! Where is my baby?" Mose simply smiled and removed his stovepipe hat-which was as big as a barrel, by the way. Mose reached into his hat and removed the child, to everyone's amazement.
The men of No. 40. Either Mose is not in the picture or the descriptions
of him have been greatly overstated.
"GIVE IT TO 'EM GOOD!"
The volunteer companies of Mose's day were often territorial and boisterous. The lines of distinction between the fire companies, gangs, and political clubhouses were often vague, to say the least. The Plug-Uglies, Tammeny, the Bowery Boys and Dead Rabbits all were part of the firefighting "effort."
One summer Sunday, after battling a fire on South Street, the boys of 40 crossed paths with the rival crew of Engine 15 on Pearl Street. Forty's responsible Foreman (Lieutenant) advised his men, "Now, boys-no fight," then added, "but if they will have it, give it to 'em good." Down went the pull ropes and up went the fists. Mose Humphries squared off with the biggest man from old 15. The epic battle lasted more than half an hour and ended in a draw.
As his heroics continued, thankful New Yorkers rewarded Mose (and his girlfriend Lize) with all the baked pies he could eat. Along with barrels of cider, bags of coffee, bushels of oysters and potatoes, as well as mountains of beans and eggs. Young boys shined his boots just to be near him.
As his popularity grew, Mose's exploits were printed in many of the penny pamphlets of the 1840's. In 1848, Benjamin A. Baker, an actor and fireman at old No. 15, wrote a play based on Mose the Fireman. A Glance At New York was very well received by the mostly rowdy, lower class audiences that flocked to see it. After its success, Mose was the central character in Baker's next play, New York As It Is. Other plays followed and Mose himself sometimes appeared in them.
One night around 1855, the call for a fire went out and the fellows of old 40 responded. A hotel fire was raging out of control. All night long, Mose ran into the building, constantly bringing inhabitants out. By the morning the hotel was reduced to ashes; it had burned to the ground. When the sun came up, the men of Lady Washington could not find their most famous member. Hushed cries of "Where's Mose?" went back and forth among the firemen as they surveyed the hotel's charred remains. Mose was never seen again.
Soon the rumors started. "He's in the Dakotas, driving a mule team," or "He's mining gold in California," or "I heard he's in Washington, working for President Lincoln." It was also rumored that Mose had moved to Hawaii. Yet another story claimed that he had died in the Sandwich Islands where he'd married a native woman and had nine children with her.
The exact facts about Mose's life and demise may never be known. What is indisputable is that he was a real fireman and a legend within the early New York Fire Department. Although nearly forgotten, that legend lives on.
A very rare depiction of Mose and Lize that appeared in New York papers.
Winter 2006 Issue >> Contents >> FDNY CULTURE
"Mose": Our First Department Legend
The FDNY has been around since 1865, when it was known as the Metropolitan Fire Department. (The FDNY moniker wasn't used until 1870.) However, the department's roots lie much deeper than that, threading back all the way to the days of the volunteers. Organized firefighting in New York City can be traced all the way back to its "New Amsterdam" Dutch days. The amazing story of New York's smoke-eaters is filled with legendary tales of daring rescues, huge conflagrations, brave heroes and colorful characters. But no story about those early days would be complete without mentioning the department's first legend. This is the story of that hero, Mose the fireman.
New York of the 1830s and '40s was a raw, bustling center of commerce and trade-a rapidly growing, seedy port town filled with shady villains, drunkards, orphans, immigrants and general ne'er-do-wells. It is no wonder then that the volunteer firefighter was held in comparatively high esteem by his contemporaries. None of these firefighters were better known than Mose Humphries of old No. 40 (or Lady "Washington"), which was located on Mulberry Street near Grand Street.
Little in the way of facts is known about this Irish typesetter who worked for the New York Sun, nor do any photos remain to tell his story. Still, his legend was known far and wide. In the bare-knuckle days of the volunteers, Mose was an urban Paul Bunyon. As the number of his rescues mounted, his legend grew. Mose was said to be a full eight feet tall with flaming red hair and hands as big as Virginia hams. Word was that he could swim the Hudson River in just two strokes. He had a huge pair of rubber boots-each as large as a sailboat-and a 50-gallon beer keg that he kept on his belt.
Once, on the way to a fire, the boys of Engine 40 were blocked by a horse-drawn trolley. No problem; Mose just lifted the vehicle (filled with passengers) over his head until the engine could pass underneath it.
At one job, the fire laddies (Irish firemen of the 1800s) were driven back by extreme heat, so Mose ascended a ladder and dove into the second floor. He emerged moments later and slid down his burning ladder as it collapsed. A hysterical woman in the street cried, "He's alone! Where is my baby?" Mose simply smiled and removed his stovepipe hat-which was as big as a barrel, by the way. Mose reached into his hat and removed the child, to everyone's amazement.
The men of No. 40. Either Mose is not in the picture or the descriptions
of him have been greatly overstated.
The volunteer companies of Mose's day were often territorial and boisterous. The lines of distinction between the fire companies, gangs, and political clubhouses were often vague, to say the least. The Plug-Uglies, Tammeny, the Bowery Boys and Dead Rabbits all were part of the firefighting "effort."
One summer Sunday, after battling a fire on South Street, the boys of 40 crossed paths with the rival crew of Engine 15 on Pearl Street. Forty's responsible Foreman (Lieutenant) advised his men, "Now, boys-no fight," then added, "but if they will have it, give it to 'em good." Down went the pull ropes and up went the fists. Mose Humphries squared off with the biggest man from old 15. The epic battle lasted more than half an hour and ended in a draw.
As his heroics continued, thankful New Yorkers rewarded Mose (and his girlfriend Lize) with all the baked pies he could eat. Along with barrels of cider, bags of coffee, bushels of oysters and potatoes, as well as mountains of beans and eggs. Young boys shined his boots just to be near him.
As his popularity grew, Mose's exploits were printed in many of the penny pamphlets of the 1840's. In 1848, Benjamin A. Baker, an actor and fireman at old No. 15, wrote a play based on Mose the Fireman. A Glance At New York was very well received by the mostly rowdy, lower class audiences that flocked to see it. After its success, Mose was the central character in Baker's next play, New York As It Is. Other plays followed and Mose himself sometimes appeared in them.
One night around 1855, the call for a fire went out and the fellows of old 40 responded. A hotel fire was raging out of control. All night long, Mose ran into the building, constantly bringing inhabitants out. By the morning the hotel was reduced to ashes; it had burned to the ground. When the sun came up, the men of Lady Washington could not find their most famous member. Hushed cries of "Where's Mose?" went back and forth among the firemen as they surveyed the hotel's charred remains. Mose was never seen again.
Soon the rumors started. "He's in the Dakotas, driving a mule team," or "He's mining gold in California," or "I heard he's in Washington, working for President Lincoln." It was also rumored that Mose had moved to Hawaii. Yet another story claimed that he had died in the Sandwich Islands where he'd married a native woman and had nine children with her.
The exact facts about Mose's life and demise may never be known. What is indisputable is that he was a real fireman and a legend within the early New York Fire Department. Although nearly forgotten, that legend lives on.
A very rare depiction of Mose and Lize that appeared in New York papers.
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