The Fire-Breather

Garrett Morgan must have looked ridiculous. He stood on a platform in the middle of Lake Erie in his pajama bottoms. Over his head and shoulders was a bulky hood. Long tubes poked out of its front like elephant trunks.

But Morgan wasn’t thinking about how he looked. It was July 25, 1916. Hours earlier, a powerful explosion had ripped through a tunnel deep under the lake. Two dozen men lay dying in a cloud of poisonous gas. It was up to Morgan to help rescue them, and he was counting on his strange gear to keep him alive.

The hood was Morgan’s invention—a mask that filtered out smoke and dangerous gases. For years, he had been waiting for the opportunity to show the world once and for all that it worked. Now, he finally had his chance. 

He was going to prove it—or die trying.

Garrett Morgan probably looked ridiculous. He stood on a platform in the middle of Lake Erie. He was wearing his pajama pants. Over his head and shoulders was a large hood. Long tubes came out of its front. They looked like elephant trunks!

But Morgan wasn’t thinking about how he looked. It was July 25, 1916. There had been a powerful explosion inside a tunnel under the lake. Many men were dying because of dangerous smoke. Morgan was there to help rescue them. And he needed his strange hood to keep him alive.

The hood was Morgan’s invention. It was a mask that filtered out deadly gases. For years, he had been trying to show the world that it worked. Now, he finally had his chance. 

He was going to prove it—or die trying.

Garrett Morgan was born in Kentucky in 1877. Back then, racism was a brutal fact of life in America. In Kentucky and other states, cruel laws forced Black people like Morgan to go to different schools, theaters, and hospitals than White people. These places were often dirty and run-down. Black people were also not allowed to vote or work in many jobs. That helped ensure that many Black families remained trapped in poverty. 

In fact, Morgan quit school after sixth grade to help his family earn money. But he kept learning without teachers or books. He took things apart and put them back together—just to figure out how they worked. 

Morgan was determined to put his curious mind to good use. And so as a teen, he moved north to Ohio, where there were better opportunities for Black people. He soon found a job fixing up people’s homes. Then he started working at a factory that made clothes, curtains, and other items. 

In his free time, Morgan taught himself how to fix the factory’s sewing machines. Before long, he had invented a way to keep the machines from breaking. His boss was so impressed that he gave Morgan a better job and $150 for his idea (worth about $5,000 today).

By 1910, Morgan had become a successful businessman. He had his own clothing shop. With cash rolling in, he had time to start working on an invention the world desperately needed: a gas mask.

Garrett Morgan was born in Kentucky in 1877. Back then, racism was a horrible fact of life in America. Laws forced Black people like Morgan to go to different schools, theaters, and hospitals than White people. These places were often dirty and old. Black people were also not allowed to work in many jobs. As a result, many Black families were trapped in poverty. 

Morgan had to quit school to help his family earn money. But he kept learning without teachers or books. He took things apart and put them back together. He wanted to understand how they worked. 

Morgan was determined to use his curious mind. And so as a teen, he moved north to Ohio. There were better opportunities for Black people there. He soon found a job fixing up people’s homes. Then he started working at a factory. 

In his free time, Morgan taught himself how to fix the factory’s sewing machines. Before long, he had invented a way to keep the machines from breaking. His boss gave Morgan a better job and more money.

By 1910, Morgan was a successful businessman. He had his own clothing shop. He also started working on an important invention: a gas mask.

In the early 1900s, fires were a deadly problem in the U.S. Millions of people worked and lived in crowded factories and apartment buildings. One spark could send a building up in flames. Once a fire broke out, firefighters would often choke on smoke before they could rescue people.

Morgan wanted to prevent that—and help firefighters save more lives. So he got to work.

After several years of tinkering in his workshop, he came up with an ingenious device. His new “safety hood” fit over a firefighter’s head and shoulders. Two breathing tubes stretched from the hood to the floor. During a fire, smoke and heat rise. So the tubes allowed the firefighter to breathe the air low to the ground, which was the cleanest available. Water-soaked sponges filtered out any smoke that came through.

In the early 1900s, fires were a deadly problem in the U.S. Millions of people worked and lived in crowded buildings. One spark could start a huge fire. Firefighters often choked on smoke before they could rescue people.

Morgan wanted to help firefighters save more lives. So he got to work.

After several years of tinkering, he came up with an ingenious device. It was called the “safety hood.” The hood fit over a firefighter’s head and shoulders. Two tubes stretched from the hood to the floor. During a fire, smoke and heat rise. So the tubes allowed the firefighter to breathe the air low to the ground. That was the cleanest air available. 

Morgan knew his invention could save lives. But how could he convince people to buy it? Many White people didn’t want to do business with a Black man. 

Morgan wasn’t about to let that stop him. He hired White salesmen to show his invention around the country. Often, he went along, pretending to be an assistant. 

Morgan and his salesmen would set up a tent full of poisonous gas. Morgan would put on the hood and step inside. Minutes later, he would come out, alive and unharmed.

These demonstrations showed that Morgan’s mask worked. But could it get someone through a real emergency?

Soon, Morgan got the chance to find out.

Morgan knew his invention could save lives. But would people buy it? Many White people didn’t want to do business with a Black man. 

Morgan didn’t let that stop him. He hired White salesmen to show his invention around the country. Often, he went along. He pretended to be an assistant. 

Morgan and his salesmen would set up a tent full of deadly gas. Morgan would put on the hood and go inside. Minutes later, he would come out, alive.

These demonstrations showed that Morgan’s mask worked. But would it work in a real emergency?

Soon, Morgan got the chance to find out.

On that July day in 1916, 11 men were working inside a tunnel under Lake Erie. Around 10 p.m., there was a huge explosion that sent a cloud of poisonous smoke racing through the tunnel.

Two groups of rescuers went into the tunnel. But most of them were soon overcome by the toxic gas. Now, at least 12 rescuers, plus the 11 workers, were passed out—or dead—inside the tunnel.

Morgan’s phone rang at 3 a.m. The fire department needed him. Now. His safety hood was the only hope for the trapped men. 

If it worked. 

Morgan didn’t have time to change out of his pajamas. He gathered as many safety hoods as he could and drove to the lakeshore. Soon, he was on the platform in the middle of the lake, surrounded by firefighters, police officers, and workers. Only three of them were willing to put on the hoods. They stepped into an elevator and went down into the gas-filled tunnel with Morgan.

The minutes ticked by.

Five. Ten. Fifteen.

Had Morgan’s hood failed? Was everyone dead? 

Suddenly, the elevator sprang to life. Morgan and the three helpers were back. They dragged two limp bodies onto the platform. One of the men was still alive. 

Morgan had to make another trip down and back before more volunteers stepped out from the crowd. They put on the hoods and joined the rescue effort. In the end, they were able to bring back the rest of the bodies and save two people. Those two lucky men had Morgan’s safety hood to thank for their lives.

On that day in 1916, 11 men were working inside a tunnel under Lake Erie. Around 10 p.m., there was a huge explosion. It sent a cloud of deadly smoke through the tunnel.

Two groups of rescuers went into the tunnel. But most didn’t come out. Now at least 23 people were passed out—or dead.

Morgan’s phone rang at 3 a.m. The fire department needed him. Now. His safety hood was the only hope for the trapped men. 

Would it work?

Morgan didn’t change out of his pajamas. He grabbed as many safety hoods as he could and drove to the lakeshore. Soon, he was on the platform in the middle of the lake, surrounded by rescuers. Only three of them put on the hoods. They stepped into an elevator and went down into the tunnel with Morgan.

The minutes ticked by.

Five. Ten. Fifteen.

Suddenly, the elevator came back up. Morgan and the three helpers were back. They had saved one man.

They went back into the tunnel. In the end, they were able to bring back the rest of the bodies. They also saved two people. Without Morgan’s hood, those two men wouldn’t be alive.

Morgan’s hood helped change the way we fight fires. It eventually led to more-advanced masks that block smoke and gas. But the inventor didn’t stop there.

One day, Morgan saw a girl get injured in a car crash caused by messy traffic. He was again determined to help. Eventually, he came up with a new kind of traffic signal. It briefly stopped vehicles at busy crossroads and gave pedestrians a chance to safely cross the street. The pause reduced accidents and made streets safer for everyone.

By the time Morgan died in 1963, his inventions had helped millions of people. His granddaughter, Sandra Morgan, says he never stopped learning. He hired tutors to teach him the things he never got to study in school. And he loved reading National Geographic magazine. 

“He knew you have to take the gifts you’re given and use them to be your best,” Sandra says. 

Morgan’s hood helped change the way we fight fires. It led to more-advanced masks that block smoke and gas. But the inventor didn’t stop there.

One day, Morgan saw a girl get injured in a car crash. He again wanted to help. He came up with a new kind of traffic signal. It stopped vehicles at busy crossroads so pedestrians could safely cross the street. That reduced accidents and made streets safer for everyone.

Morgan died in 1963. By then, his inventions had helped millions of people. His granddaughter, Sandra Morgan, says he never stopped learning. 

“He knew you have to take the gifts you’re given and use them to be your best,” Sandra says.

Inventors ask questions about the world around them. If they don’t understand something, they research, study, and talk to other people until they figure it out. Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, taught himself how to code, or write instructions to tell computers what to do, by playing on his dad’s computer when he was just 10 years old.  

Inventors ask questions about the world around them. If they don’t understand something, they study and talk to other people until they figure it out. Mark Zuckerberg is the founder of Facebook. He taught himself how to write instructions to tell computers what to do by playing on his dad’s computer. He was just 10 years old.  

Inventors see problems and find innovative solutions. Carson Kropfl wanted a skateboard that could fit inside his backpack and his school locker. So when he was 11, he created the Locker Board, a skateboard that’s shorter than regular boards but still easy to ride. 

Inventors see problems and find innovative solutions. Carson Kropfl wanted a skateboard that could fit inside his school locker. So when he was 11, he created the Locker Board. It’s a skateboard that’s shorter than regular boards but still easy to ride. 

Inventors need to be passionate about what they do. They often have to build many prototypes, or testable models, to create a product that works. It took Aaron Muderick years of testing different materials to make colorful crazy putty that’s easy to stretch and shape. 

Inventors need to love what they do. They often have to build many prototypes, or testable models, to create a product that works. It took Aaron Muderick years to make colorful crazy putty that’s easy to stretch and shape. 

Not all ideas work out on the first try. Inventors must accept failures, learn from them, and try again. Ella Casano invented Medi Teddy, a teddy bear that covers an IV bag (which delivers fluids into a vein) to make it less scary for young patients. Her first prototype was a stuffed animal with a mesh pocket glued to the back. The mesh allowed doctors to check the medicine in the IV bag. But it wasn’t sturdy enough. Ella didn’t get discouraged. The 12-year-old went back to the drawing board and found a stronger material. Today, Medi Teddys are used in hospitals!

Not all ideas work out right away. Inventors must accept failures and try again. Ella Casano invented Medi Teddy. That’s a teddy bear that covers an IV bag, which delivers medicine into a vein. Her first prototype was a stuffed animal with a mesh pocket glued to the back. The mesh wasn’t strong enough. Ella didn’t get discouraged. Instead, the 12-year-old found a stronger material. Today, Medi Teddys are used in hospitals! They make IV bags less scary for young patients.

It’s scary to create something new. What if it doesn’t work? What if no one wants your invention? Gitanjali Rao was 11 when she invented Tethys, a device to test water for a dangerous chemical. Now, she has some advice for you: “Don’t be afraid to try,” she says. “Before Tethys, I had never started an invention. I was always too afraid that my idea wouldn’t end up being successful, and that fear held me back. Now, I’m not afraid anymore.”

It’s scary to create something new. What if it doesn’t work? What if no one wants your invention? Gitanjali Rao was 11 when she invented Tethys. That’s a device to test water for a dangerous chemical. Now, she has some advice for you: “Don’t be afraid to try,” she says. “Before Tethys, I had never started an invention. I was always too afraid that my idea wouldn’t end up being successful, and that fear held me back. Now, I’m not afraid anymore.”