Podcasts about boston molasses disaster

They say, "Slow as molasses" but do you think you could outrun a wave of molasses? We've all heard of shoofly pie, but does it really attract flies? Was the molasses flood of 1919 the worst flood in US history or the tastiest flood in US history? How did cattle arrive in the US? Kyle and Jheisson answer these questions and more as they stick to the pages of Wikipedia going from the Great Molasses Flood, to shoofly pie, antebellum, to horses in North America. The students at Wiki U are entering a new semester and it's time to get focused on their studies like never before! We've partnered with Magic Mind to improve our focus and clarity. We jumpstart our day with the Magic Mind Performance shot and the Magic Mind sleep shot helps us drift effortlessly into a deep, restorative sleep! For a limited time Wiki U listeners can get the Magic Mind combo at 45% off by ordering from our special link during the month of January: https://www.magicmind.com/WIKIJANUnlock Your Potential with Magic Mind Performance Shots and Our Special Promo Code!Let me tell you—Magic Mind has completely transformed our days and nights! If you're like us, juggling a million things while trying to stay focused and energized, these little performance shots are a game-changer. And when it's finally time to unwind? Their sleep shots are like a dream come true. Oh, and don't even get us started on those sweet, sweet, promo codes—saving money feels just as good as getting stuff done!Boost Your Day with Magic Mind Performance ShotsMagic Mind's performance shots are our go-to for tackling our endless to-do lists. Packed with natural ingredients, they're our secret weapon for staying sharp and focused all day long. Want to feel like you've unlocked a superpower—goodbye brain fog, hello productivity!Relax and Recharge with Magic Mind Sleep ShotsWhen the day is done, their sleep shots help us wind down like nothing else. Falling asleep is a struggle, but now drifting off is easy. It's like they bottled relaxation and then made it taste good.Save More with Magic Mind Promo CodesHere's the cherry on top: Magic Mind promo codes! Finding a good discount makes us feel like a savvy shopper, and it's so easy to snag a deal on these amazing products with our special little link. Trust me, you'll feel great knowing you're getting all this goodness at a great price. Head over to https://www.magicmind.com/WIKIJAN for 45% of the Magic Mind bundle!   TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wikiuniversity YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmPDDjcbBJfR0s_xJfYCUvwInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wikiuniversity/Music provided by Davey and the Chains

On January 15, 1919 a giant storage tank holding more than two million gallons of molasses collapsed, sending a deadly wave crashing into the streets of Boston's busy North End. The flood was over in minutes, but it left death and destruction in its wake. Victims and their families demanded justice, initiating a long, and contentious court case that raised questions about a possible anarchist bombing, faulty building plans, and a rush for profit in the World War I economy.Order your copy of the new American History Tellers book, The Hidden History of the White House, for behind-the-scenes stories of some of the most dramatic events in American history—set right inside the house where it happened.Be the first to know about Wondery's newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to American History Tellers on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/american-history-tellers/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this weeks episode of The Crux True Survival Story Podcast, hosts Julie Henningsen and Kaycee McIntosh unravel one of history's most unusual disasters—the Great Molasses Flood of 1919. Sparked by listener Amy from Stockton Springs, Maine, this episode dives into the bizarre yet tragic tale also known as the Boston Molasses Disaster. When a massive steel storage tank collapsed, it sent a towering wave of molasses flooding through Boston's North End, killing 21 people and injuring over 150. Julie and Kaycee explore the factors that led to the disaster, the devastating aftermath, and the extraordinary personal survival stories that emerged. From firsthand accounts to the legal battles that followed, this episode highlights the lasting impact of the event and the crucial lessons on industrial safety and corporate accountability. Tune in as the hosts also share listener messages and encourage fans to continue suggesting stories that deserve a spotlight. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 – Welcome and Host Introductions 00:20 – Listener Shout-out and Story Setup 00:58 – Unfolding the Great Molasses Flood of 1919 02:43 – The Infamous Molasses Tank: A Disaster Waiting to Happen 06:39 – The Moment of Collapse: A Molasses Tsunami 10:02 – Chaos in the Aftermath: Eyewitness Accounts 12:22 – A Wave of Destruction: The Molasses' Initial Impact 12:47 – Survivor Spotlight: Martin Cloherty's Narrow Escape 14:35 – Survivor Spotlight: Frank P. Smith's Quick Thinking 16:51 – Survivor Spotlight: Anthony Distasio's Harrowing Experience 17:47 – The Herculean Cleanup Effort 19:58 – Legal Ramifications and the Fight for Accountability 24:12 – Remembering the Great Molasses Flood: Its Legacy 24:50 – Final Thoughts and Call to Action for Listeners Email us! thecruxsurvival@gmail.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecruxpodcast/ Get schooled by Julie in outdoor wilderness medicine! https://www.headwatersfieldmedicine.com/

Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 48 – Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger explore the Boston Molasses Disaster of January 15, 1919, that left 21 people dead and 150 injured. What happened and why? Could it have been avoided? This episode first aired January 11, 2018.   Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: https://www.patreon.com/NewEnglandLegends

Martin is soaked in something wet and cold. The ground beneath him is covered in over a foot of molasses. Confused, Martin thinks he's fallen off a boat out at sea. He doesn't realize that he is still at home, in his own bedroom. A bedroom that no longer exists. Instead, it lies in ruins, just like much of the rest of Boston. The hosts in this episode are Maya Nalani and Luke Welland. The script is written by Johanna Lundblad. Sound design: Sebastian Manieri. Mayday is produced by the podcast company qast. Non-profits and charities: Convoy of Hope https://convoyofhope.org/initiatives/disaster-services/ Red Cross of Massachusetts https://www.redcross.org/local/massachusetts/about-us/our-work/disaster-services.html#:~:text=The%20American%20Red%20Cross%20of,materials%20spills%20and%20other%20emergencies.

Get ready for a wild ride back to 1919 Boston in this episode! We're diving into the crazy and tragic tale of the Great Molasses Disaster where a massive molasses tank explodes, flooding the streets of the North End. Learn about the engineering negligence and greed that turned a sticky situation into a full-blown catastrophe. Join us on this sticky journey through a lesser-known chapter in history that left Boston forever changed.Find uslinktr.ee/thecousnsweirdEmail usthecousinsweird@gmail.comSupport uspatreon.com/thecousinsweirdSources:Sweet Trajedy: Unraveling the Boston Molasses Disaster by Oliver Lancasterhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Molasses_Floodhttps://www.history.com/news/great-molasses-flood-scienceMusic from Upbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/danijel-zambo/friendly-ghostLicense code: LZ5ZUHQLWV7IN6XH

The 1919 Molasses Flood was a terrifying and telling moment in the history of Boston's North End. It was also a snapshot of a developing city in the wake of the first World War. Jake Sconyers explored the events for HUB History, a podcast that revisits stories from Boston's past. Today, he joins Lindsay to discuss the working class Italian immigrant neighborhood where the disaster happened, how the disaster impacted the community, and the mythology of the Great Molasses Flood today. Listen ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/historytellersSupport us by supporting our sponsors!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On January 15, 1919 a giant storage tank holding more than two million gallons of molasses collapsed, sending a deadly wave crashing into the streets of Boston's busy North End. The flood was over in minutes, but it left death and destruction in its wake. Victims and their families demanded justice, initiating a long, and contentious court case that raised questions about a possible anarchist bombing, faulty building plans, and a rush for profit in the World War I economy. Listen ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/historytellersSupport us by supporting our sponsors!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this week's episode, it's two true life stories - one scary, spidery and one sad, “sappy!”First, Lauren tells the story of “The Denver Spider Man” aka Theodore Edward Coneys - a terminally ill man who was told by doctors that he would not make it to his 18th birthday. Well he proved them wrong…but what horrifying lengths did he go to to survive in his twisted web of his life & lies?! Next, Felicia explores one of the most wild true stories we've ever covered! On January 15, 1919, a giant storage tank filled with molasses burst, sending a tidal wave of molasses through the streets of Boston. The “Great Molasses Flood,” also known as the Boston Molasses Disaster, resulted in a massive amount of damage, injuries, and even several deaths. The rumor is you can still smell molasses on hot days in the North End neighborhood of Boston, Molassachusetts!If you have requests for future episodes or just want to hang out, follow us on Instagram @sinistersisterspodcast

Molasses, the very item taxed that would lead to the famous cry about representation, is an interesting commodity. The syrupy molasses can also be distilled into industrial alcohol or ethanol to produce gunpowder and military explosives—a product needed in the revolution and World War 1, which America had entered in 1917. Molasses is essential in the production of rum and weaponry, but it is also a sort of sugar substitute that can create sweet treats that are more accessible to underage stomachs—such as the molasses cookies given to children when learning about the following events. Visit us online at: itsdisaster.com Episode Sponsor: - Get $100 off of your first month with Talkspace when you go to Talkspace.com and use code DISASTER.

Parked inside the Boston Fire Museum in Boston, Massachusetts is an antique steam engine. It was once called upon to battle a devastating event that no firefighter had ever trained for. So what was this bizarre and deadly disaster? The Northwest Museum of Legends and Lore in Seattle, Washington is home to an oddly life-like wax sculpture -- modeled after the man who committed what may be the most notorious airplane hijacking in U.S. history. Who was this criminal? And how did he get away with his dastardly plot? On display at Historic Auto Attractions in Roscoe, Illinois is a seemingly ordinary pair of sunglasses. But these spectacles belonged to a rock-and-roll legend who died at the height of his fame. Why did his early death prompt rumors of a curse?For even more Mysteries at the Museum, head to discovery+. Go to discoveryplus.com/mystery to start your 7-day free trial today. Terms apply.

The boys are finally back with an absolute slapperooski of an ep. Learn about the Boston Molasses Disaster and se if Cam will ever get a correct pick in CFB.

Laura, Krysta and Dean get together to discuss the Great Molasses Disaster that pretty well flattened Boston's North End Neighborhood. First, though, Krysta drops some weird facts about molasses, which helps to put the episode in perspective. In January of 1919, a tank of molasses exploded unleashing a wave of molasses 25 feet tall that moved at 35 miles an hour. This led to the deaths of over 20 people and the injuring of 150 more. Join us for our discussion on this unique moment in history. And we have congratulatory messages from Kate from the IWB podcast and the ever jovial Mr. Dark! Join us as we prove sometimes history can be fun!

Lexi discusses the Boston molasses disaster that entails almost 2 million gallons of hot molasses taking the lives of 21 people as it made it's way through the street. Listen in as we discuss how this happened and the outcome of this awful tragedy.

The Great Molasses Flood, also known as the Boston Molasses Disaster,[1][2][3] was a disaster that occurred on January 15, 1919, in the North Endneighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. A large storage tank filled with 2.3 million US gal (8,700 m3)[4] of molasses, weighing approximately 13,000 short tons (12,000 t), burst, and the resultant wave of molasses rushed through the streets at an estimated 35 mph (56 km/h), killing 21 and injuring 150.[5] The event entered local folklore and residents claimed for decades afterwards that the area still smelled of molasses on hot summer days.[5][6] If you're enjoying the content brought to you here at Bizarre Buffet, please make sure to subscribe, and to follow the show on social media! Bizarre Buffet is an independent production that depends on listener support. Thank you! Like Bizarre Buffet On Facebook Follow Bizarre Buffet On Instagram Watch Bizarre Buffet On YouTube Support Bizarre Buffet On Patreon Bizarre Buffet Online Support the show!: https://patreon.com/bizarrebuffet See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Properly storing large amounts of liquids has been an issue for as long as we have been storing large amounts of liquids. This week, Colin talks about the Boston Molassacre and the London Beer Flood, while Sierra lets him make as many grammatical mistakes as possible without correcting him. Join us as we discuss what to do if you're covered in syrup, George Bush Day, and what a liter of liquid is. 

This week Sandra talks about Chillingham Castle which dates back to the 12th century. Located in Northumberland England, Chillingham Castle is known as the most haunted castle in the UK. The castle has a history of bloody battles. Three in five people who visit the castle report seeing ghosts. From the ghost of a blue boy to being the inspiration for books and has been investigated by Ghost Hunters International. Then, Danielle covers the Great Molasses Flood of 1919. Also known as the Boston Molasses Disaster, occurred on January 15, 1919, in the North End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. A large storage tank filled with molasses burst and caused a tidal wave in the city's prominent and bustling area. Children, women, men, and horses were caught in the sticky mess. The event entered local folklore and residents claimed for decades afterward that the area still smelled of molasses on hot summer days. Write in to oywiththeterroralready@gmail.com to cast your vote if the superhero or villain, Molasses Man, should be good or evil.  Sandra's Sources: https://chillingham-castle.com/history-of-the-castle/ https://nerdist.com/article/most-haunted-castles-uk-ireland-chillingham-castle/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chillingham_Castle#Chillingham's_ghosts Danielle's Sources: https://edp.org/molpark.htm https://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/great-boston-molasses-disaster-1919/ https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/munition --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/oywiththeterroralready/support

The Great Molasses Flood, also known as the Boston Molasses Disaster, the Boston Molassacre, or the Great Boston Molasses Flood, occurred on January 15, 1919, in the North End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/juliusmanuel/message

Today Zo, Dominic, and Lydia, our beloved hosts, bring you the stories of Shayna Hubers, the Caffey Family murders, and the Boston Molasses Disaster. Enjoy!

Jeff and Chris kick off 2021 with the missed stories of last year, along with the Blue Fugates of Kentucky and the Boston Molasses Disaster. Where's the Weird is a WeirdyBeard Production It is written and hosted by Jeff Powers and Chris Hopp.

It was called the Boston Molasses Disaster and also the Great Boston Molasses Flood….on January 15, 1919...this day in weather history.

It was called the Boston Molasses Disaster and also the Great Boston Molasses Flood….on January 15, 1919...this day in weather history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us for this week's episode Alex covers the Boston Molasses Disaster and Loretta covers the mass killer, Richard Speck. Be sure to check out our Instagram for pictures related to the stories- @CuriousNyxsinsPod . We'll see you on the other side!Linktr.ee/CuriousNyxsinsPodcast Promo: Weird Distractions - Insta: @weirddistractionspod - Twitter: WeirdDistracti1 - linktr.ee/WeirdDistractionsPodRichard Speck resources:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Speckhttps://allthatsinteresting.com/richard-speck--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/appSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/curiousnyxsins/support

The Great Molasses Flood, also known as the Boston Molasses Disaster or the Great Boston Molasses Flood, and sometimes referred to locally as the Boston Molassacre, occurred on January 15, 1919, in the North End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. A large storage tank burst, filled with 2,300,000 US gal 10,886 metric tons; 24,000,000 lbs) of molasses, and a wave of molasses rushed through the streets at an estimated 35 mph (56 km/h), killing 21 and injuring 150. The event entered local folklore and residents claimed for decades afterwards that the area still smelled of molasses on hot summer days.

This week we explore The Boston Molasses Disaster. Millions of gallons of hot molasses overtook the media and North Boston in 1919 and honestly we never knew. Let us dive into a sugary horrific mess of coporate decision making and study what this event was and how we have ensured it will not happen again. We hope you enjoy the show and thanks for listening! Sources: All That’s Interesting - November 14, 2017 - Surreal Photos From The Deadly Boston Molasses Flood Of 1919 - https://allthatsinteresting.com/boston-molasses-flood NPR - January 15, 2019 - A Deadly Tsunami Of Molasses In Boston's North End - https://www.npr.org/2019/01/15/685154620/a-deadly-tsunami-of-molasses-in-bostons-north-end Emily Sohn - History - January 15, 2019 - Why the Great Molasses Flood Was So Deadly - https://www.history.com/news/great-molasses-flood-science Ben Kesslen - NBC News - January 14, 2019 - The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 - https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/great-boston-molasses-flood-1919-killed-21-after-2-million-n958326

Mark Wahlberg is roasted, The Boston Molasses Disaster is made light of, and then Mike Lawrence, Eli Sairs, Raanan Hershberg, Jeff Wesselschmidt, Nate Fridson and Patrick Schroeder roast each other real good Follow these scumbags: @TheMikeLawrence, @TheJWess, @natefridson, @Schrotime, @elisairs, @Raanancomedy Art by Diego Pimentel, @_diegopimentel on Insta Video on YouTube! Search the title n' subscribe to the channel baby

In the premier episode of No Better Death we take a look at the London Beer Flood of 1814 and the Boston Molasses Disaster of 1919. Both with multiple fatalities, both due to corporate negligence.

Time to get sticky-icky. The Great Molasses Flood, also known as the Boston Molasses Disaster or the Great Boston Molasses Flood, occurred on January 15, 1919 in the North End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. Patreon: Carousel Sniper Victim Shop here: www.carouselsnipervictim.com/shop -LIKE-SHARE-COMMENT-TAG-REVIEW- Every month we'll choose one person from the seedy world of social media notifications and send them some prizes! Find more at www.carouselsnipervictim.com Produced by Shaun Jeffery Additional Production by Leigh Massoni massoni.sound.design@gmail.com Tunes by- Dropkick Murphys- I'm Shipping Up To Boston Follow us on all your finest social tubes: @CarouselSniperVictim @DeadGlassDesign Facebook, Instagram, Twitter sources/ further reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Molasses_Flood https://www.historytoday.com/chuck-lyons/sticky-tragedy-boston-molasses-disaster https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/26/science/boston-molasses-flood-science.html

Join us as we talk about the Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919!

Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger explore the Boston Molasses Disaster of January 15, 1919, that left 21 people dead and 150 injured. What happened and why? Could it have been avoided?

This week we talk about the Boston Molasses Disaster of 1919. The disaster resulted in 21 deaths and numerous injuries. 300 people assisted in the clean up which took weeks and resulted in the Boston River turning brown for 6 months.    

In 1919 a bizarre catastrophe struck Boston's North End: A giant storage tank failed, releasing 2 million gallons of molasses into a crowded business district at the height of a January workday. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll tell the story of the Boston Molasses Disaster, which claimed 21 lives and inscribed a sticky page into the city's history books. We'll also admire some Scandinavian statistics and puzzle over a provocative Facebook photo. Intro: In 1888 three women reported encountering a 15-foot flying serpent in the woods near Columbia, S.C. In 1834 the American Journal of Science and Arts reported the capture of a pair of conjoined catfish near Fort Johnston, N.C. Sources for our feature on the Boston Molasses Disaster: Stephen Puleo, Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919, 2003. Fred Durso Jr., "The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919," NFPA Journal 105:3 (May/June 2011), 90-93. Sean Potter, "Retrospect: January 15, 1919: Boston Molasses Flood," Weatherwise 64:1 (January/February 2011), 10-11. Kaylie Duffy, "Today in Engineering History: Molasses Tanker Explodes, Kills 21," Product Design & Development, Jan. 15, 2015. Steve Puleo, "Death by Molasses," American History 35:6 (February 2001), 60-66. Chuck Lyons, "A Sticky Tragedy," History Today 59.1 (January 2009), 40-42. Dick Sinnott, "21 Persons Drowned in Molasses Flood," Reading [Pa.] Eagle, Jan. 15, 1959. Edwards Park, "Without Warning, Molasses in January Surged Over Boston," Smithsonian 14:8 (November 1983), 213-230. "12 Killed When Tank of Molasses Explodes," New York Times, Jan. 16, 1919. Ferris Jabr, "The Science of the Great Molasses Flood," Scientific American, Aug. 1, 2013. United Press International, "The Great Boston Molasses Disaster of 1919," Jan. 17, 1979. Peter Schworm, "Nearly a Century Later, Structural Flaw in Molasses Tank Revealed," Boston Globe, Jan. 14, 2015. William J. Kole, "Slow as Molasses? Sweet but Deadly 1919 Disaster Explained," Associated Press, Nov. 24, 2016. Erin McCann, "Solving a Mystery Behind the Deadly 'Tsunami of Molasses' of 1919," New York Times, Nov. 26, 2016. (The corn syrup video is midway down the page.) Jason Daley, "The Sticky Science Behind the Deadly Boston Molasses Disaster," Smithsonian, Nov. 28, 2016. Jennifer Ouellette, "Incredible Physics Behind the Deadly 1919 Boston Molasses Flood," New Scientist, Nov. 24, 2016. The Boston Public Library has photos and newspaper headlines. Listener mail: Erik Bye's song on the 15th Wisconsin Regiment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o5TUozjQXw Statistics Norway's names database. Wikipedia, "Old Norse" (accessed Jan. 5, 2017). This week's lateral thinking puzzle was contributed by listener Tommy Honton, who sent this corroborating link (warning -- this spoils the puzzle). You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on iTunes or Google Play Music or via the RSS feed at http://feedpress.me/futilitycloset. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- on our Patreon page you can pledge any amount per episode, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation on the Support Us page of the Futility Closet website. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!

Strange things happen. Fish sometimes fall from the sky. Unexplained lights perform strange maneuvers in the night sky. Children claim to 'remember' past lives. While all of these must be taken with more than a modicum of suspicion, there are strange occurrences in history which are without a doubt real and actual events. The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 is one such event. Be careful. Though you might be tempted to laugh at the idea of a flood of molasses as  ludicrous and unbelievable, the series of tragic events that took place on January 15, 1919 left twenty-one people dead and a score of people injured. As strange and as sickeningly sweet as it sounds, Boston experienced the world's only known disaster caused by a sugar by-product. Molasses was a staple food in colonial New England. Slave ships emptied their cargo in the West Indies and filled their holds with barrels of molasses and then headed to the colonies. Sugar was one of the most expensive staples in the colonial pantry, so molasses was a welcome and much less expensive alternative. Colonists used it in the production of beer and rum and you cannot have true New England Baked Beans, brown bread or pumpkin pie without it. Most people are unaware that molasses had a very important role to play during wartime and it had nothing to do with food. As any home brewer will tell you, sugar and yeast together create something very powerful: alcohol. Ships from Cuba, Puerto Rico and other islands in the West Indies would dock and pump out thousands of gallons to later be carried by rail car to the Purity plant in Cambridge where it underwent the process of conversion to industrial alcohol. Then, the alcohol could be used in the mass manufacture of munitions and explosives, adding to the war effort and making a lot of money for the United States Industrial Alcohol Company. Since the outbreak of war in 1914, overseas demand for alcohol had strained domestic resources and the British, the Canadian and the French governments could not get enough. With a paltry twenty percent of the molasses shipped to American converted into rum, a whopping 80 percent of the substance was turned into a major ingredient of weaponry, especially of dynamite, smokeless powder and other explosives. In order to facilitate the collection and distribution of the molasses, the company built a massive holding tank, fifty feet high and ninety feet in diameter capable of holding as much as 2,300,000 gallons of molasses. The tank stood in the North End, near Boston Harbor and the historic section of town that housed the Old North Church and Paul Revere's House. The tank was very to close the Copp's Hill Burying Ground and Commercial Street. It was one of the largest structures in the area and it towered over many houses and commercial buildings in the area, always in the background. It was built the same way that metal ships like the Titanic were built at the time with sheet steel and rivets overlapping at the edges. Like the Titanic, the Boston tank had a major flaw in the steel common to all steel manufactured in the early part of the century: it was made with very little manganese, an element that strengthens steel making it capable of withstanding great pressure without cracking. From the very beginning, people became used to seeing the dark brown stain of molasses running down from rivet holes all over the structure. Children would be dispatched with containers to visit the plant and collect as much of the run-off as they could. Though most of the people who actually lived in the area were Italian immigrants and therefore out of the mainstream of Boston life, it became a problem for the company that owned the tank. They did not want word to spread that there was a problem with it. Something had to be done. In their wisdom, the people at the US Industrial Alcohol Company found a way to fix the issue: they ordered the structure to be painted a molasses brown, so the leaks could easily be masked. Although the structure was only ever filled to capacity three times before the accident, it was on constant use and was never shut down and emptied for a complete inspection. Perhaps no one could imagine that a substance so obviously harmless as brown liquid sugar could ever be deadly in another sense, a very real and overwhelming sense, without ever being converted into alcohol. January 15, 1919 should have been a quiet day at the molasses tank. The ship Miliero had unloaded her cargo two days ago. It had taken everything that the pumps had to urge the semi-solid sticky substance through the tubes in freezing weather, but after this unloading, there wouldn't be another ship for at least three months. During those three months, the molasses would be slowly shipped to the Purity plant to be converted into alcohol bound for munition factories. A few who survived the event can remember hearing the shifting and gurgling that occurs when molasses is actively fermenting and perhaps that process helped speed along the final conditions that led to the failure of the hoops at the bottom of the tank and the rivets along the seams. At 12:41 PM, the tank gave way. The headline of the Boston Daily Globe for the next morning read "Molasses Tank Explosion Inures 50 and kills 11. Death and devastation in wake of North End Disaster." By the time they found all of the bodies glued to the ground in the muck and immovable mire, the number of dead had risen to twenty-one.  What happened directly after 12:41 was witnessed by hundreds. A black wave of death flowed much more quickly than might be imagined, twenty-five feet high and one hundred and sixty feet wide.The wave was so heavy that it essentially smashed the waterfront like a bomb. One half-mile of Commercial Street was destroyed and it flowed in all directions. Rivets snapped off and turned into projectiles: steel bullets randomly filling the air as the tank continued to break. The Engine 31 Firehouse was ripped from its foundation and almost made it to the dark waters of the harbor. "Men and women, their feet trapped by the sticky mass, slipped and fell and were suffocated," reported the Boston Globe in a remembrance of the event in 1968.  Brick tenements, storefronts, various wooden structures were all torn and shattered. Anything that stood in the path of the oncoming molasses was hit by the heavy liquid hammer of the cascading molasses. What wasn't destroyed or swept into Boston Harbor was glued to the ground or covered by the rubble. Cellars were filled with molasses. Electrical poles and live electrical lines snapped and popped in the thick detritus of the event. The rescuers were stunned when they arrived. How does a person move in waist-deep molasses? It is even possible? Horses were frozen on the ground, drowning in the thick goo and one of the first things that had to be done was to quickly dispatch them, leaving their fallen forms glued to the ground. How could the rescuers tell where a human form might be beneath the deep mass of molasses? So many died because they could not be reached in time or because they were simply overwhelmed and died of asphyxiation. Some were able to rise from the sticky mass and ride on small flotillas of flotsam and jetsam. Rescuers at the Haymarket Relief Station risked death as their boots bogged down in the mire. At the stations set up to process the injured, teams of rescuers worked tirelessly to remove the hardening molasses from breathing passages and remove the sticky clothing of the victims. Doctor and nurses soon became covered in molasses and blood. Nothing like this had ever been experienced before. When the time came to clean the molasses, sea water became the only solvent that was plentiful and able to cut through the thick, heavy goop that covered Commercial Street.  It would take weeks in the wintry weather to even begin to make a dent in the destruction. Boston Harbor went brown. How could this have happened? The company that was responsible for the tank had a theory: anarchists. Italian anarchists were immediately labeled as the mad bombers of their day. Surely, given the disproportionate amount of discrimination that Italian Bostonians had to endure, it was easy to imagine that they might have struck back with such an act. Boston had been the hotbed for Italian anarchist activities. Why not a bomb and why not terrorism? In August of 1919, the US Industrial Alcohol Company lost two of its molasses ships, without a trace. These unexplained losses seemed to point toward the same source again: anarchists. The Boston Molasses Disaster had ramifications that continued to run through the courts and the halls of industry. If no identifiable person or persons could be found, someone would have to bear the burden of the property damages and that had leveled Commercial Street in Boston. The US Industrial Alcohol Company would be taken to court . Valued at today's prices, over $100 million dollars worth of wreckage was claimed. We know from examining the records that no engineer or architect was ever consulted during the design and building of the huge tank. The tank was built quickly with an eye on spending as little as possible. Six years later the good people who lived in the North End and who lost their lives or their their homes, each received around $7000 each from the US Industrial Alcohol Company which had been found liable for all damages by the Massachusetts Superior Court. Never again would the state of Massachusetts allow such a structure to be built without state supervision and construction codes. Could such a thing ever happen again? Surely not. But it did. A more recent molasses spill occurred in 2013 in Honolulu, Hawaii. A faulty pipe poured over 1,400 tons of the sticky mass into Honolulu Harbor. All sea life in the harbor was killed due to the de-oxygenation of the water caused by the molasses covering the entire bottom. Sources Puleo, Stephen, Dark Tide: The Great Molasses Flood of 1919, copyright 2004, Beacon Press, Boston. Schworm, Peter "Nearly a century later, structural flaw in molasses tank revealed," Boston Globe 01/14/2015

In this podcast, we go into the history of the Boston Molasses Disaster of 1919, it’s victims, and it’s aftermath. Special note: I mistakingly wrote “1915” in my notes as to when the disaster occurred, but it’s really 1919. My apologies; whenever I refer to 1915 in the podcast, it should really be 1919.