Elizabeth McGeveran

In 1919, a massive molasses tank in Boston burst and unleashed a deadly wave of sticky syrup that flooded the streets, crushing buildings and killing 21 people. The disaster, known as the Great Molasses Flood, was caused by a combination of poor construction, high temperature, and fermentation. The molasses was used to make rum and other products, and was stored in a 50-foot tall tank that could hold 2.3 million gallons. On January 15th, the tank suddenly exploded, sending a wall of molasses up to 15 feet high and 160 feet wide, traveling at 35 miles per hour. The molasses engulfed everything in its path, trapping people, horses, cars, and debris. Some people drowned or suffocated in the sticky substance, while others were crushed by the force of the wave or the wreckage. The rescue efforts were hampered by the viscous and sticky nature of the molasses, which made it hard to move or breathe. It took four days to recover all the bodies, and weeks to clean up the mess. The cause of the explosion was never conclusively determined, but it was likely due to a faulty weld in the tank that failed under pressure.