What was the cause of the Great Molasses Flood?

Who is to blame for the molasses flood?

The closing arguments alone took 11 weeks, but in April 1925, state auditor Hugh W. Ogden finally ruled that United States Industrial Alcohol was to blame for the disaster. Rather than a bomb, he concluded that the company's poor planning and lack of oversight had led to the tank's structural failure.

How many horses died in the Great Molasses Flood?

On January 15, 1919, the North End of Boston experienced an odd incident in which 2.3 million gallons of molasses exploded out of a tank and into the city. It knocked out some buildings and even led to a number of deaths. 21 people and 12 horses died.

How much damage did the molasses flood cause?

This bizarre and terrifying event, known as the Great Molasses Flood, claimed 21 lives, with victims ranging in age from 10 to 78. Some 150 persons were injured, and the damage to property — much of which had cascaded into nearby Boston Harbor — amounted to about $100 million in today's money.

How did they clean up the Great Molasses Flood?

It took months to clean up after the disaster. The main method of clean-up was to wash the molasses in the Boston Harbor. After the bulk had been washed out to sea salt and sand were poured across the affected area to soak up the molasses. For years to come, locals described the streets and surfaces as being sticky.

How long did it take to clean up the molasses flood?

In total, it would take about six months to get the area back to normal, including the reconstruction of the damaged elevated railway that connected passengers between North and South stations, according to Puleo.

Was the molasses in the molasses flood hot?

Fiery hot molasses floods the streets of Boston on January 15, 1919, killing 21 people and injuring scores of others. The molasses burst from a huge tank at the United States Industrial Alcohol Company building in the heart of the city.

Can you still smell the molasses from the Great molasses Flood?

A 40-foot wave of molasses buckled the elevated railroad tracks, crushed buildings and inundated the neighborhood. … Local legend has it that on particularly warm days, you can still smell the faint aroma of molasses seeping up from the streets of the old North End.

Can you swim in molasses?

A wave of molasses does not behave like a wave of water. Molasses is a non-Newtonian fluid, which means that its viscosity depends on the forces applied to it, as measured by shear rate. … Physics also explains why swimming in molasses is near impossible.