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Scooby
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Scientists Have Revealed the Deadly Physics of Boston’s Molasses Tsunami of 1919
Back in January 1919, a devastating event took place in Boston’s North End neighbourhood: a vat of molasses at the Purity Distilling Company erupted, sending a 7.6-metre-tall (25-foot) wave of treacle-like sweetener into the streets outside.
This bizarre event – known as the Great Molasses Flood of 1919 – saw over 8.7 million litres (2.3 million gallons) of the sticky substance dumped into the streets, where it travelled at roughly 56 kilometres per hour (35 mph), reportedly killing 21 people and wounding 150 more.
The strength of this molasses wave – which was, at the time, America’s favourite sweetener and a key ingredient for rum production – was so strong, it reportedly ripped a fire station from its foundations, smashed several freight cars, and even came close to derailing a train.
Back in January 1919, a devastating event took place in Boston’s North End neighbourhood: a vat of molasses at the Purity Distilling Company erupted, sending a 7.6-metre-tall (25-foot) wave of treacle-like sweetener into the streets outside.
This bizarre event – known as the Great Molasses Flood of 1919 – saw over 8.7 million litres (2.3 million gallons) of the sticky substance dumped into the streets, where it travelled at roughly 56 kilometres per hour (35 mph), reportedly killing 21 people and wounding 150 more.
The strength of this molasses wave – which was, at the time, America’s favourite sweetener and a key ingredient for rum production – was so strong, it reportedly ripped a fire station from its foundations, smashed several freight cars, and even came close to derailing a train.