At first, the company did nothing to stop the leaks from the tank. However, this also meant that they were gaining more enemies around the area then friends. So, in order to make people happy, the company decided they would fix the problem. But instead of bringing in someone to make sure the tank was safe and sound, the company decided to paint the tank brown which would hide the leaks better. They also chose to re-caulk around the tank. Unfortunately, for the people on Commercial Street, this would not fix the problem.
The Day of Boston’s Great Molasses Flood
Between the hour of noon and 1:00 pm, kids were played on Commercial Street while others went for a walk or to run errands. The fire department, located right next to the United States Industrial Alcohol Company, was filled with firefighters who were playing cards while eating lunch. For everyone on and around Commercial Street in Boston, it was like a regular day. That was until people heard what they thought sounded like a gunshot and within seconds, without even knowing what was happening, their world would change.
The bang that the residents thought was a gunshot was really the explosion of molasses from the tank. The 25-foot high and 100 yards wide tidal wave of molasses started to head down Commercial Street at 35 miles per hour. Those in its path had no chance of escaping. The rushing tidal wave of molasses swallowed many people up, which caused them to suffocate. As the flood of molasses started tearing down the street, it demolished everything in its path, including the fire department, houses, and a large section of elevated tracks in the area.
While police officers, other first responders, and 100 USS Nantucket sailors from the navy were quick to respond, rescue efforts were slow. The molasses was not only waist deep, but because the temperature was only 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the molasses started to thicken. These conditions made it harder for rescue personnel to reach the residents that needed their help. In order to break up the molasses, the firemen had to use salt water. From there, they were able to use the water from their hoses to send the molasses to the gutters.
In total, clean up took about six months and an estimated 80,000 hours. The last body from the molasses flood was found four months after the tragedy. This man was riding down the street when he was swept up by the molasses and thrown into the river. The molasses flood had only reached a half mile, but the property damage totaled around $100 million in today’s currency. In the end, there were 21 lives lost and about 150 people injured.