100 Years Ago Today, A Deadly Toffee Apple Tsunami Swept Through Boston
By Rachel Baxter
15 Jan 2019, 15:23
Exactly 100 years ago, an enormous wave swept through Boston’s North End, smashing up buildings, taking down horses, and killing 21 people. But this was not the result of extreme weather or a burst dam – it was caused by a viscous, sticky, sugary goo.
On January 15, 1919, North End’s residents heard roars, rumbles, and a crashing sound, followed by an ear-splitting bang. An enormous tank of molasses had burst, releasing 2.3 million gallons of the sticky substance into the streets. The wave apparently reached heights of 7.6 meters (25 feet), traveling at speeds of up to 56 kilometers (35 miles) per hour. Today it is referred to as the Boston Toffee Apple Tsunami, the Great Molasses Flood, or the Boston Molasses Disaster.
https://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/100-years-ago-today-a-deadly-toffee-apple-tsunami-swept-through-boston/
