~12:30 this afternoon (EST) will mark the 96th anniversary of one of the deadliest "Sploshing's" ever, the Great Boston Molasses Flood.

On this day, January 15, 1919 a tank containing 2,300,000 gallons of 'weapons grade' molasses (molasses used in the production of WWI munitions) ruptured at the Purity Distilling Company, spilling it's contents into Boston's North End. The resulting wave of molasses is believe to have been nearly 40ft high.

https://i.embed.ly/1/display/resize?key=1e6a1a1efdb011df84894040444cdc60&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcovers.openlibrary.org%2Fb%2Fid%2F1551691-M.jpg&width=810

This incident is believed to be the inspiration for the book 'Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs'

This Is the funniest tragedy in wam history. Cudos to the WAM historian for sharing this.

Any historic photos exist?

OK, 3 things I wanna say:

1) People died here so, not funny really
2) They say you can still smell molasses in the area on hot days
3) What the hell kind of weapons used molasses?

Yes, actually. Though most are of molasses covered debris. Nothing sexy about it.

I will also agree. People died and suffered horribly before dying. Many more suffered horribly and survived. This is a good event to remember, but nowhere near a funny or sexy one.

21 dead people, including two children. Yeah, sexy and hilarious. How is it even sploshing?

At first, I thought this whole thing was a joke. Now that I see it was real, I withdraw my earlier post.
And here's proof it was real:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Molasses_Disaster

Or the saddest comedy. Somebody please tell me: WHY must ethanol be obtained from molasses? The wikipedia link says that only SOME of ethanol was used in munitions. Actually, why was/is any of it used for munitions?

For that matter, what is the origin/source for molasses?

From wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molasses

"is a viscous by-product of the refining of sugarcane or sugar beets into sugar."

So, sugarcane is the utlimate, grown source. So, why first turn it into molasses, and then alcohol? Why not just store a massive silo of (I guess) powdered sugarcane, before distilling it into ethanol?

Oh, and please.. WAM producers... DON'T try recreating this event on the 100th anniversary in 4 years. :ohbruther:

@Zoidberg

The molasses was created as a by-product of processing cane into sugar. It was processed near where the cane was grown, often in places like the Carribean. The molasses was then shipped to places like Boston. It wasn't shipped as sugar because that would be more expensive and would still require processing in another country... by another company that would then make the money from the sugar itself.

Also, the problem was that the tank the molasses was being stored in was incredibly flawed and not well maintained.

Ok. But why?

I guess now I should feel guilty about eyeing news footage of tragic mudslides for hot muddy gals, too!