I'd remembered hearing about this, but the Wikipedia
entry has more details than I recalled:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Molasses_Disaster

I had thought only one person was killed, not 21.
And I didn't know the tank was so big (50 feet high,
90 feet in diameter).

Mark Thorson wrote:
>
> I'd remembered hearing about this, but the Wikipedia
> entry has more details than I recalled:
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Molasses_Disaster
>
> I had thought only one person was killed, not 21.
> And I didn't know the tank was so big (50 feet high,
> 90 feet in diameter).

There is a tv show called "Disasters of the Century" on the history
channel here in Canada. They did a half hour show on it. .....Sharon

On Sat, 15 Jul 2006 12:31:05 -0700, Mark Thorson >
wrote:

>I'd remembered hearing about this, but the Wikipedia
>entry has more details than I recalled:
>
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Molasses_Disaster
>
>I had thought only one person was killed, not 21.
>And I didn't know the tank was so big (50 feet high,
>90 feet in diameter).

Sorta makes the phrase, "Slow as molasses in January," sound a little
off-base, doesn't it? I can't begin to imagine the horror of that
situation.

Carol

Blair P. Houghton > writes:
>Molasses is the base for rum.

>America's biggest rum distilleries at the time were...

>...in Boston.

>Hence the massive supply chain.

The musical "1776" has an interesting song that talks about
the "triangle trade" of molasses, rum and slaves.

"Who sails the ships out of Boston, laden with Bibles
and rum?"

....and later...

"Hail Boston! Hail Charleston! Whom stinketh the most?"