How Did They Clean Up the Molasses Flood?
The immediate aftermath of the Great Molasses Flood of 1919 was a chaotic and desperate scramble. The cleanup involved a multi-faceted approach that relied on sheer manpower, industrial equipment, and ultimately, the relentless force of nature itself to dilute and wash away the sticky devastation.
The Immediate Response: Human Effort and Industrial Grit
The scene in Boston’s North End on January 15, 1919, resembled a sticky, brown apocalypse. The Purity Distilling Company’s massive tank had ruptured, releasing an estimated 2.3 million gallons of molasses in a wave that reached speeds of up to 35 miles per hour.
The initial response was purely reactive. Rescue workers, including police, firefighters, soldiers, and civilian volunteers, waded through the thick, viscous flood, searching for survivors buried beneath the debris and molasses. This was a grueling task. The molasses acted as a powerful adhesive, making it difficult to move victims and heavy objects.
Steam shovels and other heavy machinery were brought in to clear larger debris, such as collapsed buildings and railway cars. However, the molasses’s stickiness made the machinery less effective. The thick substance clogged engines and made maneuvering difficult.
One of the primary strategies was using fire hoses to wash away the molasses. Cold seawater was pumped from the harbor, but the molasses congealed in the cold, making it even harder to remove. Firefighters eventually resorted to using hot water, which was more effective but required significant fuel and time.
The cleanup was hampered by the sheer volume of molasses and its tendency to harden in the winter temperatures. The molasses coated everything – streets, buildings, vehicles, and trees – forming a stubborn, sticky residue.
The Long Haul: Dilution and Natural Processes
The immediate cleanup focused on rescue and clearing major obstructions, but the long-term cleanup was a different story. The focus shifted to dilution and relying on natural processes to break down and dissipate the remaining molasses.
Dilution with water remained a key strategy, even as its limitations became apparent. The city continued to flush streets and buildings with water, gradually washing the molasses into the harbor. This process took weeks, even months, to significantly reduce the molasses levels.
The Boston Harbor itself played a crucial role in the cleanup. The tidal action of the harbor helped to disperse the molasses, diluting it further and carrying it out to sea. However, the initial influx of molasses severely impacted the harbor’s ecosystem.
Sunlight and natural bacteria also contributed to the cleanup. Over time, sunlight helped to break down the molasses into simpler compounds, while bacteria consumed the sugar, further reducing its viscosity and volume.
The cleanup was never fully complete. Remnants of the molasses lingered for years, reportedly staining buildings and even flavoring the water in certain areas. The memory of the flood, however, remains a powerful reminder of the dangers of industrial negligence.
Legacy and Lessons Learned
The Great Molasses Flood had a profound impact on Boston and the industrial landscape of the United States. Beyond the immediate devastation, it led to significant changes in safety regulations and engineering practices.
The disaster prompted increased scrutiny of industrial storage tanks and their construction. It served as a catalyst for the development of stricter engineering codes and safety standards to prevent similar incidents from happening again. The flood is considered a landmark case in holding companies responsible for the safety of their infrastructure.
The lessons learned from the molasses flood continue to inform industrial safety practices today. It highlights the importance of thorough inspections, robust engineering designs, and a commitment to public safety above profit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
FAQ 1: What was the main challenge in cleaning up the molasses?
The main challenge was the sheer volume and viscosity of the molasses. The molasses’s stickiness made it difficult to remove from surfaces, and its tendency to harden in cold temperatures further complicated the cleanup process.
FAQ 2: Why didn’t they just pump the molasses away?
Pumping the molasses was considered but proved impractical due to its high viscosity and the lack of readily available pumping equipment capable of handling such a thick substance. The machinery available at the time was not designed to pump such large volumes of this kind of material.
FAQ 3: How long did the cleanup process actually take?
The initial cleanup of removing debris and rescuing victims took several weeks. However, the residual effects of the molasses, such as stains and smells, lingered for years.
FAQ 4: Did the molasses affect the marine life in Boston Harbor?
Yes, the initial influx of molasses had a detrimental impact on marine life. The molasses depleted oxygen levels in the water, suffocating fish and other aquatic organisms.
FAQ 5: Was anyone held responsible for the flood?
Yes, after a lengthy investigation, the United States Industrial Alcohol Company (USIA), which had acquired the Purity Distilling Company, was held liable for the disaster and ordered to pay damages to the victims and their families.
FAQ 6: How many people died in the Molasses Flood?
The Great Molasses Flood resulted in the deaths of 21 people. Scores more were injured.
FAQ 7: What caused the Molasses Flood?
The exact cause is debated, but the prevailing theory is that a combination of factors contributed to the tank’s failure, including poor construction, overfilling, and a sudden temperature change.
FAQ 8: What were the safety regulations like at the time?
Safety regulations were lax to non-existent at the time. There were no standardized engineering codes or inspection requirements for industrial storage tanks. This contributed significantly to the disaster.
FAQ 9: What kind of equipment did they use besides fire hoses and steam shovels?
Beyond fire hoses and steam shovels, workers used picks, shovels, axes, and their bare hands to try to clear the debris. They also employed rudimentary pumps to drain pockets of molasses. However, the vast majority of the cleanup was accomplished through manual labor.
FAQ 10: Where did the molasses come from?
The molasses was imported from Cuba and other Caribbean islands and was intended for the production of industrial alcohol.
FAQ 11: What is the legacy of the Great Molasses Flood today?
The Great Molasses Flood serves as a stark reminder of the importance of industrial safety and responsible engineering practices. It led to significant improvements in safety regulations and engineering codes that continue to protect communities today.
FAQ 12: Can you still smell the molasses in Boston’s North End?
While anecdotal stories persist about smelling molasses on hot summer days, there is no confirmed evidence of residual molasses odors. However, the memory and the history of the flood remain a palpable presence in the North End.