Transcript

Encore: Boston Molasses Disaster | A Deadly Deluge | American History Tellers | Podcast

From American History Tellers · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

· 41 min · 7,023 words · 44 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "Encore: Boston Molasses Disaster | A Deadly Deluge | American History Tellers | Podcast", an episode of American History Tellers published December 25, 2024 (41 min, about 7,023 words). It mentions 11 people, works and ideas, including Arthur Gel, United States Industrial Alcohol, Damon Hall, Isaac Gonzalez, Hugh Ogden.

What this episode is about

The Boston Molasses Disaster of January 15, 1919, describes a catastrophic event when a massive tank filled with molasses burst, releasing a lethal wave that flooded the streets of Boston's North End. The disaster not only resulted in significant loss of life and injuries but also highlighted issues of industrial safety and urban infrastructure in the early 20th century.

Key takeaways

  • In 1919, 2 million gallons of molasses taught Boston a sticky lesson about safety and oversight.
  • The Boston Molasses Flood: where the sweet taste of progress turned into a dark, destructive wave.
  • Never underestimate the power of a failed tank; it can collapse both infrastructure and public trust.
  • In the chaos of recovery, the quest for blame revealed more about society’s fears than the tragedy itself.
  • Anarchists were the scapegoats, but engineering blunders were the real culprits behind Boston's syrupy disaster.

Who speaks in this episode?

What is discussed, and when

  1. – 10:00: Arthur Gel, United States Industrial Alcohol
  2. – 15:00: Arthur Gel, Isaac Gonzalez
  3. – 20:00: Arthur Gel
  4. – 25:00: Royal Albert Lhan, Maria Aasa
  5. – 30:00: United States Industrial Alcohol, Andrew Peters, Arthur Gel, Maria Aasa
  6. – 35:00: Arthur Gel, Damon Hall, Charles Francis Cho, United States Industrial Alcohol
  7. – 40:00: Arthur Gel, Damon Hall, Hugh Ogden
  8. – 41:14: Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919

Notable quotes from "Encore: Boston Molasses Disaster | A Deadly Deluge | American History Tellers | Podcast"

  • Boston Molasses disaster a deadly Deluge in December 1914 Arthur gel finally had the opportunity he had long craved the 36-year-old had risen steadily through the ranks of Purity distilling to become the company's.
    about Arthur Gel · at
  • Quickly the great war in Europe had meant big business for gel's company United States industrial alcohol or usia their main product was unsurprisingly industrial alcohol and…
    about United States Industrial Alcohol · at
  • Through the new caulking helped for a while but the leaks soon returned as bad as ever Gonzalez grew so worried he began sleeping by the tank at night to keep tabs on it and an…
    about Isaac Gonzalez · at
  • Sudden deafening Roar and a violent shaking as nearby buildings were hit by the flood Maria aasa was a mother of six and lived directly across from the tank she and her husband…
    about Maria Aasa · at
  • Dislodged his house and smashed it against the trestles of the elevated Railway Clarity would recall it seemed as if the house had split in two when it hit the elevated…
    about Martin Clarity · at
  • Hugh Ogden a 48-year-old New England attorney and World War I military judge as auditor for the case Ogden went oversee hearings to gather testimony from the many witnesses to…
    about Hugh Ogden · at
  • Destructive Powers equal to the tornado or the Cyclone when it is suddenly unloosed Hall placed the blame directly on usia for the tragedy arguing the company cut Corners in…
    about Damon Hall · at
  • If you'd like to learn more about this story we recommend dark tide the Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 by Steven pulo American history tellers is hosted edited and produced by me lindsy Graham for Airship audio editing by Christian.
    about Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 · at

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

  • Arthur Gel — Person · Central historical figure (USIA executive overseeing tank construction) · 7 mentions · first at
    Treasurer who oversaw the molasses tank project, ignored safety protocols, and later gave damning deposition testimony central to liability.
  • Damon Hall — Person · Plaintiffs' lead attorney (civil suit) · 3 mentions · first at
    Represents victims/plaintiffs; conducts the deposition that forces Gel to admit skipped safety tests and lack of qualifications.
  • Isaac Gonzalez — Person · Whistleblowing worker / key witness · 2 mentions · first at
    Laborer who observed leaks, metal flakes, and dangerous pressure; warned Gel and later testified supporting negligence over sabotage.
  • Hugh Ogden — Person · Court-appointed auditor / fact-finder · 2 mentions · first at
    Oversees hearings, weighs evidence, and issues the key finding that the collapse was due to negligent construction rather than a bomb.
  • Maria Aasa — Person · Eyewitness/victim family (mother living across from tank) · 2 mentions · first at
    Her family’s experience (child swept away and later recovered) personalizes the disaster’s toll on immigrant residents.
  • Charles Francis Cho — Person · Defense attorney for USIA · 2 mentions · first at
    Leads USIA’s defense, advancing the anarchist-bomb theory and attempting to limit damaging testimony from Gel.
    Its defense USA hired Charles Francis Cho a well-respected attorney who had graduated from Harvard Law Cho refuted Hall's description saying the tank was built by reputable…
  • Martin Clarity — Person · Survivor/witness (resident; former boxer; pub owner) · 5 mentions
    Provides a vivid survivor account; his family suffers fatalities, illustrating human impact and property destruction.
  • Royal Albert Lhan — Person · Eyewitness/responder (railroad brakeman) · 2 mentions · first at
    Brakeman who stopped his train and warned an oncoming train after the trestle was damaged, likely preventing additional deaths.
    To warn the next train headed his way his brave action stopped it from plunging off the damaged track likely saving the lives of dozens of passengers but on ground level below…
  • Andrew Peters — Person · Public official responding to disaster (Mayor of Boston) · 2 mentions · first at
    Announces investigation and public accountability immediately after the flood, shaping the official response and scrutiny of USIA.
    And cannot pass without a rigid investigation surrounded by a group of reporters Peters announced that he had already directed the city law office to begin a probe not only to…

Books & papers

Companies & orgs

Full transcript with timestamps

Wonder imagine it's January 15th 1919 just after noon in Boston's North End you're a Breakman in the third car of the city's passenger train rattling up the rails on elevated tracks the Train's chugging North at 20 m per hour and approaching a section you've always loved where you can see the docks and feel the ocean wind blowing in from the water you look down and see long shoremen hauling kegs of beer and carts loaded with livestock to you there's a sense of progress and optimism in all this activity something your city desperately needs the flu pandemic has ravaged Boston for months and thousands of the city's young men were killed in the war in Europe you turn to your assistant next to you who's bracing himself by the window it's his first time on this route now look when you get here you got to be careful cuz this Bend up ahead is really tight the Young man nods you know sir my parents' family used to live in this

neighborhood they moved over to Charleston before I was born though Irish right yeah mostly Italians down here now it's been built up too you see that Skyline used to be clear to the Water full of smoke stacks now what's that at the bend up ahead you know without having to look what he's talking about it's the Towering steel tank that rises five stories tall looming over the whole neighborhood oh that that was put up a few years back molasses the company that owns that tank distills it into alcohol and then uses it to make some kind of explosive I hear they made a fortune during the war hearing the loud boom the young man's eyes go wide in panic you feel the train wheel shudder and jump beneath you your experience kicks in grab the railing hold on to something you pull the emergency cord and The Brak Screech once the train stops you stare out the window in shock the massive brown tank that towered over the crowded

neighborhood is gone you look below the elevated tracks and gasp in horror a huge brown wave of molasses is crashing down the streets destroying everything in its path hey boss boss your assistant is leaning out the window of the other side of the train car you rush over to join him and from there you can see the bend in the tracks behind you but now those tracks dangle into empty space the flood has ripped away a section of the Trestle that supports the railway all right stay put and don't let the passengers get off wait where are you going there's a train coming up behind us from Battery Street you won't be able to see this far ahead it'll fly right off got to warn it before your assistant can respond you leap onto the tracks behind you a sea of copper brown sludge surges in all directions carrying away trucks and crushing wooden buildings like they were cardboard boxes carefully but quickly you pick your way across the

mangled partially collapsed rail line and race down the tracks next train is barreling towards you just a 100 yard away you wave your arms above your head hoping the engineer sees you before it's too

late from wry I'm lindsy Graham and this is American history tellers our history your story on our show we take you to the events the times and the people that shaped America and Americans our values our struggles and our dreams we'll put you in the shoes of everyday citizens as history was being made and we'll show you how the events of the times affected them their families and affects you now on January 15th 1919 one of America's strangest disasters struck Boston's busy nor end a giant storage tank holding more than 2 million gallons of molasses collapsed and crashed into the city streets workers were trapped in cellers residents smothered in their beds children were swept out to the harbor the powerful wave of thick viscous liquid even tore down the support Trestle of the city's elevated railroad putting train cars loaded with passengers in Peril the flood was over in 10 minutes but the harrowing rescue

efforts continued for hours and the disaster left misery and destruction in its wake soon residents and local officials demanded to know what caused the deadly collapse and who was to blame Boston was still emerging from the volatile years of World War I molasses had been a key ingredient to the wartime effort to Steed into alcohol to produce explosives for the Allied front the city had also been devastated by the Spanish Flu pandemic and was reeling from a wave of politically motivated Anarchist bombings and at first anarchists became the prime suspects for the disaster but the truth when it finally came out would be even more shocking this is a special episode of American History tellers the Boston Molasses disaster a deadly Deluge in December 1914 Arthur gel finally had the opportunity he had long craved the 36-year-old had risen steadily through the ranks of Purity distilling to become the company's

Treasurer then purity's parent company United States indust Ral alcohol called him up with big news the company would be building a new storage tank in Boston for its lucrative molasses shipments and gel would oversee the construction Jael knew that for the company completing the project on time was Paramount and for him it could mean a promotion to vice president and a move to the main offices in New York a big leap for a man who had started as an office boy at a local distiller at the age of just 14 but jel soon realized that the task ahead would not be easy first he faced the haunting Prospect of overseeing the design and building of the tank itself but gel was no engineer and could not even read blueprints but he knew that once completed the tank would be the largest on the East Coast much larger than the company's smaller storage tanks in Brooklyn it would stand 50 ft tall span 240 ft in circumference and have a

capacity of nearly 2 and5 million gallons the Tank's construction would require massive steel plates thousands of ribbits and hours of manpower all in short supply due to the war effort gel's Second Challenge was the location his company wanted the tank as close to Boston's Warf as possible so Steamers carrying molasses from the Caribbean could Dock and unload their shipments quickly the tank also needed to be close to the tracks owned by Boston elevated railroad which would make for easy transport to the distiller just a mile away to meet both of these requirements they would have to build the tank in Boston's North End one of the city's most crowded neighborhoods land was at a premium and jael's attempts to negotiate a lease were frustratingly slow time was not on his side every month that went by with the tank incomplete meant that his company was losing money without their own storage in Boston they were forced to

buy molasses from a competitor driving up costs throughout the spring and summer of 1915 gel dutifully sent updates to his bosses in New York trying to reassure them of his progress but their responses were direct and tur get the tank built do it quickly the great war in Europe had meant big business for gel's company United States industrial alcohol or usia their main product was unsurprisingly industrial alcohol and was used to make dynamite and other explosives as the fighting in Europe increased demand for munition skyrocketed and usia became a key supplier to weapons manufacturers and molasses was a key ingredient in their product usia had contracts with sugar cane plantations in the Caribbean which produced molasses as a byproduct shipments of molasses to the east coast had increased as demand for industrial alcohol soared but the company's existing storage tanks in Brooklyn were maxed out the new Boston tank would more

than double usia storage capacity and keep production humming and almost a year after gel was first given the task in late September 1915 he finalized the lease for a site on Commercial Street near the warf once built the tank would sit in the middle of a neighborhood that was home to nearly 30,000 people most of them living in a dense Half Mile Square the North End had once been home to Paul River in Boston's early Elite but now it housed mostly workingclass Italian immigrants and a few remaining Irish families who had yet to move away having secured a location gel's project could finally break ground after months of costly delays the contractor Hammond Iron Works would provide the materials and oversee the construction but Hammond's officials seem to be dragging their feet asking about building permits and safety tests jel responded by sending Hammond an Urgent Message we are extremely anxious to have the work

proceed as rapidly as possible and are quite willing to pay any additional expenses there may be in pushing the work forward jel was anxious about his Pace because he had just learned of a worrying development the company had ordered a huge shipment of molasses to be delivered to the Boston site by the end of December the tank would have to be finished by then and Jael knew his job was on the line so by early December the contractor had delivered steel plates for the tank and construction finally began but during the first week of work progress halted when a worker plummeted to his death from the high scaffolding gel couldn't afford any more delays so he ordered construction to resume after just half a day workers had to attach 18 overlapping steel plates to form the curving sides of the tank then seal the seams with with rivets the holding tank would then sit on top of a concrete foundation the workers also had

to build the 220t underground pipe that would transport the Molasses from the ships to the tank and they had less than four weeks to do all of it gel did everything in his power to speed up construction he hired 30 laborers to work in shifts and bought in flood lights so work could continue through the night but as the tank took shape Jael foresaw another obstacle USA's contract with Hammond stated upon completion the tank was to be filled to capacity with water and tested for leaks or weaknesses but gel knew that would be expensive and timec consuming so when workers drove in the final rivets on December 31st 1915 Jael ordered them to fill the tank with just 6 in of water when no leaks appeared gel declared it finished and ready for operation no engineer or inspector examined or tested the tank that very same day USA's steamer in Boston and unloaded 700,000 gallons of molasses the tank creaked and

groaned but it held despite the odds gel had finished his job and he was relieved and elated nothing would now stand in the way of his hard-earned promotion imagine this April 1917 you're a top executive for the leading alcohol Distilling Company in New England and today you're City in your Cambridge Massachusetts office going through papers and double-checking your latest quarterly profits on an adding machine so far this year orders for molasses are running briskly and the new tank in Boston has become essential to the company's production since building the tank 2 years ago you rarely visit the site yourself the noise of the Dock Workers and the clattering of the train gives you a headache you much prefer sitting behind your desk and working with numbers rather than people there's a wrap on your door and you're annoyed to see one of your employees from the Boston site Shuffle into the room excuse

me sir hope I'm not bothering you actually I'm in the middle of some important calculations well I understand this will take just a moment it's urgent you eye the man wearily as he tracks his dirty boots on your office carpet uh yeah go ahead but be quick well I I trust you receive my updates about the tank updates sir something's not right there's strange sounds coming from the inside the tank rumbling sounds like thunder goes on night and day well I'm sure you know that molasses will expand and contract depending on the temp temperature there's nothing unusual about that I I know that sir but this this is different also there are leaks many of them they run down the side constantly I spread sand Around The Bays to keep the Molasses from flowing too far but I can't keep up and there are children who come by children yeah they come to dip sticks into the pools of molasses and slurp it up by put it into

jars you hired this man because of his Hands-On knowledge of molasses and he's been a diligent worker but his overly Earnest worried face and persistence are starting to anger you oh listen I've heard all this and we've addressed it I will remind you that I had the tank caulks last year that was expensive the worker takes a step forward and drops several shards of rusty metal onto your desk and one in God's name is this well sir as you know I clean and prepare the tank regularly climb inside before every shipment you're saying this is from the tank yes sir these fall like snow every time I go inside you got to do something no no no no no the tank has been standing and working for years and it's your job to keep it that way if you're worried about its safety focus on your job that's what we hired you for let me tell you I can hire someone else the man dips his head and leaves your office you

smooth your tie against your chest and feel your heart racing the ugly pieces of metal are still on your desk and you brush them aside just as you do any concerns about the tank safety then you make a note to talk to this man's supervisor you don't want to be interrupted like this again from the start the Molasses tank on Commercial Street was plagued with problems residents and Dock Workers noticed dark streaks of molasses leaking down the sides firemen on their lunch breaks commented on the strange rumbling noises coming from the tank and the workers in charge of maintaining it were worried by what they witnessed up close in April 1917 Isaac Gonzalez a laborer in charge of unloading shipments to the tank became so alarmed that he visited Arthur gel's Cambridge office to plead directly with him Gonzalez had already raised his concerns before both to his direct supervisor and to Jael but little

action had been taken this time he brought pieces of the tank that had fallen from the inside as proof that something was not right jel assured him that everything was in good condition saying the tank will stand but Gonzalez left more worried than ever he knew molasses in his native Puerto Rico he had loaded the thick stuff onto ships at port and learned how the liquid behaved he knew that its viscosity could change depending on the weather and temperature when cooler and warmer molasses mixed as often happened when a new shipment was pumped into the holding tanks it could trigger fermentation producing gas and pressure and over the months he worked at the Boston site Gonzalez had watched as molasses continued to ooze down the sides of the tank to address the issue gel had the tank repainted a dull brown color which hid the leaks he also hired workers to caul the seams in the metal walls where the molassas was seeping

through the new caulking helped for a while but the leaks soon returned as bad as ever Gonzalez grew so worried he began sleeping by the tank at night to keep tabs on it and an effort to release the pressure inside he even secretly opened the valve on the 220t pipe dumping molasses into the bay but the Tank's structural Integrity wasn't the only threat One Night in late April the phone rang in the office by the tank Gonzalez picked it up but was startled when the voice on the other line threatened to blow up the tank and kill any workers nearby startled Gonzalez alerted the police he guessed it was anarchists who had stepped up their attacks in the area nearby targeting police places of Authority or factories connected to big business or a war effort after the call police went down to the warf to investigate and two officers stayed overnight to keep watch but no attack came and when gel learned

Gonzalez called the police Poli he was Furious once again Gonzalez was drawing attention to the tank and threatening business operations USA was churning out molasses derived industrial alcohol at a very brisk Pace 1918 became a record year for the Munitions industry American manufacturers produced more than 630 million pounds of smokeless powder that year equal to the entire production of both England and France to keep up with demand usia filled its Boston tank to capacity seven times in 1918 and each time the tank rumbled groaned and its sides leaked by that fall Gonzalez had had enough fear of the Tank's imminent collapse consumed him and sick with worry he developed insomnia and all the while his reports were ignored so finally in September he quit Arthur gel had lost a skilled employee but he was finally free of Gonzalez's pesky warnings and for him just in time the Boston tank was expecting another big

delivery to be distilled into grain alcohol and rum since the war was winding down on January 12th 199 a ship arrived unloading more than half a million gallons of molasses winter air was frigid the temperature dipped 10° below zero once filled the tank towering over the North End Neighborhood now held 26 million pounds of molasses imagine it's just past midday on January 15th 1919 you're the mother of six young children and you're in your cramped second floor apartment overlooking Commercial Street in Boston's North End last night was cold you gave up most of your blankets to your children which means you didn't get much sleep you stifle a yawn as you sit at the kitchen table chopping vegetables for lunch your husband jeppe stands near you caring out the kitchen window oh look at that pasqualino is still running around in that heavy sweater you made him wear he can barely move looks like he's sweating too oh I

told him not to take it off or else we can't afford him catching a cold again is he getting that firewood like it asked him to Pasqual is your 10-year-old son when he came home from school for lunch you asked him to go to the pile of scrap wood near the giant molasses tank but your husband shakes his head and laughs no he's he's playing with those neighbor kids but let them play it's so much warmer today than it was last night but tonight it'll get cold again we can't risk running out of wood for the stove your husband presses his hands on his lower back and stretches his work laying railroad tracks leaves him sore most days sometimes even limping but he never complains he turns to you listen what if we look for a new place somewhere less crowded quieter away from the docks well you know we can't not now we barely make the rent as it is most months I know but the kids would be better off they seem pretty happy to me

and there's free molasses next door that makes them pretty happy besides we're safe here other parts of town you know uh they don't welcome Italians you see pain cross your husband's face he's told you more than once the name some of his bosses call him and you know the worst of the insults he keeps to himself you change the subject Pasqual I get the wood yet it's time for lunch I don't know I'll call him your husband steps closer to the window but before he can say anything there's a frightening sound you feel the floor shake beneath your feet and the look of shock on your husband's face scares you when you dash to the window you can't believe your eyes where the Molasses tank had stood just seconds ago is now empty sky but below it wall of dark liquid surges out in all directions you catch a glimpse of your son's red sweater before he swallowed up just past 12:30 p.m. on January 15th 1919 the Towering molasses tank on

Commercial Street collapsed the heavy steel panels on the side of the tank exploded outwards in all directions slicing through wood and crushing brick the rivets holding the panels together shot out with a sound like gunfire and then a wave of molasses 25 ft High fanned out all across the neighborhood the Molasses raced over the streets at 35 mph carrying trucks uning buildings flooding basements and shattering Windows the thick brown liquid suffocated animals and people and trapped others beneath piles of debris witnesses to the event described a sudden deafening Roar and a violent shaking as nearby buildings were hit by the flood Maria aasa was a mother of six and lived directly across from the tank she and her husband jeppe watched in horror from their second floor kitchen as their son and two of his friends were overtaken by The Wave in a panic they tried to race out to help but jeppi was

knocked to the floor and lost Consciousness the children were caught in the flood and carried away at the very same moment Boston Breakman Royal Albert lhan was riding in a train car on the elevated tracks headed to North Station lhan felt the train sway around him and pulled the emergency cord halting it just past the tank the wave of molasses crashed into the base of the elevated track that the train had just crawled damaging its support beams and leaving a section of rails dangling Leman acted quickly though climbing over the debris to warn the next train headed his way his brave action stopped it from plunging off the damaged track likely saving the lives of dozens of passengers but on ground level below workers at the nearby Bay State Electric Railway offices a two-story brick building just 30 yards from the tank felt the building tremble as if in an earthquake they climbed their desks to escape the flood

but were soon trapped one secretary at work on her typewriter was knocked down and nearly smothered she later recalled I was horrified and scared out of my life to see a gigantic Black Wave coming towards me despite being inundated these Railway offices remained standing but other structures could not resist the force of the Molasses a wooden framed house belonging to an Irish family was crushed by the wave and carried away Martin clty was a member of the household and a former boxer who owned the nearby pen and pencil Pub popular hangout for journalists he usually worked the night shift so when the flood hit he was asleep on his third floor house he awoke in a panic choking on molasses and struggled to claw his way outside as the power of the flood dislodged his house and smashed it against the trestles of the elevated Railway Clarity would recall it seemed as if the house had split in two when it

hit the elevated structure I was in one side and my family in the other when the way hit Clarity grabbed a bed frame and rode it like a raft amidst the wreckage of his house he saw a struggling figure nearby and managed to pull out his sister Teresa but the rest of the family was trapped inside the house his brother Steven would survive but his 65-year-old mother Bridget was killed when The house's frame crushed her in Firehouse 31 which stood just 50 ft from the tank half a dozen firefighters were on their lunch break on the first floor of the two-story structure William Connor fireman who had served 20 months on a Navy ship in the war was dealing cards when the flood struck Connor heard a loud smashing as if an electric car had crashed through a fence and then watched the flood approach he recalled I sat facing the window and as I glanced up I saw this Great Wall of molasses came with the speed of a cyclone the wave

pummeled the firehouse causing the second floor to collapse and trapping the men below the debris pinned the men down in a space barely a foot high Connor could see a small opening in the wall and the warf Beyond but the Molasses was Rising one of Connor's fellow firemen 35-year-old George Ley was pinned beneath a piano and a pool table and struggled to keep his head above the Molasses as it Rose the men could barely move but they were close enough to hear one another Connor called to Ley hang in there they're coming George and Ley responded weakly I don't think I can oh bill it's too late I'm gone my God I'm gone Le drowned in the Molasses as it filled the space around him Connor and the rest of his crew suffered serious injuries but would survive when the flood started patrolman Frank mcmanis was standing at a police signal box along Commercial Street on a routine Patrol he watched and shock as

the storage Tank's roof slid off then the walls collapsed he grabbed the phone and quickly told his supervisors what he was witnessing urging all ambulances and policemen to rush to the scene within an hour ambulance drivers and rescue workers were combing through the sludge joined by Sailors from nearby ships who had rushed to help soon Commercial Street was filled with people waiting in molasses searching for survivors but they struggled to maneuver through the thick stuff nearest to the tank the Molasses was still chest high but as it fanned out it turned into a thin sticky layer which adhered to every surface and then began to harden and then the gunshots rang out a city stable near the warf had been flooded covered ing horses trapped in their pens and Rescuers were forced to shoot the injured animals were stuck in the stiff molasses one of the children who had been playing with Maria

aasa's 10-year-old son Pasqual was rescued but suffered serious injuries the other 88-year-old Maria distasio was killed aasa's husband jepe was unable to find their son Pasqual he searched frantically all afternoon but it would take 5 days for Rescuers to find the boy's body lodged behind a railroad car jeppi had to identify pascali's crushed Body by the red sweater that the boy still wore on the day of the flood the Hay Market relief station located half a mile from the tank became the primary Hospital treating the injured Red Cross nurses brought the wounded in on stretchers drenched and sticky molasses doctors struggled to wipe their patients clean in order to provide treatment soon the doctors and staff were covered too and the Molasses stained the hallways and beds stunned family members raced to the relief station Desperately Seeking information about missing loved ones and dreading bad news the family of

21-year-old Ralph Martin arrived to the station to find him bandaged and rigged to a traction device pleading please the pain is terrible Martin was a Teamster and a driver who worked at the warf Rescuers had dug him out from beneath a pile of debris his body smashed more patients were brought to the relief station throughout the night others were were taken to the mortuary the death toll had reached 11 but many more were still missing meanwhile Boston mayor Andrew Peters tried to reassure the public as he stood in the dense molasses among Commercial Street he did his best to channel the outrage and shock of the public declaring Boston is appalled at the terrible accident that occurred here today occurrence of this kind must not and cannot pass without a rigid investigation surrounded by a group of reporters Peters announced that he had already directed the city law office to begin a probe not only to prevent a

recurrence of such a frightful accident but to place the responsibility where it belongs Arthur gel the treasurer from United States industrial alcohol had also visited the site that afternoon he was stunned at the devastation but he had been instructed by his bosses to let the company's attorneys Take the Lead these lawyers quickly began to shift the blame of the disaster to unidentified attackers insisting that an explosion had caused the damage and anarchists were to blame the tank they promised was built correctly had been monitored carefully but as more details emerged of what led to the disaster families City officials and survivors would soon call for justice but they would face an uphill battle as the powerful owners of the tank were determined to defend their business and reputation at any cost in the days after the flood workers for United States industrial alcohol rushed to collect pieces of the destroy tank

the company's attorneys also began to hire engineers and chemists experts who could analyze the evidence the company had a plan to put together a case that would prove an explosive device not faulty construction was to blame for the disaster but the city of Boston had also started their investigation and the first findings were a blow to usia Strat in February 1919 a month after the flood Superior Criminal Court Judge Wilfred bolster released a preliminary report on the accident blaming usia for operating a structure in violation of the law the judge said the tank was weak and insufficiently engineered declared the only assignable crime involved is manslaughter through negligence the district attorney tried to bring criminal charges against usia but a grand jury ruled that there was insufficient evidence to indict the company for victims of the flood it seemed their hopes for justice were

dashed but there was still the possibility of bringing a civil suit and many victims began to file legal claims against usia initially there are 119 separate filings but the court soon combined them into one creating the largest class action suit in Massachusetts history the court assigned Hugh Ogden a 48-year-old New England attorney and World War I military judge as auditor for the case Ogden went oversee hearings to gather testimony from the many witnesses to the Tank's explosion and experts who could testify about the Tank's construction and maintenance he would then issue an opinion as to who could be held liable and whether the case should proceed to a jury trial in August 1920 hearings began in the suffk county courthouse in downtown Boston the attorney representing the plaintiffs was Damon Hall a prominent Boston lawyer who was known for his Scrappy style and uncompromising sense of justice Hall

represented the 19 plaintiffs including survivors families of the victims and property owners who had suffered damages in his opening statement Hall tried to paint a grim picture of the disaster calling it one of the worst catastrophes which had visited the city of Boston and one that taught the people there that cold molasses has death dealing and destructive Powers equal to the tornado or the Cyclone when it is suddenly unloosed Hall placed the blame directly on usia for the tragedy arguing the company cut Corners in construction ignored warnings about the Tank's faulty design and placed it in a crowded neighborhood with little oversight for its defense USA hired Charles Francis Cho a well-respected attorney who had graduated from Harvard Law Cho refuted Hall's description saying the tank was built by reputable people who were skillful in this kind of work he insisted that there was no suggestion of

a defect or deterioration in the tank which could account for the fracture in any way instead Cho argued that the collapse was the result of an attack attack most likely an explosive tossed in the tank by anarchists who despise big companies like usia both sides clashed over the evidence Hall called chemists explosive experts and former employees such as Isaac Gonzalez who testified to the Tank's defects and the lack of physical evidence for any bomb attack but Cho called expert Witnesses too nearly all paid by usia for their testimony but none could offer more than circumstantial evidence that a bomb had caused the disaster Cho's only eyewitness whose testimony might have supported the anarchist theory was winred mamera a widow who lived across from the tank mcamera said she was hanging laundry when she saw smoke Rising then the whole top slide off just as a dish on a tablewood but under cross-examination mcamera grew

flustered and admitted to not seeing anyone suspicious by the tank but in the parade of witnesses there was one Cho knew he had to keep off the stand Arthur gel the usia executive who oversaw construction of the tank since the disaster gel had been promoted and transferred to New York City and had stayed out of the public eye lawyers Cho and Hall fought bitterly over compelling jel to testify and finally judge Ogden issued a compromise the attorneys would depose Jael under oath near his offices in New York both Hall and Cho knew a lot was rioting on jael's testimony perhaps the fate of the entire case imagine it's March 25th 1921 at the upscale Hotel Belmont in New York City you're the lead attorney for the plaintiffs in the Molasses case and you're here to gather testimony from a key witness Arthur gel of United States industrial alcohol you shift in your seat mentally going over the questions

that you're determined to get answers to across from you s your opponent in the case Attorney Charles Cho with a smug look on his face Cho pick this look a fancy meeting room clearly meant to intimidate you gel sits next to him and he's putting on a confident air too but you sense anxiety in his shifting eyes once the deposition begins you dispense with formalities and start right in with your questions as a court stenographer records every word Mr gel as it has already been established the steel plates that you use for your tank were too thin and too weak for the Tank's load upon delivery of the plates to Boston did you have an engineer or Builder examine the material no or any metallurgist no did you seek the advice or consult with any person outside of the employees of your contractor ham and iron works as to the quality and fitness of the steel no and why not well we had experienced frustrating delays to that

point it was causing us embarrassment since without a tank of our own we were compelled to purchase from another dealer but I sought to solve that problem by hiring additional Crews before the Milo was to arrive and that's the ship that was bringing the first cargo yes on December 31st 1915 and how long did work continue until its arrival until that very day you mean until the very day of the first shipment Crews were still working on the tank yes that's correct you pause momentarily taken AB by gel's cander you can see Cho shifting nervously in his seat you decide to press on before either man can call for a break you look at your notes I see here you uh commissioned a water test but just of 6 in besides this was there any other water tests conducted before the Tank's operation no and why not well for one reason there wasn't enough time it would have been impossible to empty the water again

before the arrival of the steamer any other reasons why the water test was not made it was considered an unnecessary expense by whom was it considered an unnecessary expense by me I considered the tank satisfactory for our purpose Sir with respect your training is as an accountant and treasurer do you have any knowledge or experience that enabled you to tell whether the construction ction work was done to satisfaction or whether the tank was strong chot grabs jael's arm you and the stenographer both glance at The Men Who huddle and Whisper then gel faces you again I uh I considered the tank satisfactory if you will just answered the question you have no technical experience of any kind no none and at no point did you call in any expert to conduct an inspection of the tank for its strength no no I did not you stopped to catch your breath Cho is scribbling madly on a pad and gel is wiping sweat from his forehead but

you're not done with your questions you gather your thoughts and step up the line of inquiry watching as the stenographer copies down every word of gel's explosive testimony during questioning in a New York Hotel attorney Damon Hall got usia executive Arthur gel to admit that he was unqualified to oversee the building project he also acknowledged that at the the company's insistence he pushed a rapid pace for construction that cut corners and skipped important safety protocols gel also described how employees had repeatedly warned him of concerns about the safety of the tank and that his only response had been to caul the leaking sides and paint the steel a brown color hall went back to Boston hoping he had enough to convince auditor Hugh Ogden that usia had been negligent but despite gel's admissions Ogden insisted on hearing from survivors of the flood and their families before providing his opinion in the case as a

result the hearings would drag on for two more years and finally on April 28th 1925 Ogden announced his findings he determined that the collapse of the tank was due to poor and rushed construction there was no evidence of a bomb or high explosive at the scene Ogden cited gel's testimony as the most damning gel had admitted that from inception to collapse not a single engineer architect or qualified Builder inspected the tank despite repeated warnings by multiple Witnesses and the company's own employees in all 21 people had been killed in the disaster and some 150 more were hurt many left with lifelong injuries Ogden's finding was a victory for the plaintiffs but the monetary compensation he recommended was meager $300,000 roughly equal to 5 million in today's money and much of that money went to the city of Boston and the North End Paving yard leaving vict victims and their families with an average of just

$6,000 each unhappy with those amounts attorney Hall immediately called for a jury trial to increase the damages Cho and usia instead offered to negotiate and Hall W double the amount for victims $628,000 in total or approximately 11 million today after the Molasses Flood case Boston's building department closed loopholes that usia had taken advantage of to bypass safety regulations the city began requiring all building plans to be reviewed and signed by licensed Engineers soon this became standard practice Across the Nation the case also became a landmark in corporate accountability the settlement against usia sent a message that corporations had an obligation to protect the safety of the communities in which they operated even when those communities lacked a political voice many observers had noted that usia placed its tank in a neighborhood filled with working class Italian immigrants and speculated that

had the tank been placed in a different location the company might have proceeded with more caution during construction in time the tragedy of the Boston Molasses Flood would largely be forgotten but for many years following the flood residents and workers in Boston's North End would often report a distinct sweet smell near the warf especially on hot days it was a lingering reminder of one of the strangest disasters in American history one that claimed 20 one lives left a historic neighborhood in Ruins from Wonder this has been the Boston Molasses disaster from American history tellers in our next season two brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright are driven by an Impossible Dream to invent a flying machine that will allow humans to soar through the air like birds but in order to realize this dream they'll have to push the limits of their imaginations and risk their lives taking flight if you'd like to learn more about this

story we recommend dark tide the Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 by Steven pulo American history tellers is hosted edited and produced by me lindsy Graham for Airship audio editing by Christian paraga sound design by Molly Bach music by Lindsay Graham this episode is written by Dorian Marina produced by Alita rosanski our production coordinator is Desi block managing producer Matt Gant senior managing producer Tonja Thigpen senior producer Andy Herman executive producers are Jenny L Beckman and Marshall Louie for wry

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "Encore: Boston Molasses Disaster | A Deadly Deluge | American History Tellers | Podcast"?

Lindsy Graham (Host), Arthur Gel (Guest), Isaac Gonzalez (Guest), Damon Hall (Guest), Charles Francis Cho (Guest), Andrew Peters (Guest).

What is "Encore: Boston Molasses Disaster | A Deadly Deluge | American History Tellers | Podcast" about?

The Boston Molasses Disaster of January 15, 1919, describes a catastrophic event when a massive tank filled with molasses burst, releasing a lethal wave that flooded the streets of Boston's North End. The disaster not only resulted in significant loss of life and injuries but also highlighted issues of industrial safety and urban infrastructure in the early 20th century.

What is mentioned in this American History Tellers episode?

11 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Arthur Gel, United States Industrial Alcohol, Damon Hall, Isaac Gonzalez, Hugh Ogden, Maria Aasa. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Encore: Boston Molasses Disaster | A Deadly Deluge | American History Tellers | Podcast"?

The episode runs 41 min; the transcript is about 7,023 words in 44 timestamped sections.

More from American History Tellers

About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated January 22, 2026.