About this episode

This episode explores the Boston Molasses Disaster and the negligence that led to it.

The children of North End, Boston, play in the shadow of an enormous steel tank of molasses. The thick, sticky sugar syrup is being used to make munitions for the First World War. When a worker notices dark molasses seeping from the tank he warns the company that there could be a leak. But the man in charge, Arthur Jell, has more important things to worry about: schedules to meet and profits to make. Besides, it's only sugar. How dangerous could it be? For the sources, see the show notes at timharford.com . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Host: Tim Harford

Topics covered

• disaster
• history
• safety
• society
• World War I

Keywords

• Boston Molasses Disaster
• Arthur Jell
• North End
• safety
• World War I

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Pushkin Industries

Books & works: Cautionary Tales

Places: North End, Boston

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