Treacle Tears: The Boston Molasses Disaster
Summary
Tim Harford recounts the 1919 Boston molasses disaster, where a poorly constructed tank burst, killing 21 people. The episode highlights how USIA prioritized speed and profit over safety, ignoring warnings from employees. It explores the subsequent legal battle, exposing corporate negligence and the human cost of cutting corners.
Topics discussed
Introduction and Patreon live reading announcement
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Boston 1919: The Iantosca family and the molasses tank
Arthur Jell builds the tank under impossible deadlines
Warnings ignored: Leaks, Gonzalez, and corporate denial
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Post-war profits, Prohibition, and the 'move fast' culture
The disaster: The tank bursts and the molasses flood
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Aftermath: Rescue efforts and victims trapped in debris
USIA blames sabotage; inquest and public outrage
The lawsuit: Structural failure vs. anarchist bombing
Epilogue: Fates of Jell and Gonzalez, and credits
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