Great Molasses Flood
At about 12:30 p.m. on January 15, the molasses tank broke. 2.3 million gallons (8.7 million liters) of molasses spilled out onto Commercial Street. The wave of molasses was 30 feet (9 meters) high and moved at 35 miles per hour (55 kph). Pieces of the tank flew into houses and broke holes in walls.  One piece flew into one of the pillars holding up an elevated train track and broke it.  A train stopped just in time.