Another molasses disaster

[quislibet]

http://home.swbell.net/dietricj/molasses/history4.htm

This one in 1932, in Mississippi; the author of that website seems ignorant of the earlier Boston flood, but the Mississippi disaster has two things going for it: (1) the molasses was boiling, so that victims were "carmelized instantly," and (2) they commemorate it every year with a macabre and perilous "running of the bulls"-style reenactment (with non-boiling corn syrup).

Comments

[canonfire.livejournal.com]

I read that as "Sugarnoochee", not "Sucarnoochee".

I like Sugarnoochee better.

[quislibet.livejournal.com]

That's how I read it, too. I can't find any independent confirmation on this disaster, but if it's real then they should seriously consider renaming their town.

[basha.livejournal.com]

I agree. They are, after all, mis-representing their incident. Whole generations could think that was the only molasses disaster ever!

My geek is showing.

[komos.livejournal.com]

I was in a Call of Cthulhu game where the Boston molasses flood was used as a cover-up for the manifestation of one of the Elder Gods.

Didn't know about Mississippi, though now I'm wondering how many beer floods there have been...

Re: My geek is showing.

[canonfire.livejournal.com]

ask and ye shall receive. (http://expage.com/page/beerflood)

[komos.livejournal.com]

Sweet. Thanks much for digging.

[exquiscadavre.livejournal.com]

Clearly Molasses is a threat. What is my government doing to protect me from molasses? Nothing! I shall have to defend myself by baking a lot of gingersnaps.

[quislibet.livejournal.com]

Good thinking!

[carocrow.livejournal.com]

I always knew Mississippians were sick in a humorous kind of way. You know who would appreciate this? wickedflea.

[sorceror.livejournal.com]

For some reason, this led me to muse about ungodly things.

Scary, eh? And I hear they're trying to get Johnny Depp as WW for an upcoming movie. We ain't seen nothin' yet.

[subatomicsatan.livejournal.com]

is there some way you could fit this research into your thesis?

[quislibet.livejournal.com]

No.

Oh my god.

[puffpastry.livejournal.com]

That is so freakin' hilarious. I don't think it's REAL, of course...it's so very much in the tradition of "Spinal Tap" and "Waiting for Guffman".

Carmelized citizens. Ohhhhh god. Clearly this disaster refutes molasses' reputation for being slow. Maybe the factory was formulating that new, rapid-motion molasses -- 63% faster than traditional molasses.

Re: Oh my god.

[quislibet.livejournal.com]

Well, except that boiling molasses would be a bit faster, and the certainly real Boston disaster of 1919 had non-boiling molasses moving 35 miles an hour, and that was (ironically, perhaps) in January.

But it is true that I have yet to find independent confirmation for the Mississippi disaster, now that you mention it.

[celticbutterfly.livejournal.com]

Hey Linnea, What's up?! HAH HAH, I found you!!! Lisa Swarbrick here!!! Teehehee, I'm rarely on livejournal tho, so don't hate me for not coming to visit your page more often. I'm celticbutterfly if you wanna add me. Hope life is good~ Stay safe and happy! MWAH

[quislibet.livejournal.com]

I'm not Linnea, and don't know him/her, I'm afraid, but you stay safe and happy, too!

Big Smiles

[ariesfire79.livejournal.com]

I love your Journal. It's always so interesting. Just felt like telling you that. =)

Re: Big Smiles

[quislibet.livejournal.com]

Thanks!